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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interferential current therapy on ground reaction force and orthopedic assessment score of canine patients with hip osteoarthritis. Nine dogs that met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Each dog received 3 types of treatment: interferential current therapy (IFC), sham current therapy (SHAM), and control treatment (CTR). The order of the treatments for each dog was assigned by block randomization method. A 24-hour interval was applied between each treatment session. Subjective orthopedic assessment and objective force plate gait analysis were used as measurement of clinical improvement in this study. Lameness, articular mobility and articular pain scores as well as peak vertical force (PVF) variables were assessed prior to and post treatments. Statistical analyses revealed significant increase in PVF of the IFC group (p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in PVF in the CTR group (p<0.05). In the SHAM group, there was no significant change in PVF. There were no significant changes detected in the lameness, articular mobility and articular pain scores. Post hoc comparisons using Tukey- Kramer test demonstrated that the IFC treatment was significantly more effective than the SHAM and CTR treatments (p<0.05). The significant improvement in PVF of the dogs with hip osteoarthritis may be associated with pain alleviation effect of the IFC treatment. The results of this study suggest that IFC may be useful for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prospective, randomized, single-blinded study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of disease modifying osteoarthritis agents (DMOAAs) and carprofen by using force plate gait analysis and orthopaedic assessment score (OAS) in osteoarthritic dogs. Forty dogs with hip and/or stifle osteoarthritis (OA) were assigned randomly into four treatment groups: PCSO-524, treated with a marine-based fatty-acid compound; GC-ASU, treated with a combination of glucosamine-chondroitin sulphate and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables; CPF, treated with carprofen; and CPF-PCSO, treated with a combination of carprofen and PCSO-524. Each group received the therapeutic agent orally for four weeks. Peak vertical force (PVF), OAS, haematology and blood chemistry values were evaluated before treatment, and on the second and fourth weeks post-treatment. No significant effect was found in the PVF, OAS and blood values among the four treatment groups. Analyses within groups revealed significant increase in PVF among the PCSO-524, CPF and CPF-PCSO groups (p < 0.05). OAS showed significant decrease in the PCSO-524, CPF and CPFPCSO groups (p < 0.05). Average BUN in the CPF group increased significantly (p < 0.05). PVF negatively correlated with OAS with r = -0.39 (p = 0.014), r = -0.49 (p = 0.001) and r = -0.48 (p = 0.002) before treatment and on the second and fourth weeks post-treatment, respectively. Even though increased PVFs were demonstrated within the PCSO-524, CPF and CPF-PCSO groups, the greatest improvement was demonstrated in the CPF-PCSO group. The preliminary results imply the clinical benefits of PCSO-524 in combination with carprofen in the treatment of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine osteoarthritis is a common disease in clinical practice. Causes of canine osteoarthritis are obscure. At present, nutraceuticals and hyaluronic acid are used for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. This study assessed the efficacy of intraarticular administration of hyaluronic acid on the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. After undergoing surgical correction of cranial cruciate ligament rupture, 16 dogs were divided into 2 groups, HA and control groups. The dogs in the HA group (n=8) received intraarticular injection of hyaluronic acid. The control group (n=8) did not receive hyaluronic acid treatment after surgery. Lameness score, weight bearing score, radiographic examination and serum OA biomarker (WF6) were used for analysis. Results revealed that the HA group had better lameness score and weight bearing score, but there was no statistic difference in the radiographic finding and the levels of serum WF6 after 8 weeks of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firocoxib and carprofen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are used in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. This study evaluated the efficacy and provided information of these NSAIDs in clinical practice. Sixteen healthy dogs of large breeds over 5 years old without systemic diseases and pregnancy that had coxofemoral osteoarthritis were divided into 2 groups, firocoxib group (n=9) and carprofen group (n=7). The study was conducted for 16 weeks. Firocoxib (5mg/kg body weight) or carprofen (4.4mg/kg body weight) was administered to all dogs once daily for 2 weeks, on alternate days for 6 weeks and every 2 days for 8 weeks. Of all samples, serum OA biomarkers (hyaluronan (HA) and chondroitin sulfate epitope WF6), hematological profiles together with physical, orthopedic and radiographic examination, passive range of motion measurement, pain and lameness scoring, urinalysis, fecal examination and owner preference scoring were assessed. Evaluations of the study took place at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16. Although the serum WF6 levels of the firocoxib group were gradually increased until week 12 and decreased at week 16 and those of the carprofen group were decreased at week 2 and then gradually increased until week 16, the levels of WF6 revealed that the chondroprotective effect of firocoxib and carprofen was still indistinct. Passive range of motion (ROM) measurement revealed evidences of increased hip flexion of the firocoxib group at weeks 2, 4 and 16 (p<0.05) and increased hip extension of the carprofen group at weeks 2, 8 and 12 (p<0.05). These improved ranges of motion indicated that both NSAIDs ameliorated the clinical signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell therapies are rapidly gaining attention as a promising tool for tissue regeneration. A variety of stem cell types have been studied as potential candidates to restore the structure and function of damaged organs or tissues. Recent studies have demonstrated the use of stem cells isolated from dental pulp in dentistry and tissue engineering. In our previous studies we have shown the applications of puppy deciduous teeth stem cells (pDSCs) to restore infarcted myocardium and ulceration of the cornea. For this study, our aim was to provide a novel therapeutic application of allogeneic pDSCs in dogs with chronic osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joints. The method to isolate mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental pulp of dogs and the use of allogeneic puppy deciduous teeth stem cells in osteosrthritis problems were evaluated. Clinical effects of multiple intra-articular injections of pDSCs were investigated on 8 dogs with lameness associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Clinical assessments were collected by interviews and questionnaires. Immediate improvements in clinical scoring in all dogs were seen in 14 days after pDSC injection with no complications. The findings indicated that pDSC treatment considerably helped reduce pain and lameness, improve the quality of life activities and prevent osteoarthritis progression. Multiple Intra-articular injections of pDSCs might be a novel strategy for the treatment of OA in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates arekey structural components of extracellular fluid in articular cartilage. From previous studies, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates have several positive effects on cartilage homeostasis and are used in osteoarthritis patients. Although glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates have some positive effects on clinical treatment of osteoarthritis, clinical results still need to be investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes on lameness score, radiological score, serum WF6 level and serum HA level of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates in osteoarthritic dogs, using anterior cruciate ligament rupture patients as study models of osteoarthritis (n=12). The results from this studyshow no statistical significance between the glucosamine/chondroitin (GsCn) (n=6) and placebo groups (Plab) (n=6) in weight bearing score, lameness score, serum level of hyarulonic (HA) and WF6 chondroitin epitope and radiological score throughout the 16-week study. In the GsCn group the serum WF6 level decreased more rapidly and the increase in serum HA level was slower, compared to the Plab group. Consequently, from these findings, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate contained nutraceutical may provide some delay effects on the degradation process of cartilage and inflammation of synovial membrane. Moreover, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates had a high safety index and did not show any adverse effect throughout the study period (16 weeks). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]