Study suggests canine elbow osteoarthritis patients may be referred late, reducing successful treatment

According to a study conducted by Exubrion, veterinarians specializing in canine osteoarthritis (OA) believe patients could experience better treatment outcomes if referred earlier. Respondents said most canine elbow osteoarthritis patients received referrals when the patient is at a moderate-to-severe stage of OA, which they considered too late.¹

“Nearly 1 in 4 dogs suffer from osteoarthritis² causing pain, lameness, limping, limited movement, and a poor quality of life," explained John ‘Jay’ Donecker, chief veterinary officer of Exubrion, who initiated the research. “Earlier referrals for many of these canine patients could result in less pain and better quality of life for these beloved pets.”

The study surveyed 68 veterinary specialists who routinely receive referrals from general practitioners for canine patients with lameness and pain due to osteoarthritis. Sixty-six (97%) felt early intervention slows the progression, reducing the severity of elbow OA.¹ According to the release, the primary reason given for the lower success of late-stage referrals is that “the joint’s structural changes are too significant and have progressed too far.”¹

Another substantial response from the study is that specialists would like general practitioners to be able to better recognize the early signs of OA via radiograph and better understand the early treatment options and their value.¹ Finally 71% said that treating inflammation early is very important in controlling elbow OA.¹

What's more, according to the American College of Veterinary Medicine, OA affects approximately 25% of dogs and is the most common form of canine arthritis. This chronic joint disease leads to pain and limb dysfunction and is characterized by the loss of joint cartilage, thickening of the joint capsule, and new bone formation around the joint.²

“Beyond encouraging earlier referrals, we want to help general practitioners by providing tools and information to help with elbow OA diagnosis and treatment options,” explained Donecker. Exubrion recently launched a new website, k9elbowroom.com, to help provide clinicians with the tools they need to address OA early and successfully.

Additionally, the website offers various tools, such as an overview of the inflammatory cycle, videos on how to diagnose elbow OA, information on new treatment options, and the opportunity to share cases.

References

1. Research shows lame dogs with joint deterioration are referred late, reducing successful treatment. News release. Exubrion; November 22, 2021
2. Osteoarthritis in dogs. ACVS. Accessed December 22, 2021. www.acvs.org/small-animal/osteoarthritis-in-dogs