Arthritis in NZ pets: more common than most owners realise

Arthritis affects roughly 1 in 5 adult NZ dogs, and becomes even more common in cats as they age. NZ veterinary clinic group VetSouth reports around 90% of cats over 10 years old develop arthritis in at least one joint. It's also common enough to rank among the top reasons NZ pets visit the vet at all: Southern Cross has reported arthritis as one of the most common reasons dogs saw a vet in 2025, alongside allergies and ear infections.

Currently, there is no long term cure. VetSouth is direct about this: arthritis is a progressive condition, and treatment plans aim to alleviate pain and slow its progression, not reverse it. NSAIDs are the typical treatment pathway, but they require regular bloodwork to monitor liver and kidney function for as long as the animal stays on medication. This means arthritis management typically involves recurring vet visits and ongoing costs, not a single bill.

Because arthritis is a chronic, lifelong condition once it develops, how a policy treats ongoing / recurring conditions matters as much as how it treats a one-off accident. It’s worth checking rather than assuming every policy handles chronic conditions the same way. Breeds already prone to joint problems, like German Shepherds, often see arthritis develop earlier.