Adequan Canine is a prescription medication that’s injected intramuscularly in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease. It helps to provide relief from joint pain. It can also be prescribed for dogs recovering from a surgery.
Canine Osteoarthritis
Canine osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative joint disease caused by the deterioration of the cartilage that lines the joints. This results in inflammation of the affected joint because of increased friction. There is erosion of the bone and formation of a new bone known as a bone spur. This results in pain and disruption of normal movement.
Osteoarthritis is common in overweight and active dogs and is prevalent in large breeds such as the Golden Retriever, German Shepherds, Rottweiler’s, Bulldogs and Labradors.
Symptoms of Canine Osteoarthritis:
- Stiffness
- Inflammation
- Pain
- Decreased mobility
- Lameness
- Limping
- Lethargy
- Difficulty in rising, lying down or climbing stairs
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling of the affected joint
- Excessive grooming of the affected joint which feels hot to the touch
Adequan Canine for Dogs
Adequan for dogs is also known as polysulfated glycosaminoglycan and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. This drug is defined as a disease modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD) as it treats the disease while relieving the pain associated with it.
The drug inhibits the catabolic enzymes that are responsible for eroding the joint. It lubricates the joint and, repairs and binds damaged cartilage. At the same time, it enhances the activity of anabolic enzymes to stimulate the synthesis of proteins and collagen. When injected into the dog’s muscle, the drug is absorbed by the inflamed joints and provides relief. It starts to work within hours and stays in the affected joints for 3 days.
Dosage of Adequan Canine
The recommended dosage is 2mg per pound of the dog’s weight. This dose of Adequan Canine should be injected intramuscularly twice a week for 4 weeks. It has to be administered in a series of 8 injections. Although improvement is generally observed after the second injection, cartilage erosion ceases after the administration of all 8 injections. This is accompanied by the onset of joint repair and lubrication. As a pet owner, you should therefore ensure that all 8 injections are administered to the dog at the right time.
Side Effects and Contraindications of Adequan Canine
There are some side effects to the drug but these are mild and temporary. Some of the side effects are diarrhea, vomiting, pain at the site of the injection, abnormal bleeding and depression. Adequan Canine is contraindicated in dogs with renal or liver problems, hypersensitive dogs or petswith a bleeding disorder.
Pregnant or lactating dogs should not be injected with Adequan Canine as it could cause complications.
There are several medications that are used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. They include Rimadyl, Metacam or Deramaxx. However, Adequan Canine is the only product that has been clinically proven to relieve pain and treat osteoarthritis.