Safety of Cartrophen Vet in the dog: review of adverse reaction reports in the UK.

Suspected adverse reactions (SARs) reported for Cartrophen Vet (100 mg sodium pentosan polysulphate/ml) to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in the UK for the period January 1991 to October 1999 were reviewed. Of the 161 reports, 28 were probably product related, 54 were possibly product related, 71 were unlikely to be related and eight were unclassified. An estimated real incidence of adverse reactions probably and possibly associated with Cartrophen Vet of 0.

Systemic use of pentosan polysulphate in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Forty dogs diagnosed as having chronic osteoarthritis took part in a double-blind clinical dose-response study using the antiarthritic agent pentosan polysulphate (PPS). After complete physical examination to ensure good general health, dogs received four subcutaneous injections at intervals of one week 0, 1, 3 or 5 mg/kg PPS from code-numbered bottles. At weekly intervals and four weeks after the last injection, weakness, stiffness, pain on joint manipulation, willingness to exercise, body condition and overall response were scored.

The role of hyaluronic acid in joint stability--a hypothesis for hip dysplasia and allied disorders.

The concentration of hyaluronic acid (HA) and proteins in synovial fluids of hip and shoulder joints of a variety of canine breeds has been investigated. In the Australian Kelpie, a working dog with a low incidence of hip dysplasia, shoulder synovial fluid viscosity and HA concentration were higher than in similar joints of Alsatians in which hip dysplasia is relatively common. Moreover, the HA levels and viscosity in shoulder fluids of animals with clinically defined hip dysplasia were substantially lower than in all other breeds studied.