Arthritis Research for Dogs & Cats

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ABIGAIL
Abigail is a 3-year-old basset hound. She is in excellent physical condition and belongs to a young lady who is a student at New Mexico State University. Abby was brought into our hospital in January of 1999. Upon examination, Abby was found to have an extremely painful left hind leg. The leg was non-weight bearing, and Abby snapped if you touched it. The owner said they were out for a walk and Abby took off chasing a rabbit. She said she heard Abby cry out, and the dog came back to her, carrying her leg. Abby was sedated and radiographs were taken. No fractures were noted, and upon palpation it was dislocated medially and the anterior cruciate ligament was stretched or torn.

As the injury was discussed with the owner, it became apparent that the young lady was not financially able to proceed with the recommended treatment. Normally, this condition requires surgical intervention. The ligaments are examined and repaired if necessary, and the patella is relocated and secured to prevent future dislocation. Few options were available; the owner elected to treat Abigail with manual replacement of the patella, a pressure wrap, and velvet antler. Abby was started on 900 mg velvet antler for two weeks, and then the dosage was adjusted down to 600 mg daily.

Since Abby was a college dog many miles from our hospital, she was not examined again for over six weeks. Upon re-examination, Abby had excellent mobility in her rear legs with only a slight change in gait of the injured limb. Her knee felt very stable upon palpation, and her temperament was as carefree as it had been before her injury. The owner reported that she had observed noticeable improvement in Abby’s condition within ten days and that within three weeks Abby was no longer limping and appeared to be completely pain free.

Abby continues to take her velvet antler daily and eats the capsules like a treat. This is a situation where money dictated the course of treatment. Offering an alternative solution to problems is not only necessary at times, but is greatly welcome by pet owners. Being trained in conventional medicine makes it difficult at times to consider alternatives, but the results we have observed makes it apparent that alternative therapy may be as good or better than conventional medical treatment.

Abby’s owner comments, "I am convinced velvet antler healed Abby’s leg, and I have recommended it to many of my friends. The problem is, people cannot find it and veterinarians are not familiar with its use."

MAC
Mac is an 8-year-old, slightly overweight Labrador. He has been a patient since he was 10 weeks old. Mac, like many Labs, suffers from a degenerative condition of his hips known as dysplasia. Dysplasia is a congenital defect in the hip joints. The hip is a ball and socket joint. Due to indiscriminate breeding, the ball often does not fit snugly in the socket, creating abnormal wear and causing calcium deposits to build up as the body tries to repair the damage. The result is a painful life-long abnormality of the joints. Treatment of this condition is often palliative, and anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medications are the most often prescribed. Recent uses of compounds to increase joint fluids or lubricants and repair cartilage damaged have been found to be effective in slowing down the progression of this disease. These compounds, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate, are found in velvet antler. It is our opinion that the synergistic effect of these compounds and other healing factors found in velvet antler are much more effective than any of the compounds by themselves.

For several years Mac has experienced abnormal gait and pain due to dysplasia, especially after prolonged exercise such as hunting or playing ball. He was radiographically diagnosed with grade II dysplasia and has been on various forms of treatment for several years. Use of velvet antler was explained to Mac’s owner in early 1998, and the owner elected to try the product.

"I want Mac to enjoy the things he was bred to do, and that is a very active lifestyle. I am not comfortable with the pain medication and all of the side effects. If this stuff works and it is not harmful to him, I am all for it." Mac was started on 900 mg of velvet antler daily for two weeks and then his dosage was lowered to 600 mg daily. He has remained pain free since starting on velvet antler, and his owner is extremely satisfied with the results. He stated, "I did not notice an immediate response with the medicine. I just noticed that Mac’s limp was gone, and he did not ‘sore up’ after hard exercise. I can also tell when I forget to give him his pills. This is good stuff, and I recommend it to anyone who loves their pet."

Conclusion
These, and countless other case studies, have made it clear to me that velvet antler has a place on my shelf for treating a number of osteoarthritic and musculoskeletal conditions in animals. Not all animals respond, but then, an aspirin does not work on all headaches. Alternative treatments for many conditions are becoming more commonplace in both people and pets.

If North America used the product, it would forever eliminate the elk industry’s dependence on the volatility of the Asian market. Many producers in the industry have stepped forward to help support the work we have started. The people who have helped by supplying product and support were Elk Valley Processors, Dr. Ray Favero, Dr. Glen Zebarth, NATRAflex Brands, Colorado Genetics, Eric Falk, Rob Pek and other antler velvet producers.

The animal industry in North America is a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry. Everything from medicine to nutraceuticals to designer collars and sweaters to pet Hiltons are available for pets. The equine industry is another large market area generating billions per year. These markets need to be accessed and encouraged. A demand far exceeding the supply of quality velvet could develop and have a positive impact on raw velvet prices and live animal prices.

Future Reports
A series of articles is being prepared for publication in the months to come, and some new and detailed studies are being planned for all species of animals. The animals I have treated over the past 18 months have proven to me that many of the claims made concerning the use of velvet antler as an alternative treatment are true. Each of us should take the time to share the benefits of this product with friends and neighbors. The honesty of animals has proven to this veterinarian that elk velvet antler is, in fact, more reality than myth.