The properties of hyaluronic acid include its ability to lubricate, and high viscoelasticity, which makes them useful for shock absorption, and support of joint composition.
As a part of the Gag family, hyaluronic acid (Hyaluronan) combines with aggrecan (in the proteoglycan family of chondroitin sulfate) that occurs naturally in the body's fluid, tissue, synovial fluid, and articular cartilage. This is why we include both chondroitin and hyaluronic acid in our joint care products for animals.
Joint conditions like arthritis cause hyaluronic acid to break down and deteriorate naturally within the joints. Consequently, hyaluronidase is released into the body to attack the natural production of hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic use in human medicine
In the therapeutic industry, hyaluronic acid is used for wound dressing, osteoarthritis medication, burn therapy, ophthalmic medicine, stomach ulcer treatments, and skin care treatment.
Veterinary use of hyaluronic acid in horses and dogs
Veterinary practitioners have used hyaluronic acid for a decade to treat osteoarthritis in animals through injections. There is a disadvantage to intravenous injection of hyaluronic acid in that a professional is required. In addition, there is the possibility of infection at the injection site, and it is costly.
Oral administration of hyaluronic acid provides a balanced level throughout the body, is easy to administer, and has no cost vet fees. It has been determined that daily consumption of oral hyaluronic acid can alleviate joint pain. Research has shown animals such as horses and dogs absorb hyaluronic acid better when taken orally rather than injected.
The research on horses
Due to the stress on the horses' joints during racing, racehorses may develop traumatic arthritis in the carpal, tarsal, fetlock, and coffin joints.
Researchers at the Department of Connective Tissue Research investigated cortisone injections used alone compared to using both cortisone and hyaluronic acid injections.
This experiment involved twelve racehorses suffering from traumatic and degenerative arthritis between the ages of 3 and 10. The horses were grouped depending on the severity of their condition. According to the findings of this experiment, the horses treated with cortisone and hyaluronic acid showed excellent improvement compared to cortisone injection alone.
A further study showed that hyaluronic acid injections achieved the same result when used alone for horses with traumatic arthritis.
The research on dogs
In one study (4. below) fifty-five dogs with Tibial Tuberosity advancement surgery who had been diagnosed with Cranial Cruciate ligament injury were administered oral hyaluronic acid. There were two groups of dogs: Group A(placebo) and Group B(HA). A ten-week follow-up was performed before and after surgery to measure the results. A significant finding supports that oral Hyaluronic acid administration to help manage osteoarthritis in dogs may be beneficial.
Another study on over 100 dogs (7. below) showed that over 12 months the treated group had significantly less lameness, less swelling and more movement than the untreated group.
Scientific studies hyaluronic acid
- Oral Hyaluronan gel reduces post operative tarsocrural effusions in the yearling Thoroughbred.
- Hyaluronic Acid: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Trajectory - Published Frontiers in Veterinary science, June 25 2019
- Intravenous injection of sodium hyaluronate diminishes basal inflammatory gene expression in equine skeletal muscle. Animals (Basel) 13(19):3030. - Savannah R Gregg, Madison R Barshick, Sally E Johnson School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 2023.
- Effects of Oral Hyaluronic Acid Administration in dogs following Tibial Tuberosity advancement surgery for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury - Claudio Iván Serra Aguado, Juan José Ramos-Plá, Carme Soler, Sergi Segarra, Víctor Moratalla, and José Ignacio Redondo
- Hyaluronic Acid in the synovial fluid- VI. Effects of Intra-Articular injection of Hyaluronic acid on the clinical symptoms of arthritis in track horse - written by Nils W. Rydell, Judson Butler and Endre A. Balazs. Article from the department of connective tissue Research, Boston Biochemical Research institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
- Efficacy of Orally Administered Sodium Hyaluronate Gel in the Racing Thoroughbred.
Scott W. Pierce, DVM, MRCVS, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, 40580- KY., Vol. II, E. Balazs and V. Hascall, Editors, pg. 519. - Efficacy of an oral Hyaluronate and collagen supplement as a preventive treatment of elbow dysplasia. Veterinary Service, ONCE (Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos Espanoles) Guide Dog Foundation, 28660 Madrid, 2014, Simon Marti-Angulo, Nuria Gracia-Lopez, Ana Diaz-Ramos.
