Dosing & Administration

How to administer Adequan® Canine to proactively treat canine osteoarthritis (OA) disease, not just the clinical signs.1

At early signs of OA or degenerative joint disease (DJD), veterinarians can prescribe Adequan® Canine (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) at the approved dose to help slow the disease progression with the expectation of achieving the same results shown in clinical studies.1 After the initial series, veterinarians and owners should work together to keep monitoring the dog’s joint health and mobility. Repeat the dosing regimen as needed upon recurrence of clinical signs.

Adequan Canine Veterinarian dog clinic
Adequan Canine Start With It
  • Use Adequan® Canine early, at the first clinical signs of OA before it progresses, and cartilage is irreversibly damaged.1
  • Administer twice weekly for up to 4 weeks (maximum of 8 injections) at approved dosage of 2 mg/lb body weight (0.02 mL/lb or 1 mL/50 lb) by intramuscular (IM) injection only.2 Do not exceed the recommended dose or therapeutic regimen. Do not mix Adequan® Canine with other drugs or solvents. Use within 28 days of first puncture and puncture a maximum of 10 times.
  • You may see signs of improvement within one month.1
Adequan Canine Stay With It
  • Continue to prescribe Adequan® Canine as needed to help slow down the clock of arthritis.

How Adequan® Canine (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) can help extend a dog’s mobility over a lifetime.

Adequan Canine lifetime of mobility chart

IM injection provides fast relief and reliable delivery to synovial joints.

Within 2 hours, Adequan® Canine reaches all synovial joints to begin helping to restore joint tissues that are damaged or inflamed — and lasts for approximately 3 days.1

The specific mechanism of action of Adequan® in canine joints is not known.

Osteoarthritis (OA)
Multimodal Approach
Video Transcript

David L. Dycus DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA

“There are many other avenues of things we can use from a management tool, whether it’s intraarticular injections, whether it’s the usage of Adequan® Canine, whether it’s the usage of formal physical rehabilitation...

“...or other things, using them together, with the whole goal being to preserve the life of the joint by keeping the dog as absolutely comfortable as possible, to maintain a great quality of life, and to maintain that strength of the human-animal bond.”

Kristin Kirkby Shaw
DVM, MS, PhD, CCRT, DACVS, DACVSMR

“I think there’s a misconception among dog owners and veterinarians that dogs with osteoarthritis shouldn’t be active, that anytime they bend their joints it’s uncomfortable for them. And really, it’s quite the opposite.

“We need to keep those joints moving, whether it is through manual therapy with a physical therapist or a rehab vet or it’s just having the dog do a series of exercises at home, sit to stand, shake and high five, some really basic things that can help keep the muscles strong and those joints limber and ultimately change how that dog functions in their life.”

Bryan T. Torres
DVM, PhD, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR

“So when I think about how I manage osteoarthritis in my patients, there are many things that I use...

“...we see these patients later in life, they’re having trouble, they’re having a lameness. They’re sore. They’re not able to do the things that they want to do, and we end up treating them with these medications or these nutraceuticals, these nonsteroidals, surgery, other things like that. Something like Adequan® Canine can be very beneficial in these patients as well. It also can be highly beneficial early on in the disease process.”

The participants are paid consultants for American Regent Animal Health. The opinions of these consultants may not be representative of American Regent Animal Health.

© 2021, American Regent, Inc.
PP-AC-US-0309 11/2020

Adequan® Canine brand of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG)
INDICATIONS Adequan® Canine is recommended for intramuscular injection for the control of signs associated with non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic arthritis of canine synovial joints.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Adequan® Canine should not be used in dogs who are hypersensitive to PSGAG or who have a known or suspected bleeding disorder. It should be used with caution in dogs with renal or hepatic impairment. Adverse reactions in clinical studies (transient pain at injection site, transient diarrhea, and abnormal bleeding) were mild and self-limiting. In post approval experience, death has been reported in some cases; vomiting, anorexia, depression/lethargy and diarrhea have also been reported. The safe use of PSGAG in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. For additional safety information, please see Full Prescribing Information.
1. Adequan® Canine (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) NADA 141-038 FOI Summary, 1997.
2. Adequan® Canine Package Insert, Rev 9/2021

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