Osteoarthritis is a common cause of joint pain in dogs, especially as they get older. One joint that is often affected is the elbow. When a dog has elbow osteoarthritis, it may limp, move more slowly, have trouble getting up, or not want to play like it used to. Because of this, veterinarians are always looking for safe and effective ways to help reduce pain and improve movement
In a recent study, Castro et al looked at a special type of joint injection for dogs with elbow osteoarthritis. They wanted to see if adding a new product made from collagen and elastin particles would improve results compared to a standard steroid injection alone.
The study included 35 client-owned dogs that had osteoarthritis in both elbows. Each dog received a single injection in both elbows. Some dogs received triamcinolone (a corticosteroid commonly used to reduce inflammation) by itself. Other dogs received triamcinolone combined with collagen-elastin microparticles, sometimes referred to as CEHM (and commercially known as Spryng). The idea behind CEHM is that these small protein particles might provide extra joint support and possibly improve comfort over time.
The study was designed as a double-blind trial. This means that neither the dog owners nor the veterinarians evaluating the dogs knew which treatment each dog received. This helps reduce bias and makes the results more reliable.
The dogs were followed for one full year after their injections. During that time, Castro et al evaluated the dogs using several methods. They looked at how the dogs walked, collected owner questionnaires about pain and daily function, and used objective measures such as activity tracking and gait evaluation. These tools help give a fuller picture of how a dog is feeling and functioning in everyday life.
Overall, both groups of dogs improved after treatment. Many dogs showed better movement and reduced signs of pain. However, there was no clear difference between the two groups. This means that adding the CEHM product did not appear to provide additional benefit compared to the steroid alone in this study.
Some dogs experienced mild soreness after the injection, but these effects were temporary and resolved without major problems.
While this study did not show a difference between groups, suggesting that the CEHM product (Spryng) did not outperform the standard treatment, it is still very important that this type of research is published. Publishing studies, even when results are neutral or do not show a new product working better, helps move the veterinary field forward. It allows clinicians to make informed decisions based on evidence and helps prevent unnecessary costs or treatments that may not provide extra benefit. For that reason, kudos to Castro et al for conducting and publishing this work.
You can read the full article here:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2026.1742766/full
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