Adequan for Cats

History

• In the late 1970s, veterinarians began experimenting with hyluronic acid by injecting it into arthritic joints of horses to lubricate them. This had some success, so they began experimenting with other similar substances and eventually found Adequan to be the most successful. They eventually learned that the Adequan could be injected into a muscle and absorbed into the bloodstream with equally good results, so they didn't have to stick a needle into a painful joint. The success in horses led to trials in smaller animals and this led to Adequan being approved for dogs. Many veterinarians are also prescribing it for cats as well.

Function

• Adequan is a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, which is mostly chondroitin sulfate. It is derived from the windpipe cartilage from cattle. It inhibits enzymes that destroy cartilage, it stimulates cartilage repair and it increases lubrication in the joint.

Benefits

• Adequan can be used with other arthritis medications, so the cat can be given pain medication while the Adequan is given time to heal the arthritic joints. There are few side effects, so the vet can experiment with dosages while treating the cat.

Dosage

• In cats, Adequan is normally given at about 5mg per kilogram that the cat weighs per injection. The injections are initially given once or twice a week for up to eight injections until a positive result in the cat is observed. After that, it is given to the cat as needed to keep it comfortable, usually around once or twice a month.

Warning

• Because large doses of Adequan have been known to cause blood-clotting problems, it should not be given to animals that already have blood-clotting abnormalities.

Uses

• Adequan is mainly used to treat arthritis, but it can also be used to treat hip dysplasia and to help heal the joints after surgery or after an injury to the joint. Adequan helps slow down or avoid the degeneration of the hip joint that happens with dysplasia, surgery or an injury to the joint.