Two species. One struggle.
One solution.
Osteoarthritis is the single most common cause of chronic pain in dogs and people.
Osteoarthritis – also called simply ‘arthritis’ - is one of the most common health crises worldwide, affecting millions of people and a huge portion of the canine population. Arthritis comes in many different forms but it isn't just about "getting older"; it is a progressive disease that fundamentally changes how we live. For people, it leads to lost productivity and years of chronic discomfort, while for our dogs, it means losing the ability to run, play, and navigate the world. Because the impact is so widespread, finding a solution is one of the most important goals in modern medicine.
Despite decades of research, we still lack a "cure."
The reason a cure has been so elusive is rooted in a frustrating biological reality: joint cartilage has no blood supply, so once it wears down or breaks, the body has no way to regrow it. Currently we are stuck with two extreme options to treat arthritis: either managing the pain with daily medications that only mask the symptoms or undergoing major surgery for a total joint replacement once the damage is too far gone. CANDO’s research is focused on breaking this cycle, moving past these temporary fixes to find a way to actually repair the joint and restore the quality of life that both humans and dogs deserve.
The Solution: A Network Built for Breakthroughs
Osteoarthritis is a shared burden that connects us deeply to our dogs; both species experience nearly identical biological patterns of joint inflammation, pain, and loss of mobility. Because we share the same struggle, we believe we should share the same solution. This is where CANDO comes in. We believe the hurdle to a cure isn't a lack of scientific brilliance—it’s a lack of structural connection. Traditionally, veterinary research has been "siloed," with individual researchers working in isolation on small patient groups. CANDO closes the gap between these disconnected "small-scale studies" and "global breakthroughs" by building a unified national infrastructure. We aren't just managing the problem; we are building the infrastructure to defeat it.
Learn more about CANDO by reviewing our Mission, The CANDO Process and our FAQ section.
