As more is learned about the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis, we are also becoming more aware of how to implement treatments.

Multimodal Management of Canine Osteoarthritis takes an evidence-based approach to the canine patient with osteoarthritis, pursuing the objective of the best available medicine by a variety of means—multiple drugs, agents, adjuncts and delivery methods. Appreciating that surgical intervention may initially be required, particularly for stabilizing a joint, the major focus in this work is the conservative management of osteoarthritis. A clear and visual approach is taken with the overlapping of two three-pointed triangles of management: medical and non-medical. Medical management includes NSAIDs, chondroprotectant and adjunct; while the non-medical management includes weight control/exercise, EPA-rich diet and physical rehabilitation. Each of these approaches has been independently shown to be effective, and while there are no published works on their collective synergism, the multimodal concept is intuitive.

Steven M. Fox, MS, DVM, MBA, PhD
Surgical Specialist: New Zealand VMA
Independent Consultant, Albuquerque, USA. Adjunct Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, USA. Program Chairman (2000-2002), President (2004), Veterinary Orthopedic Society.

Darryl Millis, DVM
Cartified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner
Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Chief of Surgical Services, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.