The oral intake of specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP) improves gait and quality of life in canine osteoarthritis patients-A translational large animal model for a nutritional therapy option.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in humans and dogs. Due to its chronic progressive nature, the predominant clinical signs after a certain point are pain and immobility. The similar pathogenesis allows conclusions to be drawn from canine to human OA. Current treatments are limited and often attempt to treat OA symptoms rather than improve joint structure and function. Collagen hydrolysates as oral supplements are a promising therapeutic option to achieve this advanced therapeutic aim in both species. The effects of oral supplementation were therefore investigated in canine OA patients. METHOD: In a systematic, placebo-controlled, double-blind interventional study in 31 dogs with naturally occurring OA, the efficacy of oral supplementation of specific bioactive collagen peptides (BCP) was tested in comparison to the approved combination of the active substances omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. The dogs were examined on a horizontal treadmill with 4 integrated piezoelectric force plates at the beginning and end of a twelve-week test period. At both points, the owners completed a specific questionnaire containing the validated Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) and the dogs were fitted with accelerometers to record total daily activity data. RESULTS: Only the oral supplementation of BCP resulted in a significant improvement of several kinetic parameters measured using a force-plate fitted treadmill, and the quality of life assessed by CBPI, while accelerometry was unaffected by the intervention. CONCLUSION: The results of this three-month BCP supplementation study using objective measurement parameters in dogs with naturally occurring OA demonstrate an efficacy, suggesting the therapeutic use of BCP in canine OA patients and demonstrating the relevance of this collagen hydrolysate formulation for the treatment of OA in human patients as well.

[Comparison of long-term results of Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy and Modified Maquet Procedure in canine anterior cruciate ligament disease]. / Vergleichende Langzeitergebnisse zwischen Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy und Modified Maquet Procedure nach Ruptur des vorderen Kreuzbandes beim Hund.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the Modified Maquet Procedure (MMP) with the Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) using long-term follow-up examinations over the period of more than one year (∅ 3,15 years) by clinical examination, radiographic assessment of osteoarthritis progression, and gait analysis by treadmill examination. Additional aim is to review the influence of surgeons' experience in TPLO technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This clinical study included 67 stifle joints of 50 dogs of different breeds between 20 and 40 kilograms body weight that were treated by TPLO (n = 48) or MMP (n = 19) following the rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. The TPLO group was further divided into a group operated by two experienced surgeons (TPLO1, n = 25) and a second group operated by several surgeons with different experience (TPLO2, n = 23). Following a post-operative time period of more than one year in the least (mean, 3.15 ± 1.21 years) orthopedic and radiographic examinations as well as separate unilateral and bilateral gait analyses were conducted. In addition, gait analysis data were compared with an orthopedically healthy control group. RESULTS: No significant and clinically relevant differences were observed between the 3 groups in the results of their orthopedic examination.Osteoarthritis progression showed similar values in all 3 surgical groups. On average per year this feature was slightly but statistically significantly lower in the TPLO2 group in comparison to the TPLO1 and MMP groups.Gait analysis during walking exhibited significant differences in bilateral ruptures at the Peak Vertical Force and the Vertical Impulse, especially when compared to the healthy control group. Stance phase duration did not show any significant differences. At trot, no significant differences were found between the 3 surgical groups. CONCLUSION: Both surgical techniques achieved good clinical, radiological, and gait analysis results in the 3 groups at long-term follow-up, even when compared with a healthy control group. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: MMP can be considered a rapid feasible alternative to the established TPLO method also bearing satisfactory results in dogs. The degree of the surgeon's experience does not seem to influence the outcome.