Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog owners report fewer arthritis signs after joint injection
By Barnhard, Jennifer A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2026·1Tactical Veterinary Solutions LLC·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Owner-reported outcomes indicate intra-articular 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel injection is well tolerated and reduces osteoarthritis signs in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of dog owners found that an injection of a special gel (2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel) helped reduce signs of arthritis in their pets. Out of 100 owners who reported on their dogs, 82% noticed their dogs were feeling "somewhat better" or "much better" after the treatment. Many dogs were able to stop or reduce their pain medications and other therapies after receiving the injection. While some dogs experienced mild soreness at the injection site, most owners were happy with the results and would consider this treatment again if their vet recommended it.
People also search for: dog arthritis treatment · polyacrylamide hydrogel for dogs · dog pain relief options
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess owner-reported outcomes following IA injection of 2.5% injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel (2.5% iPAAG) for osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs. METHODS: An anonymous survey was distributed between November 2023 and April 2024. Email invitations were sent to 191 owners whose dogs were treated with 2.5% iPAAG. The survey assessed owner-reported outcomes regarding perceived efficacy, tolerability, and changes in the use of adjunctive therapies following treatment. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 100 owners (52% response rate), reporting on 150 injections across 100 dogs, including 46 dogs treated in multiple joints. The most frequently treated joints were the elbows (n = 79), hips (28), and shoulders (21). Eighty-two percent (82 of 100) of owners rated their dog as "somewhat better" or "much better" on a 5-point Likert scale, indicating a positive treatment response. Among dogs receiving analgesic pharmaceuticals at the time of injection (n = 80), 44% (35 of 80) reduced or discontinued the pharmaceuticals after treatment. Of the 49 dogs receiving additional therapies, 47% (23 of 49) discontinued ≥ 1 intervention after treatment. Mild and self-limiting adverse events were reported in 10% (10 of 100) of dogs, with injection site soreness being the most common. Ninety percent (90 of 100) of owners indicated they would consider repeating the treatment if recommended by their veterinarian. CONCLUSIONS: Owner-reported outcomes suggest that 2.5% iPAAG was well tolerated and associated with reduced OA signs and adjunctive therapy use. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings support further investigation of 2.5% iPAAG as a targeted therapy for canine OA. Controlled, prospective studies are needed to confirm its clinical efficacy.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40997901/