Canine Arthritis Matters

Communication is one of the most important tools in successful OA management. In this episode of Canine Arthritis Matters , Hannah is joined by registered veterinary nurse and veterinary education specialist Jessica Woolrich from VetLed to explore how better communication can strengthen relationships between caregivers, veterinary professionals and allied teams. Together, they discuss why communic...

In the last episode of the “Diet & Nutrition” series, we are joined by Lianne O'Boyle , Head of Clinical at Nutravet. We discuss the vital role veterinary nurses play in osteoarthritis management, the growing use of laser therapy in practice, and whether veterinary education adequately prepares clinicians for managing chronic conditions such as OA. Lianne also shares insights from her tran...

This week, we’re joined by Dr Conny Moseley, veterinary pain specialist and cannabinoid medicine expert, to explore the role of CBD in managing chronic pain and osteoarthritis in dogs. We discuss the science behind CBD, how it differs from traditional pain medications, what the current evidence tells us, and the practical challenges vets and caregivers face when choosing and using CBD products. A...

Internal medicine and nutrition specialist, Isuru Gajanayake, joins CAM’s Esme Howells to discuss the nutritional needs of dogs with osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases. All dogs need a balanced diet and their requirements differ depending on their age but also on their medical issues and body score. Isuru talks us through protein and energy requirements at different life stages and...

Omega 3 fatty acids are one of the few supplements that have some evidence of benefit for osteoarthritis. Nicki Bell talks to Charley Gray about omega 3s, how they work and why they are useful in the management of canine arthritis. Charley explains the different omega 3s and why it is currently EPA and DHA that we are particularly interested in for dogs. Their role in the anti-inflammatory pathway...

In the US, two out of three dogs are obese. This exacerbates the difficulties vets face when trying to manage pain and rehabilitate arthritic dogs. Matt Brunke and Hannah Capon discuss nutrition and supplements and point out that fat doesn’t just increase loading on joints, it secretes inflammatory mediators that make arthritis worse. They then go on to discuss an imaginary case study – an overwei...

Carrie Smith joins Hannah Capon to discuss physiotherapy approaches for managing arthritis in dogs through two case studies. Sidney developed allodynia after multiple surgeries, causing normal touch to feel painful due to chronic pain and central sensitisation. His case highlights how painful dogs are often mislabelled as “difficult” and how therapies like kinesio-taping can help. The second case...

This weeks Facebook Live is with Nicki Bell who is joined by Steph Ellis. Steph is a veterinary nurse turned physiotherapist, shares practical guidance on exercising young dogs and managing arthritis. She questions rigid rules like the “five minutes per month” guideline and instead focuses on tailored conditioning, core stability, and recognising fatigue. The conversation underlines how movement,...

This episode of Canine Arthritis Matters focuses on the role of exercise in managing canine osteoarthritis. Core message: exercise is essential, but highly individual. It is not just about “going for a walk”, but about a structured, adaptive approach that considers the dog’s condition, environment, and behaviour. The conversation between Hannah Capon and Dr. Danielle Anderson expands exercise into...

This May we are fousing on exercise, Hayley Laches joins Nicki Bell to introduce Canine Hoopers, a low-impact dog sport designed to be inclusive for all dogs and handlers. Unlike traditional agility, Hoopers removes jumping, sharp turns and high physical strain, making it especially suitable for older dogs, dogs with mobility issues or those in pain management programs. Dogs navigate a flowing cou...

In this April episode, Hannah Capon explains why home adaptations are a core part of managing chronic pain in dogs. She shows how simple changes like improving floor traction, adjusting access points and supporting rest areas can reduce pain, prevent flare-ups and improve confidence. Using concepts like frailty and acute-on-chronic pain, she highlights that senior and arthritic dogs have less rese...

In this CAM LIVE, Hannah Capon is joined by Mel Bruder and Glenn Mac to explore one of the most overlooked yet influential aspects of managing chronic pain in dogs: flooring. Despite caregivers often investing heavily in hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, medication and supplements, the daily surface a dog walks on can have a huge impact on pain, confidence, function and safety. The discussion examines...

In this April-focused episode from Canine Arthritis Management, Hannah Capon is joined by Evie and Rebecca to introduce the upcoming Chronic Pain Symposium, with a strong emphasis on practical, real-world application, including home adaptations as a core pillar of managing chronic pain. The episode outlines how this year’s symposium has evolved to better support professionals and caregivers in tra...

In this April episode of Canine Arthritis Management, Hannah Capon is joined by Matt Shackleton to explore a physiotherapist’s perspective on managing canine osteoarthritis, with a strong focus on home adaptations and environmental impact. The conversation highlights that effective arthritis management goes far beyond medication or exercise plans. Instead, the dog’s daily environment plays a criti...

In this CAM episode, Evie and Jo introduce a practical, caregiver-focused tool developed by the Canine Arthritis Management team to support one of the biggest challenges discussed throughout March: weight management. The episode walks through a newly created weight loss tracking pack available in the CAM Member Zone. The aim of the tool is to simplify and structure the weight loss journey for both...

In this CAM LIVE episode, Esme Howells is joined by Helen Coleman and Victoria Bowes to explore practical, everyday approaches to managing obesity in dogs. The conversation focuses on realistic strategies caregivers can implement at home, from portion control and feeding habits to enrichment-based approaches that support both physical and mental wellbeing. A key concept discussed is the Delboeuf i...

In this CAM LIVE episode, Hannah Capon speaks with veterinary physiotherapy researcher Heli Hyytiäinen about the growing recognition of obesity in dogs as a major welfare issue. Alongside dental disease and osteoarthritis, excess weight is now understood to be one of the most significant health challenges affecting companion animals. The discussion explores why obesity is far more than a cosmetic...

In this CAM LIVE, Hannah Capon speaks with leading veterinary obesity researcher Alex German about one of the most significant health challenges affecting companion animals today: excess body weight. With more than 50 percent of pet dogs now classified as overweight or obese, the discussion highlights why this issue has become a welfare concern of epidemic proportions. Alex provides an overview of...

In this episode of Canine Arthritis Matters, Hannah Capon speaks with Arielle Griffiths about one of the biggest yet most under-recognised drivers of chronic pain in dogs: excess weight. The discussion explores why weight conversations are so emotionally and professionally difficult, why obesity remains under-acknowledged by caregivers, and how early identification of unhealthy weight trajectories...

Dr Masataka Enomoto joins CAM to explore the frontier of early identification in canine osteoarthritis. From automated pain evaluation and force-plate research to activity-monitor insights, microbiome patterns and his landmark data on how young dogs really are when radiographic OA appears, this episode dives deep into what the next decade of OA detection could look like. Listeners will gain clarit...

February at Canine Arthritis Matters focuses on identification — and in this episode we explore what early identification of osteoarthritis could look like in the future. Hannah Capon is joined by Dr Eva Hanks, CEO and founder of MI:RNA, to discuss the emerging role of microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers in detecting canine osteoarthritis at a molecular level. We know that most dogs are diagnosed with OA...

In this episode, Dr. Hannah Capon speaks with Dr. Rachel Dean about the complexities of identifying arthritis early, the need for better contextualised care, and the shared responsibilities between caregivers and professionals. They explore what evidence shows about how OA is actually recognised in practice, why early signs are routinely missed, and how communication, telemedicine and structured p...

In this episode, Dr. Hannah Capon speaks with veterinary behaviour specialist Dr. Katrin Jahn about why arthritis is so often missed, how subtle behaviour and lifestyle changes can signal discomfort long before lameness appears, and how structured observation helps bridge the gap between caregivers, trainers and veterinary professionals. Together they explore the early indicators of chronic pain,...

In this episode, Hannah speaks with orthopaedic surgeon and rehabilitation expert Dr David Dycus to examine the real challenges of early arthritis detection. Together, they explore why early identification is often missed, what responsibilities both caregivers and professionals share, and which interventions truly shift the trajectory of osteoarthritis. Aligned with CAM’s January prevention theme,...

In this episode, Hannah welcomes back Dr Dan O’Neil to expand on the latest findings from VetCompass, the companion animal surveillance programme based at the Royal Veterinary College. Building on his previous CAM appearance, Dr O’Neil explains how large-scale clinical data is helping us understand which disorders affect our dogs most frequently, why they occur, and how this knowledge can improve...