USE OF CARTILADE® IN THE TREATMENT
OF SECONDARY OSTEOARTHRITIS IN THE DOG

Jacques Rauis, DVM

Abstract
A dried 100% pure shark cartilage (Cartilade) formulated into capsules was used as treatment of secondary osteoarthritis for ten dogs with severe lameness. Each dog received one capsule containing 740 mg of Cartilade orally per 5 kg of body weight per day.  The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated at days 8, 15, 21 and also two weeks after the end of treatment  (day 36).  The results indicate significant improvement of local pain and swelling and improvement in function.

Introduction and Study Aims  
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disorder, involving one or several joints, characterized by the disorganization of the joint cartilage and by the appearance of osteophytes.  This leads to lameness due to ankylosis and pain.  The aim of this study is the evaluation of the effects of Cartilade on the clinical signs due to osteoarthritis in the dog, as well as to list and describe any side effects of this product.

Subjects:

Ten dogs were treated with Cartilade.  They were affected by lameness due to osteoarthritis following:

• Joint fracture (two cases)
• Hip dysplasia (four cases)
• Joint dislocation (two cases)
• Spondylopathy (two cases)

Rupture of cruciate ligament (two cases)
X-rays confirmed the osteoarthritis in all the cases and involved one joint (cases #1, 4, 10) or several joints (cases #2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9).  All ten dogs were in good condition and did not show any general sign of organic disease.  One dog (#6) received a full course of treatment, but was not available for follow up. The results for this dog are not presented.  Three dogs received a second course of treatment (Cases # 2, 8, and 9, data not presented). 

The dogs were chosen partly for the intensity of the lameness and/or the extent of clinical signs and partly for the motivation and capacity for cooperation of the owners. 

Materials and Methods
The product used was 100% pure shark cartilage (Cartilade) in capsule form.  Each capsule contained 740 mg of Cartilade.

Each dog received one capsule of Cartilade per 5 kg of body weight per day during three weeks.  It was administered in one or several oral administrations; most often the owner put the powder into the meal.  No other drug or food supplement or other treatment has been given during these three weeks.  Each dog was evaluated before the treatment at day 0 and an assessment of the treatment was done at day 8, day 15, day 21 and at day 36. 

A score between 0 (no sign or symptom) and 5 (most severe sign or symptom) was assigned for each of the six parameters, three non-functional (I, II, III) and three functional (IV, V, VI):

I.      Local Swelling
II.      Atrophy of regional muscles
III.      Joint crepitation and/or pain
IV.      Lameness before activity
V.      Lameness after activity
VI.      Difficulty getting over an obstacle
V = the same after ½ hour of exercise

NB:      IV = difficulty in walking or running after several hours of immobility

Results

Subject 1: Labrador, male, 50 kg, 11 yrs

• Fracture of the hip joint following a road accident seven years ago

• Local swelling is considerable

• Palpation of the joint is not possible due to excessive pain

• Dog walks slowly and never plays

• Owner comments: after Day 15, became more alert, began to play by himself.

Pain Score (1-5)

Results

 Subject 2:  Labrador, female, 40 kg, 7 yrs

• Very strong hip dysplasia and bilateral arthrosis

• Rupture of cruciate ligament of the knee four years ago, operated after 8 months – arthrosis present

• Very considerable crepitation at the knee mobilization audible

• Hip palpation/mobilization very painful

• Walks slowly, needs assistance to climb stairs

• Owner comments: much more alive, more happy, even a bit nervous

Pain Score (1-5)

Results

 Subject 3: Cocker, female, spayed, 21 kg, 7 yrs

• Fracture of spine at L7, four years earlier with resulting spondyloarthropathy with ankylosis involving L5, L6, L7 and sacrum

• Depression of the back at this site

• Walks “prudently”

• Urinary incontinence

• Owner comments: the back is right again, much more alert and jumps as never before, urinary incontinence remains

Pain Score (1-5)

Results

Subject 4: Crossbreed male, 3 kg, 14 yrs

• Obese

• Hip joint dislocation with pseudoarthrosis

• Unable to jump or climb stairs

• Hip palpation/mobilization very painful

• Owner comments: much more alive, seems to be very happy, climbs stairs alone, jumps

 Pain Score (1-5)

Results

Subject 5: Crossbreed male, 11 kg, 12 yrs

• Spondylosis, lumbosacral and thoracolumbar

• Painful upon palpation

• Walks stiffly

• Little or no pain upon palpation, and improvement in local inflammation.  However, no change in stiffness.  Dog did not like the taste of shark cartilage

Pain Score (1-5)

Results

Sucject 7: Poodle male, 7 kg, 16 yrs

• Considerable joint crepitation

• Mobilization is very painful

• Walks with difficulty

• Owner comments: spectacular improvement beginning on the second day, Zorro is much more alive, he walks normally, climbs stairs, runs some distance.

Pain Score (1-5)

Results

Subject 8: German Shepherd male, 53 kg, 8 yrs

• Bilateral hip dysplasia with arthritis

• Ankylosis

• Owner comment: local swelling decreased very much. Crepitation was thus more palpable, but the mobilization was much less painful, no change for ankylosis.  Overall good results, but not full cure.

Pain Score (1-5)

Results

Subject 9: Crossbreed male, 52 kg, 5 yrs

• RCLA (rupture of the cruciate ligament) with arthritis of the knee

• Mobilization not painful

• Slight lameness

• Joint is very enlarged, hard

• Owner comments: no improvement at all, except for a better start after a long rest.  Owner wanted to change the treatment after day 21, no follow-up at day 36

 Pain Score (1-5)

Results

Subject 10: Labrador male, 50 kg, 11 years (follow-up visit)

• After 4 weeks without Cartilade, subject was again given the same treatment (10 capsules/day) for three weeks and then received half the dosage (5 capsules/day) for a longer period of time

• Owner comments: during four weeks without Cartilade, the improvement was kept for two weeks and then decreased to 5 capsules/day and is rated between 10 and 11 depending upon the week

Pain Score (1-5)

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

The summary table presented below provides an additive summary for all dogs for each parameter of evaluation (local swelling, muscle atrophy, etc...).  The results indicate that the greatest improvement was observed in decreasing local swelling and pain.  In contrast, little improvement was observed in countering muscle atrophy or joint crepitation.  There was considerable improvement (40-50% overall) in all three of the  functional parameters of lameness (before and after activity) and in clearing an obstacle.

CONCLUSIONS

 Even though the number of cases may not be sufficient to reach statistically significant conclusions, there is enough information to suggest the following:

• The main observable effect is the very significant reduction of local swelling and inflammation (72% overall reduction)

• The 40-50% improvement in all three functional parameters is impressive. 

• There were no significant side effects at the dosage level used.  Cartilade is very easy to administer.  It mixes well with the meal, and 9/10 dogs liked it very much

• In all cases, the owners observed that their dogs were more active, even happy, possibly as a result of the relief from pain.

As a general conclusion, Cartilade, in this preliminary report,
appears to be effective and safe to administer in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis.