Canine Hip Arthritis Trial Seeks Study Participants to Compare Proven Treatment Options

October 27, 2019 at 10:20 pm

Colorado Canine Orthopedics and Rehab is conducting a trial comparing the efficacy of autologous protein solution (APS) versus hyaluronan plus corticosteroid (eg cortisone) for treating hip arthritis in dogs. The principal investigator is Dr. Sam Franklin, a leading expert in use of biological treatment options for treating arthritis and who has conducted numerous clinical trials on platelet-rich plasma, stem cells, and APS use in dogs.


APS has been shown to be effective in managing osteoarthritis in dogs in two different clinical trials, including one recently conducted at Colorado Canine Orthopedics and Rehab and which was recently published in Frontiers in Veterinary Medicine. In that study 5 dogs with hip osteoarthritis were treated with APS in one hip and saline as a control in the other hips. The hip treated with APS showed significantly better improvement and weight bearing than the control hip. Furthermore, when the study was complete all 5 dogs had both hips injected with APS and more than 6 months later all dogs remained active without the use of oral medications such as Rimadyl. 


Cortisone and hyaluronan injections are also a treatment with a long track record in dogs and people. However, the hypothesis is that APS will be even better than cortisone and hyaluronan with a longer duration of benefit. To test this hypothesis, Dr. Franklin and his team are seeking to inject one hip with APS and the other hip with hyaluronan plus corticosteroid and evaluate dogs for 6 months after injections.    


To qualify for inclusion, the study is seeking dogs that:

  1. Have arthritis of both hips
  2. Do not have arthritis of other joints such as the elbows, knees, or shoulders
  3. Do not have significant other medical problems like hypothyroidism, cancer, neurologic disease
  4. 1-10 years of age
  5. Approximately 45-110 pounds


If a dog appears to fit these criteria, they can then be evaluated at Colorado Canine Orthopedics and Rehab by Dr. Franklin. During this evaluation dogs will receive a complete orthopedic examination. They will then have radiographs (x-rays) made of the hips, knees, shoulders, and elbows. If they have osteoarthritis of their hips without osteoarthritis of their other joints, they will then immediately be enrolled. The dogs will be walked across a pressure sensitive mat to record the weight bearing of each of their hindlimbs. Following that weight bearing analysis they will be sedated and have blood drawn and APS will be prepared from their own blood. They will then receive treatment with APS in one hip and hyaluronan plus corticosteroid in the other hip. The entire screening and enrollment process (orthopedic exam, radiographs, weight bearing analysis, and treatment with APS and hyaluronan plus corticosteroid) is free of charge (retail value of the aforementioned services is approximately $1,250)!


Dogs will need to be re-checked at Colorado Canine Orthopedics and Rehab at 1, 3, and 6 months following their injections to walk the dog across the pressure sensitive mat again to record the weight bearing of their hindlimbs. Owners will be paid a total of $350 for completing all three rechecks ($50 for the recheck at 1 month, $100 for the 3-month recheck, and $200 for the 6-month recheck). 


To summarize, owners of enrolled dogs receive (free of charge):

  1. Full orthopedic examination
  2. Radiographs (x-rays) of the hips, knees, elbows, and shoulders
  3. Multiple pressure mat gait analyses
  4. Treatment with Autologous Protein Solution
  5. Treatment with hyaluronan plus corticosteroid
  1. Financial Incentive for completing rechecks ($50 at 1-month, $100 at 3-months and $200 at 6-months).


If you are interested, or know of dogs that would be suitable candidates, please contact our dedicated clinical trial email ( or by phone (719) 999-8497.