Adequan Canine is a prescription injectable compound designed to improve the health of canine joints, especially those adversely affected by arthritis.
It is approved by the FDA under the license NADA 141-038.
Adequan’s technical name is polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, or PSGAG, for short.
When joints suffer from arthritis the cartilage in the joint becomes broken down, eventually allowing the underlying bone surfaces to contact each other. For example, when the cartilage of the knee is gone, the femur rubs against the tibia. The result is a coarse, grating sound and feel, as well as pain, heat, swelling and loss of function.
Dogs affected by arthritis will move around less, walk more slowly, limp on one or more legs, be reluctant to jump up or down and may cry in pain. Some dogs may even have sufficient pain to become aggressive as a means of protecting themselves from the hurt.
About twenty percent of adult dogs in the US suffer from arthritis.
Obesity, size of breed and age are predisposing factors, but trauma, including infection, can damage joints and lead to arthritis at any age. Breeds of dogs predisposed to hip dysplasia may become crippled by arthritis at early ages.
Adequan works by improving cartilage health. It actually helps prevent cartilage from wearing away. No other arthritis product works in this fashion. In fact, Adequan inhibits certain enzymes that break down cartilage, while it also stimulates the cells that generate new cartilage and cartilage healing. The effect also includes greater lubrication of joints.
The Novartis company recommends injections of Adequan be given twice weekly for four weeks to affected dogs. However, individual practitioners use off-label schedules of every variation. Often, to help to spread out the cost of the injections, weekly injections are given for eight weeks.
Thereafter, monthly maintenance injections are administered by your pet’s doctor.
See you tomorrow, Dr. Randolph.
MMADEQ
