Magnetic collars improve owner-reported pain scores in dogs with osteoarthritis in a blinded crossover study.

Objective: To investigate changes in owner-reported pain, interference of pain on function, and quality of life (QOL) in dogs with clinically suspected osteoarthritis when wearing a collar containing a static magnet.

Animals: 16 dogs over 5 years old weighing between 10 and 40 kg with a clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis and on stable treatment.

Methods: A prospective, blinded crossover study in which dogs wore a collar containing a static magnet or placebo for two 4-week study arms separated by a 2-week washout period. Clients completed the Canine Brief Pain Inventory prior to collar placement and then weekly throughout each arm. Changes in QOL, pain severity, and pain interference scores from the beginning to the end of these arms and changes between the arms were calculated and analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank tests.

Results: 40% of included dogs were on stable doses of NSAIDs. The pain severity scores (PSS), pain interference scores (PIS), and QOL scores were not significantly different at the start of the arms. There was no significant change in PSS or PIS from the start to end of the placebo arms (median changes, 0 and -0.1). Both PSS and PIS reduced significantly during the magnet arms (median changes, -1.0 and -1.2, respectively). The QOL scores did not change significantly in either arm (median changes, 0 and 0).

Clinical Relevance: This preliminary study suggests that magnetic collars reduce owner-reported pain severity and pain interference on function in dogs with clinically suspected osteoarthritis, and further, larger investigations are now warranted.