Animalcare (maker of Daxocox), has launched an osteoarthritis diary to help veterinary practices collaborate with owners in the management of canine osteoarthritis.

The company points to research which shows that osteoarthritis can affect up to 40% of dogs 1,2 and managing the disease requires a multi-faceted 1,3, life-long, approach.

Animalcare says its osteoarthritis diary gives practices a practical, client-friendly tool to engage pet owners in their dog’s care journey, promoting adherence to treatment plans and enhancing communication between vets and pet owners.

Pet owners are asked to record three everyday activities to monitor their dog's progress, for example, its ability to get into the car, go upstairs or get up after sleeping, on a scale of 1-4. 

This will allow all members of the veterinary team  to understand how the patient is responding to treatment.

Kai Crawshaw, Brand Manager at Animalcare said: “This OA Diary is intended to enhance the veterinary practice’s ability to offer comprehensive, contextualised care, without increasing their workload.

"The diary supports both initial treatment plans and long-term management strategies, giving veterinary staff confidence that their patients are receiving the ongoing care they need at home.”

https://www.animalcare.co.uk/oa_diary/ 

References

  1. Monteiro, B.P., Lascelles, B.D.X., Murrell, J., Robertson, S., Steagall, P.V.M. and Wright, B. (2023), 2022 WSAVA guidelines for the recognition, assessment and treatment of pain. J Small Anim Pract, 64: 177-254. https://doi.org/10.1111/ j sap.13566.
  2. Wright A, Amodie DM, Cernicchiaro N, Lascelles BDX, Pavlock AM. Diagnosis and treatment rates of osteoarthritis in dogs using a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) or Health Questionnaire for Osteoarthritis in general veterinary practice. ISPOR. 2019.
  3. Cachon, T., Frykman, O., Innes, J. F., Lascelles, B. D. X., Okumura, M., Sousa, P., Staffieri, F., Steagall,P. V., & Van Ryssen, B. (2023). COAST Development Group’s international consensus guidelines for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. Frontiers in veterinary science, 10, 1137888. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1137888 

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