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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.
|
|
Day 0
|
Day 8
|
Day 15
|
Day 21
|
Day 36
|
|
I
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
|
II
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
III
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
|
IV
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
V
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
VI
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
|
Total
|
22
|
19
|
16
|
13
|
13
|
|
Secondary
Effects
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
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
|
|
Day 0
|
Day 8
|
Day 15
|
Day 21
|
Day 36
|
|
I
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
II
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
|
III
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
|
IV
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
|
V
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
|
VI
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
|
Total
|
25
|
23
|
19
|
16
|
18
|
|
Secondary
Effects
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
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
|
|
Day 0
|
Day 8
|
Day 15
|
Day 21
|
Day 36
|
|
I
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
II
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
III
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
IV
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
V2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
VI
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
|
Total
|
13
|
9
|
8
|
5
|
9
|
|
Secondary
Effects
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
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
|
|
Day 0
|
Day 8
|
Day 15
|
Day 21
|
Day 36
|
|
I
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
II
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
|
III
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
|
IV
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
|
V
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
|
VI
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
Total
|
21
|
16
|
13
|
11
|
15
|
|
Secondary
Effects
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
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
|
|
Day 0
|
Day 8
|
Day 15
|
Day 21
|
Day 36
|
|
I
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
II
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
III
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
|
IV
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
V
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
VI
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
|
Total
|
13
|
11
|
7
|
7
|
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