Articular cartilage
Surrounds the ends of the bones, absorbing shock and letting them glide against each other.
Understanding your dog's health
What is Osteoarthritis?
A clear guide to the most common joint disease in dogs — how it develops, why it causes pain, and the gentle ways we can help ease it.
The basics
Osteoarthritis is a chronic, degenerative joint disease — and the most common form of arthritis. It occurs mainly in the synovial joints, such as the hips, knees and spine.
To understand what goes wrong, it helps to picture how a healthy joint is built. Each part has a job — cushioning, lubricating, stabilising and nourishing the joint so it can move smoothly and without pain.
Anatomy of a healthy joint
The parts that keep a joint moving smoothly.
Synovial fluid
Produced by the synovial membrane, it cushions the joint and lubricates it to reduce friction in movement.
Articular capsule
The synovial membrane and surrounding fibrous capsule together enclose and protect the joint.
Ligaments
Sit on the outside of the capsule, joining the bones for stability and controlled movement.
Blood vessels
Run through the capsule to deliver new cells and nutrition, and to carry waste away from the joint.
How it progresses
From mild wear to bone-on-bone.
Mild Early change
The articular cartilage begins to break down and the space within the joint starts to narrow. Movement becomes less smooth as the natural cushioning wears thin.
Severe Advanced change
The cartilage and then the bone ends (the epiphysis) slowly break down, closing the joint space completely. Surrounding tissue and the fibrous capsule become damaged, and the synovium produces less synovial fluid — leaving the joint moving bone-on-bone, without cushioning, lubrication or protection from friction and shock.
Osteophytes (bone spurs) — as the joint changes, small bony growths can form along its edges, further affecting how it moves.
Why it causes pain
How a damaged joint sends pain signals.
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Tissue & bone damage
Wear to the cartilage, bone and surrounding tissue sets off the body's response.
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Cytokines released
Immune cells produce small proteins called cytokines, signalling an immune response to the damage.
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Nociceptors activate
Pain receptors in the joint, ligaments and bone (and the meniscus in the knee) fire in response to thermal, chemical or mechanical stress.
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The brain registers pain
Those signals travel through the central nervous system to the brain, where they're felt as pain.
How we help
Gentle, non-invasive ways to ease the discomfort.
Osteoarthritis can't be reversed, but a great deal can be done to keep your dog comfortable and moving well. Our therapies work alongside your vet's care to reduce pain, ease the muscular tension that builds up when a dog compensates for a sore joint, and support better mobility.
Galen Myotherapy
Hands-on massage that releases the compensatory muscle tension around a painful joint, improving comfort and movement.
Explore myotherapyClass IV Laser Therapy
Non-invasive light therapy that reduces inflammation, relieves pain and supports tissue repair.
Explore laser therapyMobility Therapy
Targeted rehabilitation exercises to build strength, balance and range of motion.
Read the guideWorking with your vet. This guide is for general education and isn't a diagnosis. If you think your dog may have osteoarthritis, please speak with your vet. We can work alongside them if required, and our therapies complement veterinary care rather than replacing it.
Where this is offered. Arthritic dogs are the ones who least enjoy a car journey and a strange waiting room, which is why this work happens at home. I cover the coast from Estepona through La Duquesa to Sotogrande, and travel within 15 km of La Duquesa is included in the price.
Common questions
Osteoarthritis, briefly answered.
What is osteoarthritis in dogs?
A chronic, degenerative joint disease, and the most common form of arthritis. It occurs mainly in the synovial joints such as the hips, knees and spine, where the articular cartilage breaks down and the space within the joint narrows.
Can osteoarthritis in dogs be cured?
No. Osteoarthritis cannot be reversed. A great deal can still be done to keep a dog comfortable and moving well, which is what therapy aims at: reducing pain, easing the muscular tension that builds up when a dog compensates for a sore joint, and supporting better mobility.
Why does osteoarthritis hurt?
Wear to the cartilage, bone and surrounding tissue triggers the body's immune response. Immune cells release proteins called cytokines, pain receptors in the joint, ligaments and bone fire in response, and those signals travel through the central nervous system to the brain, where they are felt as pain.
Can massage or laser therapy help an arthritic dog?
They work alongside your vet's care rather than replacing it. Galen Myotherapy addresses the muscular tension that develops around a painful joint, and Class IV Laser Therapy is commonly used for arthritis to reduce inflammation and support tissue repair. Neither reverses the disease.
Worried your dog is stiff or slowing down?
Let's talk. Book a consultation and we'll look at how gentle, choice-led therapy could help your dog feel more comfortable.
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