What Vets Say About Joint Injections for Dogs With Arthritis

Many dogs get arthritis, which means their joints become painful and they do not move as well as they used to. One way veterinarians try to help is by giving injections directly into a dog’s joint. There are many kinds of injections, and some are not steroids. Sepulveda et al. wanted to learn how real veterinarians use these non-steroid joint injections and what they think about them.

What Did Sepulveda et al. Do?

Sepulveda et al created a large survey and asked veterinary surgeons and rehabilitation specialists to answer questions. They wanted to know what kinds of joint injections veterinarians use, which joints they treat most often, why they choose certain products, and what results they see after giving the injections.

This work is important because it is the first study of its kind to survey veterinarians about how they use injectable therapies for arthritis in dogs. Instead of only looking at one product or one treatment, this study asked doctors what they are actually doing in real clinics.

What Are Non-Steroid Joint Injections?

Non-steroid injections include several different types:

1. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. This is made from a small sample of the dog’s own blood. The blood is spun in a machine to concentrate platelets, which are tiny cells that help with healing. The platelet-rich part is then injected into the joint to help reduce inflammation and support repair.
2. ACS stands for autologous conditioned serum. This is also made from the dog’s own blood. The blood is specially processed so it contains higher levels of helpful anti-inflammatory proteins. These proteins may help calm joint inflammation.
3. APS stands for autologous protein solution. Like PRP and ACS, it comes from the dog’s own blood. APS is processed to contain concentrated anti-inflammatory and healing proteins that may help reduce pain and swelling inside the joint.
4. Viscosupplements are products that help lubricate and cushion the joint. These include 2.5% injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel, often called 2.5% iPAAG, such as Synamid and Arthramid. They also include 4% polyacrylamide hydrogel, such as Noltrex. Another example is Spryng, which is a crosslinked elastin-like hydrogel material. In addition, there are many different manufacturers of hyaluronic acid products that are used to improve joint lubrication.
5. Radionuclide therapy is another option. In dogs, this most commonly refers to tin-117m, also called Sn-117m, which is marketed as Synovetin OA. This treatment is injected into the joint and works by reducing inflammation inside the joint over time.
6. Other options may include cell-based therapies that aim to support healing.

What Did Vets Say?

Most of the veterinarians who responded said they do inject joints as part of treating arthritis.

Many vets reported using non-steroid treatments. PRP and viscosupplements were the most commonly used. Other treatments, such as cell-based therapies and radionuclide injections, were used less often.

The elbow was one of the most commonly treated joints.

Veterinarians said the main reason they choose a product is because there is scientific research supporting its safety and effectiveness.

Most vets reported that dogs showed improvement after joint injections. Many noticed better movement, less pain, or improved quality of life.

Why This Matters

This study helps us understand what veterinarians are actually doing in real clinics when they treat dogs with arthritis. It shows that many veterinarians are using newer types of joint injections and believe they can help dogs feel better.

Intra-articular therapy, which means injections placed directly inside a joint, is very commonly used in horses and in people. Hopefully, studies like this will help us continue to learn more about how these treatments work in dogs. There is also a strong need for more research on injectable joint therapies in cats with arthritis.

I have written articles about most of these injectable therapies and how they compare. You can read more about them here:
https://drbrunke.blog/2025/10/27/comparing-injectable-therapies-for-osteoarthritis-in-dogs-and-cats/

The whole article by Sepulveda et al. can be found here:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2026.1761681/full