From dyadic deco-construction to reco-construction: a framework for the human-osteoarthritic dog relationship

Chronic pain (CP) associated with canine osteoarthritis (OA), remains under-detected, under-diagnosed, and insufficiently managed, while the early signals prompting owners to consult a veterinarian are poorly characterized. This narrative review draws on self-determination theory (SDT) to explore how the experience of OA-associated CP reshapes the self-determination capacities within owner-dog dyads. It describes the deco-construction of dyadic co-construction induced by the apparition and progression of OA-associated CP, followed by its reco-construction after the veterinary diagnosis, integrating a pivotal moment: the owner's rupture point. Its objectives are twofold: (1) from a SDT perspective, to conceptualize these processes when the dog develops OA-associated CP; and (2) to propose strategies that help dyads navigate them more effectively and trigger the rupture point earlier. Deco-construction progressively erodes dyadic self-determination. While the accumulation of CP-related signals may lead the owner to their rupture point, their perceived competence, denial, wait-and-see attitude and apprehension of veterinary cost often delay it. Reco-construction relies on respecting the self-determination of the dog, the owner, and the veterinarian. At home, the adaptation of therapeutic strategies enables the dyad to regain a sense of mutual self-determination. These processes are influenced by biopsychosocial, experiential, environmental, and technical factors specific to the dog, the human, and the disease. A strong co-construction appears to facilitate them. To better capture the dynamics of co-/deco-/reco-construction and anticipate owners' rupture point, several tools appear promising, but none fully integrate co-construction, bidirectionality, and dyadic attachment. There is an urgent need to develop more integrative conceptual frameworks and tools. This review remains conceptual and narrative in nature (albeit based on an exhaustive literature), and the proposed framework has not yet been clinically validated.