Prospective comparison of chronic pain and quality of life in dogs presenting with five common orthopaedic conditions.

Individual pain variation in orthopaedic conditions necessitates tailored, patient-specific management approaches.

This prospective cohort study (2017-2020) evaluated chronic pain and quality of life in client-owned dogs with five common orthopaedic conditions: elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, medial patella luxation, cranial cruciate ligament rupture, and osteoarthritis. Owners completed standardized pain assessment tools (Canine Brief Pain Inventory and Helsinki Chronic Pain Index) and quality of life questionnaires. Surprisingly, no significant differences in owner-reported quality of life scores were detected among the five conditions (p=0.279). However, considerable individual variation existed within each condition group. Dogs with elbow dysplasia demonstrated the lowest mean chronic pain measures (HCPI: 11; CBPI: 27), while those with cranial cruciate ligament rupture showed the highest (HCPI: 16; CBPI: 40). Study limitations included reliance on subjective owner assessments, lack of standardized condition severity assessment, and inconsistent radiographic grading protocols. The findings emphasize substantial individual variation in pain perception and quality of life impact across dogs with similar orthopaedic diagnoses, supporting the need for personalized, tailored management strategies rather than condition-based standardized approaches.

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