In this episode of Canine Arthritis Matters, Hannah Capon is joined by Professor Natasha Olby of North Carolina State University to explore the emerging but under-recognised concept of frailty in companion animals. Frailty is widely studied in human medicine but rarely discussed in veterinary practice, despite its major implications for how we interpret behaviour, manage medications, and support quality of life in ageing dogs.

Together, they discuss how frailty differs from chronic pain, why misinterpreting one for the other can lead to over-medication or missed interventions, and how recognising frailty creates opportunities for prevention, lifestyle modification, and better caregiver guidance. Natasha also introduces her team’s newly developed frailty screening tool for dogs and explains how it can help veterinarians and owners identify pre-frail states and take action earlier.

Guest Bio:

Professor Natasha Olby is a veterinary neurologist at North Carolina State University. She earned her PhD in spinal cord injury, completed advanced surgical training in neurosurgery, and has received numerous awards, including the Faculty Achievement Award from the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians and the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology.

She has authored countless publications and edited the BSAVA Manual of Companion Animal Neurology. Her current research focuses on ageing of the nervous system and frailty in dogs, with a landmark paper published in 2024:

Russell, K. J., Mondino, A., Fefer, G., Griffith, E., Saker, K., Gruen, M. E., & Olby, N. J. (2024). Establishing a clinically applicable frailty phenotype screening tool for aging dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1335463

Key Takeaways:

1. Frailty is not simply “old age” but a clinical syndrome of accumulated impairments across multiple systems, leading to increased vulnerability.

2. Frailty and chronic pain can look similar, but confusing the two risks over-prescribing medications or missing opportunities for lifestyle support.

3. Frailty is multidimensional: physical, nutritional, social, and cognitive domains all contribute.

4. Pre-frail states can be modified—early recognition allows exercise, nutrition, and environmental changes to slow progression.

5. Frailty screening tools can help veterinarians and owners identify risk, predict outcomes, and tailor interventions more effectively.

Relevant Links:

Join the CAM Member Zone

Gain access to exclusive resources, webinars, and a supportive community dedicated to improving life for dogs with chronic pain and frailty.

Join here: https://www.caninearthritis.co.uk/member-zone/

Access the Chronic Pain Symposium On-Demand

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Have questions send them to: info@caninearthritis.co.uk

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.