Efficacy and safety of glycosylated undenatured type‐II collagen (UC‐II) in therapy of arthritic dogs§

In large breed dogs, arthritis is very common because of obesity, injury, aging, immune disorder, or genetic predispositions. This study was therefore undertaken to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of undenatured type‐II collagen (UC‐II) in obese‐arthritic dogs. Fifteen dogs in three groups received either no UC‐II (Group I) or UC‐II with 1 mg/day (Group II) or 10 mg/day (Group III) for 90 days. Lameness and pain were measured on a weekly basis for 120 days (90 days treatment plus 30 days post‐treatment). Blood samples were assayed for creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (markers of renal injury); and alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (evidence of hepatic injury). Dogs receiving 1 mg or 10 mg UC‐II/day for 90 days showed significant declines in overall pain and pain during limb manipulation and lameness after physical exertion, with 10 mg showed greater improvement. At either dose of UC‐II, no adverse effects were noted and no significant changes were noted in serum chemistry, suggesting that UC‐II was well tolerated. In addition, dogs receiving UC‐II for 90 days showed increased physical activity level. Following UC‐II withdrawal for a period of 30 days, all dogs experienced a relapse of overall pain, exercise‐associated lameness, and pain upon limb manipulation. These results suggest that daily treatment of arthritic dogs with UC‐II ameliorates signs and symptoms of arthritis, and UC‐II is well tolerated as no adverse effects were noted.