08/24/2026
Pain management is so important to keep our pets moving. Movement preserves muscle mass, strength and overall quality of life.
❌ MYTH: "We should hold off on prescription pain medication for as long as possible so my dog doesn't build up a tolerance and run out of options later."
✅ FACT: Dogs do not build up an "immunity" or tolerance to primary arthritis medications (such as NSAIDs). Waiting until end-stage pain before starting treatment actually makes pain significantly harder to manage.
When chronic joint discomfort is left unmanaged in the early to moderate stages, the central nervous system undergoes rewiring - a process known as central sensitisation (neural "wind-up"). This turns the volume dial on pain all the way up, lowering your dog's pain threshold and making subsequent discomfort far more intense and resistant to standard treatments.
Starting baseline pain relief early protects the nervous system, stops the cycle of compensatory muscle strain, and preserves vital joint mobility.
RESEARCH:
Innes, J. F., et al. (2010). "Review of the safety and efficacy of long-term NSAIDs in dogs with osteoarthritis." Veterinary Record, 166(8), 226–230.
Budsberg, S. C., et al. (2018). "Evaluation of long-term administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in dogs with osteoarthritis." American Journal of Veterinary Research, 79(4), 370–377.
Central Sensitisation in Canine Osteoarthritis:
Knazovicky, D., et al. (2016). "Widespread somatosensory sensitivity in natural canine osteoarthritis." Pain, 157(6), 1325–1332.
Lascelles, B. D. X. (2010). "Joint pain in dogs and cats: targeting the pain pathway." Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 40(5), 1023–1053.
