Overview of the Current Osteoarthritis Treatment in Veterinary Medicine and Future Directions

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and progressive joint disease that can cause permanent loss of joint function. OA is highly prevalent in horses, dogs, and cats, affecting different joints and leading to reduced mobility and chronic pain. Different risk factors for animal OA have been identified, including trauma and breed. Inflammation is a hallmark of the disease, with various underlying mechanisms such as cyclooxygenase and metalloproteinase activation, nerve growth factor, cytokine, and prostaglandin E ₂ upregulation, among others. Although disease complexity makes OA difficult to treat, enormous advances have been made in regard to therapeutic options, especially due to the identification and better understanding of the common mechanisms underlying human and animal disease. Indeed, to date, numerous therapies have been developed over the years and are available to treat animal OA, including COX inhibitors, PGE₂ 4 receptor blockers, chondroprotective agents, biologicals, and medical devices for veterinary medicine, as well as those used to treat human disease. Herein, the different therapies available for animal OA, treatment regimens for each species, mechanisms of action, benefits, setbacks, and challenges for achieving a better quality of life and longevity for veterinary patients are presented and discussed.