Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Testing pain sensitivity in dogs with elbow arthritis using a von
By Dalla Fontana, Maria et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2024·Small Animal Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Assessment of potential maladaptive pain in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis using a von Frey aesthesiometer.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with elbow osteoarthritis (OA) showed signs of increased pain sensitivity compared to healthy dogs. Researchers used a special device to measure how much pressure the dogs could tolerate on their front paws. The dogs with OA had a significantly lower pain threshold, meaning they felt pain at lower levels of pressure than the healthy dogs. This suggests that their pain might be more intense or maladaptive, possibly due to changes in how their nervous system processes pain. Further studies are needed to see how this information can help monitor treatment effectiveness for dogs with elbow OA.
People also search for: dog elbow arthritis pain · how to help dog with osteoarthritis · dog pain sensitivity test
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the possible presence of maladaptive pain in the thoracic limbs of dogs with elbow osteoarthritis (OA) using an electronic von Frey aesthesiometer (eVFA). METHODS: Twenty-eight client- and staff-owned dogs (OA, n = 14; controls, n = 14) were enrolled in the study. Every dog underwent a full orthopaedic examination, and then five von Frey measurements were obtained from each carpal pad of each dog. A maximum test threshold of 400 g was set and approved by an ethics committee. RESULTS: eVFA thresholds were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in dogs with OA (median 248 g, range 128-369 g) than in control dogs (median 390 g, range 371-400 g). In the OA group, the sensory threshold was significantly lower (p = 0.048) in the more severely affected limb than the less severely affected limb. LIMITATION: The low maximum threshold required for ethical approval may influence the variability in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Dogs with elbow OA had significantly lower sensory thresholds than control dogs, which is compatible with the presence of maladaptive pain, potentially due to central sensitisation. Further research is required to evaluate the potential use of the eVFA for monitoring clinical progression and treatment response in dogs with elbow OA.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38575548/