Professor Duncan Lascelles joins Hannah Capon to dispel common myths surrounding canine arthritis. They discuss misconceptions such as arthritis only affecting older dogs, the idea that pain comes from bone-on-bone rubbing, and the belief that painful joints must be rested. Duncan explains why using a single drug, supplement, or therapy is not enough and why early intervention with supplements alone is insufficient to prevent disease progression. He also introduces a promising new biological intervention—a monoclonal antibody directed at nerve growth factor—that could soon improve arthritis treatment. The episode ends on a positive note, with Duncan sharing his optimistic view of the future of arthritis management.

(Published November 2020 - https://youtu.be/M_adx3azXT0)

Medication availability varies around the globe, and medications recently launched will routinely have changes made to their prescribing guidelines. For this reason it is imperative that you chat to your veterinarian about the options available to you and your dog, as well as asking for comprehensive advice regarding latest developments. Pain management is very specific to the individual. What works for one may not be appropriate for another!

Brief Bio

Professor Duncan Lascelles is a leading expert in small animal surgery and pain management at North Carolina State University. His research program, Translational Research in Pain (TRiP), focuses on measuring pain associated with spontaneous disease in animals and understanding its neurobiology. His work has significantly improved pain control in companion animals and contributed to analgesic development in human medicine. He is also the director of the Comparative Pain Research and Education Centre (CPREC) and co-founder of AniV8, a company dedicated to developing innovative methods of measuring pain.

Key Takeaways

1. Arthritis is not just a disease of old dogs – younger dogs can also develop arthritis due to genetics, injury, or early joint issues.
2. Pain does not come from bone-on-bone rubbing – arthritis pain is caused by inflammation and changes in the nervous system.
3. Resting painful joints is not always beneficial – controlled movement and physiotherapy can help maintain joint function.
4. One drug or supplement is not the solution – arthritis requires a multimodal approach, combining medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes.
5. New treatments are emerging – monoclonal antibodies targeting nerve growth factor could revolutionize pain management in arthritic dogs.

Relevant links

CHRONIC PAIN SYMPOSIUM - Don’t miss out - https://www.camonlineshop.com/chronic-pain-symposium-2025/

Join Holly‘s Army and get support for your arthritis journey: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/8AcWZohTyJh9ykgD/?mibextid=K35XfP

Have a look at our FREE DOWNLOADS and find documents like the BAD DAY/GOOD DAY DIARY - https://caninearthritis.co.uk/how-cam-can-help/downloads/
and also check out our ACUTE FLARE KITS that are for free in our Member Zone (available at only £35 per year) and other helpful tools - https://caninearthritis.co.uk/how-cam-can-help/tools/

Learn more about CAM: 

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Have questions send them to: [email protected]

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.