A large number of dogs suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic, progressive and painful disease with a prevalence of up to 80 per cent in older canines (1). However, finding effective treatments remains a major challenge in veterinary medicine, as traditional therapies are often limited to pain management and carry the risk of side-effects. That's why an increasing number of studies are looking at nutritional supplements with no adverse effects, such as our PETAGILE^® Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP^®).

Treatment options

Typical signs of OA include stiffness, lameness and unwillingness to exercise, jump or climb (2). The disease progresses with the loss of articular cartilage within the synovial joints, leading to subchondral sclerosis, synovitis and thickening of the capsule (3).

Non-surgical, pain management solutions can alleviate symptoms but do not treat the cause. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), meanwhile, are widely used for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, but are associated with gastrointestinal problems, renal failure, anorexia, lethargy and even death (4). So, in a bid to test the efficacy of an alternative treatment, a recent study investigated the role Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP^®) could potentially play in the management of OA in dogs.

Study overview

The study at the veterinary university (LMU) Munich, Germany conducted on 31 privately owned adult dogs diagnosed with OA, aimed to investigate the effects of our specific BCP^® formulation (PETAGILE®) compared to a blend of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E (n3FA) and a placebo. At baseline and after 12 weeks of supplementation, the dogs underwent gait analysis on a certified treadmill at the veterinary university Munich. The researchers then assessed changes in the dogs' gait parameters between groups, time points and the affected and contralateral limbs.

The results gave interesting insights into the benefits of PETAGILE^® supplementation. Dogs treated with our BCP^® showed significant differences in the gait parameters peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impact and standing phase between the affected and contralateral limbs. The improvement in applied pressure, measured as the relative difference in PVF, was significantly better in the PETAGILE^® group than in the placebo group, where all measured parameters tended to worsen. In the n3FA group, no systematic differences were observed between the two time points.

Promising outcomes

The findings highlight the potential of PETAGILE^® as a treatment option for OA in dogs. In addition to relieving symptoms, supplementation demonstrated the ability to possibly slow the progression of OA after only twelve weeks, providing a holistic approach to joint health in dogs. With the safety profile of our BCP^®, we offer a compelling advantage over traditional pharmacological therapies. The positive results suggest that this approach could also be applied to other species, opening up possibilities for new interventions in musculoskeletal health.

“The study highlights the potential of our specific PETAGILE^® collagen peptides to help manage osteoarthritis in dogs. We now look forward to further studies exploring ways to improve the well-being of our beloved companions,” summarises Dr. Jutta Hugenberg, Senior Life Science Manager at GELITA.

If you would like to know more about PETAGILE^®, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team of experts is here to answer your questions and guide you on your journey to better pet health.

References

(1) Johnson, K.A., Lee, A.H. and Swanson, K.S. (2020) Nutrition and nutraceuticals in the changing management of osteoarthritis for dogs and cats. JAVMA, VOL 256, NO. 12, 1335-134.

(2) Pettitt, R.A. and German, A.J. (2015) Investigation and management of canine osteoarthritis. In Practice, 37,1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/inp.h5763.

(3) Martinek, V. (2003) Anatomie und Physiologie des hyalinen Knorpels. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin 54(6), 166-170.

(4) Belshaw, Z., Asher, L. and Dean, R.S. (2016) The Attitudes of Owners and Veterinary Professionals in the United Kingdom to the Risk of Adverse Events Associated with Using Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to Treat Dogs with Osteoarthritis. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 131,121-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.07.017