Professor Duncan Lascelles joins Hannah Capon to dispel common myths surrounding canine arthritis. They discuss misconceptions such as arthritis only affecting older dogs, the idea that pain comes from bone-on-bone rubbing, and the belief that painful joints must be rested. Duncan explains why using a single drug, supplement, or therapy is not enough and why early intervention with supplements alone is insufficient to prevent disease progression. He also introduces a promising new biological intervention—a monoclonal antibody directed at nerve growth factor—that could soon improve arthritis treatment. The episode ends on a positive note, with Duncan sharing his optimistic view of the future of arthritis management.
(Published November 2020 - https://youtu.be/M_adx3azXT0)
Brief Bio
Professor Duncan Lascelles is a leading expert in small animal surgery and pain management at North Carolina State University. His research program, Translational Research in Pain (TRiP), focuses on measuring pain associated with spontaneous disease in animals and understanding its neurobiology. His work has significantly improved pain control in companion animals and contributed to analgesic development in human medicine. He is also the director of the Comparative Pain Research and Education Centre (CPREC) and co-founder of AniV8, a company dedicated to developing innovative methods of measuring pain.
Key Takeaways
- Arthritis is not just a disease of old dogs – younger dogs can also develop arthritis due to genetics, injury, or early joint issues.
- Pain does not come from bone-on-bone rubbing – arthritis pain is caused by inflammation and changes in the nervous system.
- Resting painful joints is not always beneficial – controlled movement and physiotherapy can help maintain joint function.
- One drug or supplement is not the solution – arthritis requires a multimodal approach, combining medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes.
- New treatments are emerging – monoclonal antibodies targeting nerve growth factor could revolutionize pain management in arthritic dogs.
Relevant links
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Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.