Dr. Robin Downing podcast spotlights OA pain management beyond NSAIDs

Clinician’s Brief is putting the spotlight back on osteoarthritis pain management with a sponsored podcast featuring Dr. Robin Downing, one of veterinary medicine’s best-known pain specialists. In “Osteoarthritis Pain: Beyond NSAIDs,” Downing joins host Dr. Beth Molleson to discuss how practices can build more complete pain-control strategies for arthritis patients and help pet parents recognize pain that often goes unnoticed until mobility has already declined. (cliniciansbrief.com)

That framing reflects a broader shift already underway in small animal medicine. Chronic OA management has moved beyond a narrow focus on symptomatic relief with a single medication, toward multimodal care plans that account for inflammation, central sensitization, function, body condition, comorbidities, and long-term quality of life. The 2022 AAHA pain management guidance describes NSAIDs as foundational for many canine patients, but also points to grapiprant, anti-NGF monoclonal antibodies, amantadine, and nonpharmacologic modalities as part of a wider toolkit. (aaha.org)

The Clinician’s Brief episode itself is practical in orientation. According to the podcast description, the conversation centers on implementing “the most complete and effective strategies for pain control,” while also improving communication with pet parents so they can better identify pain and support quality of life at home. It’s sponsored by PRN Pharmacal, and the page links to Duralactin, underscoring the commercial context around adjunctive OA discussions. (cliniciansbrief.com)

That practical emphasis also shows up in other recent Clinician’s Brief podcast coverage. In a separate sponsored mobility and joint health episode, sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist Dr. Matt Brunke argued that mobility should be treated as a core quality-of-life issue, not just a symptom bucket. He highlighted that cats are often overlooked in joint-health conversations even though obesity and longer lifespans are making primary osteoarthritis more common, and he framed management as something that should go beyond medications and supplements to include activity support, rehab-minded thinking, and day-to-day function. That complements Downing’s focus on recognizing subtle pain earlier and building fuller care plans around what patients can actually do at home.

The larger market and regulatory backdrop helps explain why this topic remains timely. Anti-NGF therapies have expanded the OA conversation in recent years: the FDA approved Solensia for osteoarthritis pain in cats in 2022 and approved Librela for dogs in May 2023. At the same time, post-approval surveillance has become a bigger part of the clinical discussion. In February 2025, FDA documented safety-related labeling changes for Librela, including updates to warnings, precautions, and dog-owner information based on post-approval experience. (news.zoetis.com)

Recent review literature supports the kind of individualized approach Downing is likely advocating. A 2025 state-of-the-art review on canine OA management describes NSAIDs as a cornerstone, identifies grapiprant as a useful alternative in some patients, and characterizes bedinvetmab as a targeted option that may be especially helpful when NSAIDs are contraindicated. The same review stresses that disease-modifying agents, rehab, and weight control are best used as part of a multimodal plan, not as isolated fixes. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Industry and professional commentary has been moving in the same direction. AAHA has argued that waiting for obvious pain signs can delay meaningful intervention in canine OA, while other veterinary trade coverage has described monoclonal antibodies as an important addition, but not a replacement, for existing pain-control categories. Brunke’s mobility discussion reinforces that point from a function-first angle: preserving movement often means paying closer attention to obesity, conditioning, household accommodations, and species-specific signs of discomfort, especially in cats that may not present with the same obvious mobility complaints seen in dogs. (aaha.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the value of this podcast is less about announcing a new product than about reinforcing day-to-day clinical decision-making. OA patients often need earlier recognition, more structured reassessment, and better pet parent coaching around behavior changes, mobility, appetite, sleep, and activity tolerance. As treatment options widen, the practical challenge is matching the right patient to the right mix of therapies, while documenting outcomes and monitoring safety over time. The added mobility-and-rehab perspective is useful because it reminds clinicians that pain control and function are inseparable, and that cats as well as dogs may need multimodal support. (cliniciansbrief.com)

What to watch: The next phase in OA management will likely center on protocol refinement, especially around multimodal sequencing, long-term monitoring, and how practices incorporate newer biologics alongside NSAIDs, rehab, nutrition, environmental support, and pet parent follow-up. Regulators and clinicians will also keep watching post-market safety data, which means communication and pharmacovigilance are likely to remain central to arthritis care in 2026. (fda.gov)