Canine Osteoarthritis: Osteopathic Management

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Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in both humans and dogs, yet the literature on osteopathic intervention specifically for the canine population remains remarkably thin. In this rigorous postgraduate thesis, Bianca Coutts sets out to address that gap — drawing on a wide body of human OA research, established osteopathic principles, and the emerging evidence base for manual therapy in dogs to build a compelling case for OMT as a meaningful component of canine OA management. Coutts begins by establishing the significant parallels between human and canine OA: shared pathological processes, overlapping risk factors — including breed, body weight, neuter status, and age — and comparable challenges in measuring pain outcomes. She traces the disease from articular cartilage loss through to central sensitisation, making clear that canine OA is far more than a mechanical wear-and-tear condition, and that its management demands a correspondingly multifaceted approach. The osteopathic principles — body unity, the structure-function relationship, and the body's self-regulatory capacity — are then mapped onto the clinical realities of canine OA, showing how OMT can address not just local joint restriction but the broader compensatory and neurological consequences of chronic pain. Human trial evidence is surveyed in depth, including studies demonstrating OMT's effectiveness for knee OA, its role in reducing post-operative opioid consumption, and its measurable benefits across a range of chronic pain conditions including low back pain. Where canine-specific evidence exists — lymphatic pump techniques, Tui-na massage, combined acupuncture and manual therapy — Coutts examines it carefully, acknowledging the limitations of small sample sizes and short follow-up periods while drawing out the consistent pattern of positive findings. The paper concludes with a clear-eyed assessment of what is known, what remains to be studied, and why OMT deserves a defined place in the multimodal management of canine OA.