Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Low-dose radiotherapy eased joint pain in dogs with osteoarthritis
By Rossi, Federica et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2018·Centro Oncologico Veterinario, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Megavoltage Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Degenerative Joint Disease in Dogs: Results of a Preliminary Experience in an Italian Radiotherapy Centre.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 25 dogs with osteoarthritis (OA) that were not responding to pain medications were treated with low-dose radiotherapy to see if it could help relieve their pain and improve their mobility. After receiving the treatment, 92% of the dogs showed significant improvement, with many experiencing relief for over a year. The dogs underwent up to four courses of radiotherapy, and none of them had any side effects. This approach proved to be effective and safe, enhancing the quality of life for these dogs suffering from chronic joint pain.
People also search for: dog osteoarthritis treatment · low-dose radiotherapy for dogs · dog joint pain relief options
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a low-dose radiotherapy treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis (OA). Inclusion criteria were dogs affected by OA of one or multiple joints, with lameness, previously treated with medical therapy and referred for radiotherapy because of chronic unresponsive pain. After suspension of medical therapy, dogs underwent external beam radiotherapy treatments delivered in three fractions of 2 Gy each. Four of these dogs had one (three dogs) to four (one dog) additional courses of radiation. Medical records were reviewed and follow-up information was collected by clinical recheck and owners interview. Twenty-five dogs matched the inclusion criteria; among them, 21 had one course of RT and 4 underwent multiple treatments, respectively 218, 266, 39, and 1,384 days after the first treatment. Clinical improvement was observed in 92% of patients with median benefit duration of 356 days after the first treatment, and 418 days after the second treatment. No side effects were recorded. In this group of patients, radiotherapy was effective, well tolerated, and repeatable, leading to an improvement of quality of life in dogs with degenerative joint disease unresponsive to medical treatments.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29692993/