[Pharmacotherapy of degenerative joint diseases in dogs]

The pharmacological treatment of degenerative joint diseases is restricted essentially to the alleviation of acute symptoms of activated arthropathies. Suitable compounds are the non-steroidal and steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, which however do not allow long-term therapy due to their overall catabolic effects on cartilage metabolism. Since causally acting drugs are not available, the progressive course of the disease cannot be prevented so far. Natural components of the cartilage's matrix, being recommended as so-called chondroprotective drugs, do not fulfill the expectation of a remission of the degenerative process. Indeed, regarding the necessity of multiple local applications of these drugs, they are not superior to antiinflammatory drugs. Provided careful dosing and surveillance of untoward gastrointestinal effects, non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents still are the drugs of first choice.