This becomes important when considering different therapy modalities. Surgery can be used as a preventative and sometimes curative treatment in certain cases of arthritis.
Surgical cases are the exception rather than the rule.
May have GI bleeding. Have used in osteosarcoma patients with good results. Have been reports of liver toxicity, especially in Laborador retrievers. This is usually used as a last ditch attempt to prevent pain in the osteoarthritic dog. I try to use anti-inflammatories sparingly at first, and only when the dog needs them.