Adequan and O.C.D.

Remember the lines to the old song "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen...", well that would have to qualify as the theme song for every veterinarian who treats a lot of Great Danes. Shortly after obtaining the status of breeder-veterinarian, you are awarded the lofty title of expert, whether you want it or deserve it or not. After 8 years as an "expert" I have certainly seen my share of troubles: bone trouble, eye trouble, skin trouble, GI trouble to name a few. With all of the giant breeds it seems that they come with giant troubles, and heartbreak becomes routine. As a breeder-veterinarian many times you feel like Captain Kirk going where no man has gone before. Call it scientific exploration, serendipity or quackery, sometimes you find something that seems to work.

One of those routine heartbreaks in Danes is osteochondritis dissecans (O.C.D.) O.C.D. is a crippling joint disease that occur sin large breed dogs, usually between 4-8 months of age. It can show up in almost any joint, but the most common in Danes is in the shoulder. Closer to reality would be to say that the easiest to diagnose is the shoulder; in other joints O.C.D. may go undiagnosed because of the difficulty in seeing the lesions on the radiograph. The cause of O.C.D. is unknown, but heredity, nutrition, breed predisposition, and trauma may all come into play in its etiology. The classic treatment for O.C.D. is to surgically clean out the joint. Despite what we may or may not believe about its cause, reality, again, is that to repair this surgically could be a disqualification in the show ring. Therein lies the rub. To cut or not to cut. If you take the conservative route, resting the dog for up to three months, joint mice may develop, assuring arthritis; if you cur you may be restricted from exhibiting, not to mention an unsuccessful operation.

About three years ago, my wife and I were faced with just that situation. You can imagine our dismay upon coming home to find our five month old bitch limping severely in one shoulder. A friend who had been caring for the dogs had let them inside, and the puppy charged in the bedroom and careened against the dresser, coming up limping. Upon taking radiographs of the shoulder I found the classic O.C.D. lesion in the shoulder; the other shoulder was unaffected. Kim and I, after long discussion, opted for a conservative approach, and decided to cage rest the puppy, in hopes of avoiding surgery. I hate joint surgery, but I knew in my heart it was the only avenue for repair. After three months of waiting, we decided that joint surgery was necessary.

Adequan: An Alternative for O.C.D. (continued)
by James W. Barger, DVM

Here's where serendipity came to the rescue. Shortly after a long discussion with another client (who happened to have a Labrador Retriever) about O.C.D. and its ramifications, a salesman came in wanting to detail a new drug for horses called Adequan. Being a small animal practitioner, I rarely pay attention to these spiels, but the pictures of joints healing caught my eye. I asked if this were being used in dogs at all, and he didn't know. I contacted the manufacturer to inquire about use in dogs, with no luck, so I used it anyway. Arbitrarily I decided to split a vial between the two dogs. IM every five days. After the second shot, the lesions were improved, and after the fifth shot, the lesions were no longer evident on radiographs, and the dogs were sound. I was amazed. Since my experimentation/quackery, a few articles have trickled in about use in dogs for arthritis, especially hip dysplasia, and their dosage regimen is about the same as mine. I have since tried it on fifteen other cases of O.C.D. with 100% success. None of the cases on which I have administered Adequan have had joint mice visible, and I have also seen improvements for a variety of joint problems, including arthritis from hip dysplasia in large breeds and luxating patellas in small breeds. In most of the really arthritic patients, distinct radiographic changes can be seen after a course of treatment with Adequan, although complete healing cannot be expected. The increased activity, old dogs playing again, etc. is incredible. Makes a cynic like me start to wonder.

Adequan is an amazing drug, and I'm a believer. I cringe to say that it actually works better when used along with mega doses of Vitamin C (as I might be lumped with linuspaulingites, and my credibility goes below zero), but it does. While most drugs for arthritis are anti-inflammatories or analgesics (reducing the bodies reaction to pain), Adequan (chemical name - polysulfonated glycosaminoglycan) purportedly acts on the joint surface to help repair the damage. Originally designed for use directly in the joint, it seems to work just as well when administered intramuscularly. There are no known side-effects, or contra-indications to Adequan. I understand that it is being used in humans in Europe under the name Arteparon.

I have read over and over in dog magazines and even veterinary journals of people using bizarre treatments, and I've shaken my head wondering from what Cracker-Jack box they got their degree. It must be my turn. I truly believe that Adequan is a viable alternative to the knife for O.C.D., and I hope that by sharing this I will help others in the breed. I also hope my wife will quit bugging me now that I've written this.

If you have any questions, you may contact me at:

Barger Veterinary Clinic, Inc.
1021 East Childs Avenue
Merced, CA 95340
209-383-6006