While OA can affect dogs of every age, breed, and sex, veterinary practitioners know that they are more likely to see signs in their older patients as well as in larger breed dogs.

The causes of OA are not always simple to uncover. OA frequently develops in multiple joints simultaneously and often develops symmetrically on both sides of the body.

Primary causes of canine OA are rarely recognized in clinical practice. Instead, OA nearly always stems from secondary causes. Nearly 90% of all secondary OA is traumatic; 10% is genetic.