[Update of multimodal therapy in canine osteoarthritis]

Canine osteoarthritis is a very common disease and the main cause for chronic pain in dogs. Progressive degeneration of joint cartilage, periarticular soft tissues and subchondral bone consecutively lead to osteophytes, inflammation and pain. It is an irreversible process. Multimodal treatment focuses on slowing the disease progression and improving the dog's quality of life. The article provides an overview of different therapeutic options. Multiple analgesics are used for the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs. For an effective treatment of this disease, an anti-inflammatory effect is of vital importance. However, particularly the chronic use of anti-inflammatory drugs bears the risk of severe adverse effects. A recently licensed class of drugs, the piprants, offers the perspective of an improved safety profile in the pharmacological treatment of canine osteoarthritis.