Helping Dogs Live Happier, Longer Lives with OA Pain Management 

Why Pet Pain Awareness Matters  

If your dog could talk, you’d probably hear, “Let’s go for a walk!” or “Can I have more kibble, please?” But one thing you might never hear is: “I’m in pain.” This is an important reminder that we need to advocate for our pets — dogs can’t tell us when they’re hurting, but their behavior can. 

Since nearly half of all US households have a dog and an overwhelming majority (88.8%) view their dog as a family member, ¹ according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, it’s more important than ever to manage pet pain for longevity and quality of life.  

This month, we’re raising awareness of the warning signs of pain, its most common cause, treatment options, and Elanco’s commitment to supporting senior dogs through partnerships like the Senior Dog Veterinary Society. 

What is Osteoarthritis in Dogs?  

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of chronic pain in dogs,² possibly affecting 1 in 4 dogs.³ It’s a progressive disease that causes inflammation and degeneration of joint cartilage. Over time, OA limits mobility and can reduce a dog’s quality of life. 

Who’s at Risk? 

OA can affect dogs of any age, breed, or size.  

Because OA is progressive, early recognition is key to helping dogs live more comfortably.  

Spot the Signs of Pain 

We all want our dogs to keep running, playing, and zooming like they love to do. Protect their playtime by knowing the warning signs of OA:  

Not sure if it’s OA or “just getting old”?  When in doubt, have it checked out! Your stoic dog relies on you to notice the signs and bring changes to your veterinarian’s attention.  

Treatment Options: From Lifestyle to Veterinary Care  

Treatment options can vary from lifestyle and supportive care to daily medication. Speak to your veterinarian about your dog’s behavior to determine the right treatment plan. 

If your dog has OA, managing their exercise, diet and weight combined with pain control can help them stay happy and mobile in the long run. This is called multimodal treatment. 

Your veterinarian may recommend a dog-specific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAIDs are considered safe and effective at controlling both inflammation and pain but not all NSAIDs work the same. 

Galliprant® (grapiprant tablets) features a unique mode of action that effectively addresses inflammation and pain while reducing the impact on your dog’s organ health. ^4,5* The once-a-day, flavored, chewable tablet, fits into your routine—and your dog’s!  

Raising Awareness: The Aches and Flames Campaign  

In 2025, Elanco and Galliprant ® launched Aches and Flames to raise awareness about OA pain signals and empower pet owners to talk to their vet. In the campaign, two veterinarians dish on canine OA inflammation while eating spicy chicken wings—showing how ignoring OA inflammation is like playing with fire!   

Partnering for Senior Dogs: Elanco x Senior Dog Veterinary Society  

Elanco is committed to helping pets live longer, healthier and more active lives. Beyond product innovation, we collaborate with organizations making a difference in animal well-being.  

That’s why we’ve partnered with the Senior Dog Veterinary Society (SDVS) to improve senior dog care through education, research and community support. There are over 26.5 million U.S. households with senior dogs and that number increasing by more than 10 percent over the past 10 years ⁶, focusing on this life stage is so important. This collaboration addresses specialized care needs by providing veterinary professionals with educational events, opportunities to explore and discuss innovative treatments and products for senior dogs, certifications and resources focused on senior dog care, particularly OA.  

“We are thrilled to join forces with the Senior Dog Veterinary Society,” said Dr. Stephanie H. Loter, Medical Strategic Lead, Pain Management, at Elanco Animal Health. “As pets live longer lives, their health needs evolve, and this partnership will help ensure that senior dogs receive the care and attention they deserve to thrive in their golden years.” 

Taking Action: Helping Your Dog Live More Comfortably 

As a purpose-driven organization, Elanco is dedicated to helping make life better for animals. We’re addressing critical health needs with innovations like Galliprant ® and increasing access to health products and services through partnerships like SDVS.  

Take time to recognize the signs of OA. If you’ve noticed changes in your dog's behavior, speak to your veterinarian about pain management. OA may last a lifetime, but with the right care, your dog can keep living comfortably and happily for year to come.  As a purpose-driven organization, Elanco is dedicated to making life better for animals because that makes life better. We’re addressing critical health needs with innovations Galliprant ® and increasing access to health products and services through partnerships like SDVS.  

This Pet Pain Awareness Month, take time to recognize the signs of OA. If you’ve noticed changes in your dog's behavior, speak to your veterinarian about pain management. OA may last a lifetime, but with the right care, your dog can keep living comfortably and happily for year to come.  

*Monitoring is recommended if using long-term. 

1. Larkin, M. (2024, October 10). Pet population continues to increase while pet spending declines. American Veterinary Medical Association. https://www.avma.org/news/pet-population-continues-increase-while-pet-spending-declines 

2. Fox SM, Millis D. Osteoarthritis: The disease. Multimodal management of canine osteoarthritis. Boca Raton, FL: Manson Publishing Ltd. 2010;24. 

3. Lascelles D. Joint pain in dogs and cats. International Association for Study of Pain. 2016; Fact Sheet No. 9. 

4. Rausch-Derra LC, Huebner M, Rhodes L. Evaluation of the safety of long-term, daily oral administration of grapiprant, a novel drug for treatment of osteoarthritic pain and inflammation, in healthy dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2015;76(10):853-9. 

5. Kirkby Shaw K, Rausch-Derra LC, Rhodes L. Grapiprant: an EP4 prostaglandin receptor antagonist and novel therapy for pain and inflammation. Vet Med Sci. 2016;2(1):3-9. 

6. Sprinkle D. (25 Nov 2022) ‘Seniors’ are a growing part of the pet population. Retrieved from https://globalpetindustry.com/article/seniors-are-growing-part-pet-population/ 

Indication 

Galliprant controls pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. 

Important Safety Information 

For use in dogs only. Keep this and all medications out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidental ingestion or overdose. Galliprant is a non-COX inhibiting NSAID. As a class, NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal, kidney and liver side effects. Evaluation for pre-existing conditions and regular monitoring are recommended. Do not use in dogs that have a hypersensitivity to grapiprant. Concomitant use of Galliprant with other NSAIDs or corticosteroids should be avoided. Concurrent use with other anti-inflammatory drugs or protein-bound drugs has not been studied. The safe use of Galliprant has not been evaluated in dogs younger than 9 months of age and less than 8 lbs (3.6 kg), dogs used for breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs, or dogs with cardiac disease. Owners should be advised to observe for signs of potential drug toxicity. Adverse reactions may include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, watery or bloody stools, and decreases in serum albumin and total protein. Please see product label or visit my.elanco.com/us/galliprant for full prescribing information. 

Galliprant, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. ©2025 Elanco or its affiliates. 

PM-US-25-1766 

PM-US-25-0551