“Not all cases are equal”: Veterinary roundtable discusses insights and complexities in osteoarthritis pain management in dogs

The virtual event, hosted by Zoetis Australia, brought together veterinary professionals* who agreed that “not all cases are equal” and that earlier, more structured screening may be key to improving outcomes.

The roundtable was convened to listen and gather perspectives from veterinary nurses, general practice veterinarians, and specialists in small animal surgery and veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia. It was a platform for peers to discuss the importance and opportunities to optimise osteoarthritis pain management, including addressing questions about treating osteoarthritis pain in dogs and the role of Beransa® in supporting this.

Participants highlighted the value of individualising treatment for osteoarthritis pain management in dogs with several factors playing a critical role in shaping clinical decisions including age, comorbidities, degree of pain, owner goals or expectations, and the depth of diagnostic work up.

This discussion reinforced that effective pain management must be tailored to the individual dog, grounded in available clinical data, and guided by ongoing assessment in collaboration with the owner. It was also acknowledged that a standardised approach to treatment and ongoing assessment could support greater continuity of care.

The discussion was independently facilitated by Dr Margie McEwen and involved: Dr John Morgan (GP Vet at Gordon Vet Hospital), Dr Sarah Goldsmid (Specialist Small Animal Surgeon at Animal Referral Hospital), Bradley Dunn (Rehabilitation Nurse at Swans Veterinary Services), Dr Helen Byrnes (Owner and Director of VetKind group), Dr Louisa Poutsma (GP Vet at The Mobile Vet Animal Hospital), Dr Julian Lunn (Head of Small Animal Surgery at University of Queensland, Senior Registrar at Veterinary Specialist Services), Professor Paulo Steagall (Professor of Veterinary Anaesthesiology and Pain Management at City University of Hong Kong) and Dr Leon Warne (Specialist in Veterinary Analgesia and Pain Management).**

The discussion also sought to share insights into opportunities for the use of Beransa by encouraging science-led, constructive conversations at a peer level.

During the discussion, participants explored that:

• Proactive screening should be exploratory, and confirmatory: There was strong interest in discussing how proactive ‘baseline’ imaging could support diagnosis and ongoing treatment. However, it was recognised that cost can be a barrier for diagnostics like radiography or even more so for advanced imaging (such as CT and MRI).

• Leveraging tools to support diagnosis and treatment decisions: It was recognised that tools such as client questionnaires and guidelines can help vets adopt a more consistent, objective and evidence-based approach to pain management, especially where baseline imaging is cost-prohibitive. Tools such as the Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST)1 can support veterinarians to grade the clinical presentation and stage the progression of osteoarthritis over time, incorporating owner-reported outcomes, clinical exam findings (e.g. range of motion, comfort) and, where available, radiographic input.

• Communication and collaboration with owners are critical for aligning on treatment options and goals: The group highlighted the need for vets and owners to navigate benefit-risk conversations around treatment options with clinical information and shared decision-making. In addition, a strong theme was the importance of actively involving owners throughout the diagnosis and management of osteoarthritis. Participants emphasised the role of goal setting with owners and building a management plan around those specific outcomes for their dog. The group also stressed the importance of owner education and sharing simple tools to support home monitoring of osteoarthritis pain to drive owner engagement and compliance in managing this progressive disease.

  
  

 According to Dr Sarah Goldsmid, Small Animal Specialist Surgeon and founder of the Animal Referral Hospital network, “Discussions like this are invaluable in veterinary medicine as they give us the opportunity to share clinical experience, challenge assumptions, and build consensus in a collegial, science-led environment. It’s through these kinds of peer-level exchanges that we can continue to evolve our approach to complex cases to improve outcomes and quality of life for our canine patients that are living with osteoarthritis pain.”

Bradley Dunn, a Veterinary Rehabilitation Nurse at Swans Vets, said, "While there were differing views about some of the topics discussed, disagreement wasn’t a setback – it was the spark. It highlighted that addressing pain first and integrating rehabilitation early, especially for younger patients, can prevent decline and preserve muscle function. While multimodal therapy may not always be an option for clients, it is important to acknowledge that various medicines and therapies have a place in helping dogs live pain free. By combining our clinical expertise with owner education and understanding socioeconomic realities, we can implement practical strategies that maximise quality of life for our patients."

Dr Megan Lui, Associate Director of Veterinary Operations at Zoetis Australia, was an observer at the roundtable discussion. She emphasised the importance of the veterinary profession and industry working together to understand the real-world application of innovative treatment options in clinical practice to help improve the management of osteoarthritis pain in dogs.

“While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are many ways we can help dogs live a better, pain-free life. Zoetis recognises that the use of Beransa to treat osteoarthritis pain in dogs is highly topical, and we want to create opportunities for open and honest conversation about this within the vet profession,” said Dr Lui.

Zoetis continues to invest in activities that monitor and support the appropriate use of Beransa. Based on global pharmacovigilance data, Zoetis has been working with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to update the Beransa product label to include rare and very rare reported adverse effects.  

“We recognise the need to work with regulatory bodies and the veterinary profession, not only to monitor and learn from how Beransa is being used, but to contribute to the better understanding and management of osteoarthritis as a condition. Zoetis continues to support internal and independent scientific studies to better understand osteoarthritis progression as well as studies related to the clinical use of Beransa,” said Dr Lui.

Dr Lui added that Zoetis is also committed to helping vets and pet owners in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs.

“The roundtable discussion also helped Zoetis to understand the opportunity for consistent, practical and evidence-based tools that standardise how we diagnose, treat, score pain and provide quality continuity of care for dogs living with osteoarthritis. Zoetis Australia is currently working with key opinion leaders to develop guidelines to support this to help veterinary professionals, in partnership with dog owners, to objectively make clinical decisions in the best interest of patients.”

New Australian consumer research2 commissioned by Zoetis shows that while most dog owners (85%) feel anxious about their dog being in pain, over a third of them (34%) wait until clinical signs are obvious before acting on their dog’s health.2

Approximately two in five (40%) dogs currently live with osteoarthritis pain,3 but Australian vets report diagnosing it in only 25% of their canine patients.4

Ongoing vet professional peer-led discussions can support greater understanding and awareness of osteoarthritis and pain management options among dog owners. It is important that veterinarians and dog owners work in partnership, with the shared goal of supporting the dog’s quality of life. This includes full transparency between vets and owners regarding appropriate case selection, as well as the benefits and risks to their dogs if Beransa is deemed to be the best choice for their pet.

* All roundtable participants received fair market compensation for their time to attend the virtual roundtable event.

** Dr Leon Warne is currently contracted by Zoetis Australia as an Anaesthesia & Pain Management Specialist and consultant.

References:

1. Elanco 2025, Canine Staging OsteoArthritis Tool (COAST), available at: https://my.elanco.com/au/insights-centre/the-canine-osteo-arthritis-staging-tool (accessed August 2025)

2. YouGov. (2025). Zoetis Australia consumer research survey, osteoarthritis and joint pain in dogs. [data on file]

3. Wright A., et al. Identification of canine osteoarthritis using an owner-reported questionnaire and treatment monitoring using functional mobility tests. Journal of Small Animal Practice (2022),1–10 DOI: 10.1111/jsap.135001

4. Bio’sat -Study Report about osteoarthritis in 7 countries January 2025

About Zoetis

As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide – from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock producers. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Zoetis generated revenue of $9.3 billion in 2024 with approximately 13,800 employees.

About the YouGov survey

On behalf of Zoetis Australia, YouGov conducted an online survey between 13-16 June 2025. The survey results are comprised of a nationally representative sample of 1,011 Australian dog owners aged 18 years and older. The survey was designed in collaboration with Palin Communications and Zoetis Australia. Following the completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender, and region to reflect the population estimates of dog owners.

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