Clinical application of d-glucosamine and scale collagen peptide on canine and feline orthopedic diseases and spondylitis deformans

We have been investigating the effect of various amino sugars, uronic acid, and collagen peptides on wound healing of experimental cartilaginous tissue damage using a rabbit model, and also testing such supplements in various of diseases in dogs and cats. In the present study, we focused on the clinical effects of orally administered d-glucosamine hydrochloride and collagen peptides on joint diseases (48 cases) including spondylitis deformans (SD, 23 cases) in dogs and cats. The collagen peptide used in the study was extracted from fish scale (SCP, MW: 800). These materials were administered at 1 g each/animal/day, mixed in dog food or cat food. Lameness was evaluated using a lameness scale of 0 to 10 (0 = normal, 10 = unable to rise). Lameness scores at the first examination were distributed from 1 to 10, however, scores fell to less than 3 by final follow-up. The simultaneous administration of d-glucosamine and SCP was very effective in various kinds of joint degeneration and SD in dogs and cats. d-Glucosamine and SCP are thought to increase proteoglycan and collagen synthesis as well as exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and trigger recovery of vascular circulation in the damaged area.