Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Polynucleotide joint injections may help small dogs with arthritis
By Lee, Chae-Lim et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2025·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Intra-articular injections of polynucleotides show promise in improving clinical outcomes compared to hyaluronic acid in small-breed dogs with osteoarthritis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of small-breed dogs with osteoarthritis in their hind legs received either polynucleotide (PN) or hyaluronic acid (HA) injections to see which treatment worked better. The dogs treated with PN showed more significant improvements in their movement and pain levels compared to those receiving HA, especially after 12 weeks. The PN injections helped the dogs feel better and move more comfortably sooner than the HA injections. This suggests that PN could be a more effective option for managing arthritis in small dogs.
People also search for: dog arthritis treatment · polynucleotide injections for dogs · hyaluronic acid for dog osteoarthritis · small breed dog joint pain relief
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of IA polynucleotide (PN) and hyaluronic acid (HA) injections in small-breed dogs with osteoarthritis. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, comparative, randomized, blinded clinical study was conducted from February 2024 to January 2025 at a university veterinary hospital and 3 veterinary clinics. Client-owned small-breed dogs (< 15 kg) with hindlimb osteoarthritis, confirmed by clinical signs and radiographic findings, were assigned to receive 2 IA injections of either HA or PN at a 1:2 ratio, with a 2-week interval. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 using 2 validated clinical metrology instruments, the Canine Orthopedic Index (COI; function, gait, stiffness, and quality of life) and Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI; pain severity score [PSS] and pain interference score [PIS]). RESULTS: Of the 34 enrolled dogs, 27 completed the study (HA, n = 9; PN, 18). The mean age was 6.3 years, with a median weight of 4.8 kg. The PN group showed significantly greater improvements in COI, stiffness, CBPI, and PIS compared with the HA group at week 12. The PN-treated dogs also experienced earlier or more sustained improvements in COI, stiffness, gait, CBPI, PSS, and PIS. The COI-defined success was observed from weeks 4 to 12 in the PN group and at week 8 in the HA group. CONCLUSIONS: The IA PN injections resulted in earlier, greater, and more sustained clinical improvements than HA in dogs with osteoarthritis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Injections of PN may offer a more effective alternative to HA for managing canine osteoarthritis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40854430/