Vetinfo
vetinfo4cats
vetinfo4dogs
Canine Encyclopedia
Subscriber Area (members only)
Zoonotic disease
Becoming A Veterinarian
Your Turn
Search vetinfo4dogs
Support Vetinfo and Subscribe toVetinfo Digest
Adaquan and Your DogPlease note: The information on our site is for everyone to read. Please use it as often as you like.
However, Ask Dr Mike is available only to subscribers of our Vetinfo Digest.Please do not send questions if you are not a subscriber.
Please use the search engine or one of the indexes to see if the information
you need is already online. Please see Subscriber info for details. Subscriber Info
The income from the subscriptions helps defray the cost of maintaining the site and allows us
to keep the large amount of information on www.vetinfo.com free to our readers.
Adaquan
Adaquan and Hip replacement
also see Medication
also see Orthopedic Problems in Dogs
also see ArthritisQ: I FOUND A DRUG ON THE WEB CALLED "ADEQUAN" BUT OUR VET ADVISED ME AGAINST IT, HE SAYS IT WILL BE TOO PAINFUL, AND IT MAY DO RUSTY MORE HARM THAN GOOD, DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS ? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU AGAIN, SUSAN
A: Susan-I think the easiest way to explain how I feel about this situation is to tell you a story.
I attended a conference a while ago on hematology and blood component therapy. During the dinner break on the first night one of the participants at my table asked the speaker if Adequan (Rx) could cause bleeding tendencies since its structure is somewhat similar to heparin. The speaker replied that he did not know of any problems with that from a clinical perspective but that it conceivably could cause a slight increase in bleeding times. The questioner then asked if anyone at the table was using it for pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects in dogs with arthritis. All of us were trying it. The general consensus at the table was that it seemed to be beneficial in some dogs. One of the vets said "I think it's a wonderful drug but it sure does burn when you inject it". I replied, "I don't really see that effect. I haven't had any dogs really protest the injections and we use a lot of it in our clinic". To which the vet replied, "No, it really does burn" To which I replied, "Really, I am not seeing reactions that make me think that it hurts to inject. Are you sure?" To which the vet replied, while making injection motions into the thigh of his right leg, "I KNOW it burns. AND I can ski again now."
So, if the medication is painful to inject once a week, but Rusty might walk reasonably comfortable again, which is more important in the overall picture of things?
There are times in life and in veterinary medicine when it is necessary to endure small pains in order to have a better overall lifestyle. I cannot guarantee that Adequan (Rx) will work but it is worth a try. It can be used in conjunction with medications such as carprofen (Rimadyl Rx), aspirin, corticosteroids or even narcotic pain relievers such as hydrocodone. Combinations of pain relief/anti-inflammatory medications that are compatible can provide enhanced pain relief. Providing good pain relief enhances the quality of life.
Mike Richards, DVM
Q: Hi, I have a 6 year old Golden Retriever bitch with HD. At age 3, she had a total hip replacement done on one hip. Now, in trying to help with her arthritus, I recently started giving Adaquan shots to her (2 per week). She has had 5 so far.. with 3 more to go to finish the treatment. It seems to me that she has deterioated in soundness since starting the shots... less likely to go up stairs, less likely to get up on the couch or bed (even with the aid of her "step" that I have made for her), more difficulty in getting her hind end underneath her to get up. I was wondering.. have you had any experience with giving Adaquan to a dog who has had a total hip replacement? I am wondering if the Adaquan causes problems in dogs with hip replacements. I wanted to give the Adaquan instead of anti-inflamatories, to avoid any possible GI upset/ulceration, etc. I was under the impression that although the Adaquan might not help, it would do no damage. Now, I am very worried that in trying to help her, I have done something to make her worse. :( I lost my husband to cancer in January.. and my male Golden to cancer in May. My Skye is all that I have left. :( I would appreciate any information re the Adaquan. It would be nice to know that someone else had used the Adaquan on hip-replacement dogs with good results.. or, at least, no harmful results...I am making myself sick over it. On the other hand... if the opinion is *not* to use the product on such dogs, I would also like to know that.. so that I never do it again. Thank you for your help. Tina
A: Tina - I am not aware of any problems using Adequan in dog with total hip replacements. I have done this on two occasions with no detrimental effect that I am aware of. I usually use Adequan on a once per week basis for 5 weeks, then on an "as needed" basis which usually works out to an injection every 2 to 4 weeks.
It would be a good idea to have your golden examined to be sure there is not a problem with the hip prosthesis and to be sure that there is not another problem like spinal disc injury, lordosis, myasthenia gravis or other causes of weakness, paralysis or pain.
Mike Richards, DVM
Last edited 02/04/03
