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.

In this episode of Canine Arthritis Matters, Hannah Capon speaks with Dr. Deborah (Deb) Torraca of Wizard of Paws, a pioneer in veterinary rehabilitation. Together they dive into one of the most overlooked challenges in managing osteoarthritis: comorbidities such as kidney disease, heart disease, or cancer that often overshadow pain management.

Deb shares her wealth of experience treating complex cases, showing how rehab, lifestyle modifications, and manual therapies can still transform quality of life—even when drugs like NSAIDs are limited or contraindicated. She emphasizes the importance of “baby steps” in building sustainable care plans, the overlooked role of enrichment and fun, and how simple tools like rugs, nail trims, and mobility aids can have life-changing impact.

This is a practical and inspiring discussion that calls for a cultural shift: osteoarthritis care should not be sidelined, and rehabilitation should be seen as a first-line option, not a last resort.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Deborah Torraca is the founder of Wizard of Paws Rehabilitation in the United States and a leading international educator in veterinary rehab. Originally trained as a human physical therapist, she shifted her focus to animals and has since authored and co-authored numerous textbook chapters, published research, and spoken at veterinary conferences worldwide.

Deb combines clinical practice with teaching, research, and industry collaboration, making her uniquely placed to comment on the real-world challenges of managing canine osteoarthritis and chronic pain. Her philosophy is rooted in practicality: use what’s available, start with the basics, and empower owners with realistic, effective steps to improve their dog’s life.

Key Takeaways:

1. Comorbidities should not eclipse pain management. OA is often deprioritised in favour of conditions like kidney or heart disease, but untreated pain worsens overall health and quality of life.

2. Rehab is a first-line treatment, not a last resort. Many dogs improve significantly through lifestyle adjustments, exercise, and manual therapies—sometimes avoiding surgery altogether.

3. Baby steps matter. Introducing gradual, sustainable changes is more effective and affordable than overwhelming dogs and caregivers with every possible intervention at once.

4. Practical tools make a big difference. Rugs, mobility aids, nail care, and enrichment activities can improve comfort and reduce stress on painful joints.

5. Quality of life includes joy. Beyond pain relief, ensuring enrichment, fun, and family connection is central to managing chronic conditions in dogs.

In this thought-provoking episode of Canine Arthritis Matters, Hannah Capon sits down with Vincent Hoogstad, a physiotherapist turned animal rehabilitation practitioner and educator. Together, they explore the complexities of pain: how animals and humans perceive it differently, the cultural drivers that shape our response to it, and why pain behavior is not always a reliable indicator of suffering.

The conversation dives into evolutionary perspectives, the distinction between emotions and feelings, and how caregivers’ expectations often complicate decision-making in veterinary practice. Vincent shares stories from his clinical work and his broader studies in ethology, primatology, and conservation, alongside reflections from his book Monkey Business.

Listeners are invited to challenge assumptions about pain, embrace observation over assumption, and reflect on how empathy and environment shape the way we interpret suffering in both humans and animals.

Guest Bio:

Vincent Hoogstad began his career as a human physiotherapist in Rotterdam before shifting his focus to animal rehabilitation and behavioral ecology. He has trained extensively in physical rehab (University of Tennessee), primatology, wildlife conservation, and the One Health perspective. Based in Crete, he runs a small rehabilitation business while lecturing internationally.

Vincent is also the author of Monkey Business, a book exploring empathy, sociality, and the interconnectedness of humans and animals. He is passionate about bridging science, philosophy, and practice to better understand pain and behavior across species.

Key Takeaways

1. Pain is always real, but pain behavior is heavily influenced by environment and context.

2. Animals often hide pain, especially prey species, which makes observation skills critical.

3. Human cultural expectations strongly influence how caregivers interpret and respond to their pet’s pain.

4. Observation is often more reliable than owner reports when assessing discomfort.

5. Education, empathy, and environmental modification are as powerful as medication in managing chronic pain.

Relevant Links:

Monkey Business (Vincent Hoogstad’s book): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monkey-Business-Empathy-Animals-People/dp/1916238549/

Join the CAM Member Zone

Access tools, guides, and exclusive education to help you better understand and manage arthritis in dogs. From lifestyle modification resources to validated pain questionnaires, the Member Zone equips you with everything you need to improve your dog’s quality of life.

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

Learn more about CAM:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canine_arthritis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanineArthritisManagement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canine-arthritis-management-ltd

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.