Face validity of a proposed tool for staging canine osteoarthritis: Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST)

- Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST) is a novel, practical tool for staging the impact of osteoarthritis on dogs.
- COAST incorporates the ability to assess and stage 'at risk', pre-clinical dogs as well as those with established signs of OA.
- COAST incorporates owner assessments and veterinarian clinical assessments.
- COAST provides standardized 'scores' over time that can be related to treatment efforts.
- It is proposed that the COAST might help improve pain control and clinical management in dogs with OA.