Clinical Research & Trusted Sources
We don't do anything without science to prove its safety & efficacy. The following articles contribute to our endless learning & commitment to the best Veterinary Medicine.
Topic Shortcuts
Osteoarthritis
Beyond surgery: A multimodal approach to managing osteoarthritis (OA) pain
Kendra Freeman DVM, MS, DACVS
Published on July 9, 2025
Dogs can exhibit signs of osteoarthritis as early as 8 months of age, but early intervention can minimize lifelong arthritis formation and pain. This includes surgery, weight management, and physical rehabilitation. It's also important to note that Librela (bedinvetmab), while effective in pain relief, does not address inflammation or arthritis formation.
Managing OA requires controlling inflammation
Brandy Cichocki, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA
Published on March 3, 2024
Nerve growth inhibitors, like Librela, may be helpful for pain but do not treat inflammation and have no evidence for long term safety. Therefore, they should be avoided until other treatment options like weight management, nutrition, NSAIDs, and prescribed exercise have been pursued first.
A randomized double-blinded controlled trial on the effects of photobiomodulation therapy in dogs with osteoarthritis
João C. Alves DVM, MSc, PhD; Ana Santos DVM, MSc; Patrícia Jorge DVM; L. Miguel Carreira DVM, PhD
Published on August 1, 2022
Dogs with hip osteoarthritis that were treated with medical grade photobiomodulation therapy (laser) experienced less pain and better function than dogs that did not.
Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence
Benjamin L. Hart, Lynette A. Hart, Abigail P. Thigpen, Neil H. Willits
Published on July 6, 2020
The overall major finding from the present study is that there are breed differences – and sometimes sex differences – with regard to the increased risks of joint disorders and cancers associated with neutering at various ages. A likely mechanism by which early neutering may lead to a joint disorder is related to disturbance of the closure of the long-bone growth plates by gonadal hormone secretion as the animal approaches maturity.
Diet & Weight Management
Pit bull–type breeds with dilated cardiomyopathy eating nontraditional diets improve after diet change (2015–2022)
Kara E. Fischer BA; John E. Rush DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVECC; Lisa M. Freeman DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Published on July 1, 2023
Dogs with heart disease that were eating grain-free diets showed an improvement in cardiac health once switched to a traditional commercial diet.
Escherichia coli pathotype contamination in raw canine diets
Jordan F. Gibson DVM; Valerie J. Parker DVM; James P. Howard DVM, MS; Chloe M. Snell DVM, MS; Emily W. Cross DVM; Lauren B. Pagliughi DVM; Dubraska Diaz-Campos DVM, PhD; Jenessa A. Winston DVM, PhD; Adam J. Rudinsky DVM, MS
Published on May 12, 2022
66% of raw meat based diets tested positive for E. coli while all conventional diet samples tested negative.
Integration of a physical training program in a weight loss plan for overweight pet dogs
Anne D. Vitger DVM; Bente M. Stallknecht MD, PhD, DMSc; Dorte H. Nielsen DVM, PhD; Charlotte R. Bjornvad DVM, PhD
Published on January 15, 2016
Dogs that participated in a structured exercise program as part of their weight loss plan were able to retain more musculature than dogs with calorie restriction alone.
Evaluation of bacterial and protozoal contamination of commercially available raw meat diets for dogs
Rachel A. Strohmeyer DVM, MS; Paul S. Morley DVM, PhD, DACVIM; Doreene R. Hyatt PhD; David A. Dargatz DVM, DACVIM; A. Valeria Scorza VMD, MS; Michael R. Lappin DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Published on February 15, 2006
53% of raw diets sampled tested positive for bacteria that pose a serious health risk to both dogs and humans.
Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs
Richard D. Kealy PhD; Dennis F. Lawler DVM; Joan M. Ballam MS; Sandra L. Mantz; Darryl N. Biery DVM, DACVR; Elizabeth H. Greeley PhD; George Lust PhD, Mariangela Segre DSc; Gail K. Smith DVM, PhD, DACVS; Howard D. Stowe DVM, PhD
Published on May 1, 2002
Median life span was significantly longer for dogs in which food was restricted. The onset of clinical signs of chronic disease generally was delayed for food-restricted dogs.
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury (CCL/ACL)
Severity of patellar luxation and frequency of concomitant cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs: 162 cases (2004–2007)
Courtney A. Campbell DVM; Christopher L. Horstman DVM, MS, DACVS; David R. Mason BVetMed, DACVS; Richard B. Evans PhD
Published on April 15, 2010
Dogs with Medial Patellar Luxation (MPL) are more likely to experience Cranial Cruciate Ligament injury, especially as MPL worsens.
Assessment of the effects of diet and physical rehabilitation on radiographic findings and markers of synovial inflammation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy
Valentine D. Verpaalen DVM; Wendy I. Baltzer DVM, PhD; Sarah Smith-Ostrin; Jennifer J. Warnock DVM, PhD; Bernadette Stang MS; Craig G. Ruaux BVSc, PhD
Published on March 15, 2018
Post-Op TPLO dogs that were switched to a joint support diet and participated in physical rehabilitation had slower osteoarthritis progression than those that did not.
Most agility dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture return to competition within 2 years of injury
Debra C. Sellon DVM, PhD, DACVIM; Denis J. Marcellin-Little DEDV, DACVS, DECVS, DACVSMR
Published on July 1, 2025
Dogs that are in good physical condition prior to injury, receive treatment from a veterinarian with advanced training, and were not spayed/neutered before 2 years of age were more likely to successfully return to agility sports.
Cumulative gonadal hormone exposure is nonlinearly associated with risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: a generalised additive model analysis of 20,590 dogs (1988-2023)
Daniel Low DVM, ECVS, RCVS
Published on August 21, 2025
Dogs that are spayed/neutered before 2-3 years of age have a higher risk of Cruciate Ligament injury than dogs that remained intact.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
Evaluation of electroacupuncture treatment for thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease in dogs
Ayne Murata Hayashi DVM, MSc; Julia Maria Matera DVM, PhD; Ana Carolina Brandão de Campos Fonseca Pinto DVM, PhD
Published on September 15, 2007
Non-ambulatory dogs with IVDD that received electroacupuncture in addition to western medical treatment regain the ability to walk faster than dogs that received western medical treatment alone.
Comparison of decompressive surgery, electroacupuncture, and decompressive surgery followed by electroacupuncture for the treatment of dogs with intervertebral disk disease with long-standing severe neurologic deficits
Jean G. F. Joaquim DVM, PhD; Stelio P. L. LunaDVM, PhD; Juliana T. Brondani DVM, PhD; Sandra R. Torelli DVM, PhD; Sheila C. Rahal DVM, PhD; Fernando de Paula Freitas DVM
Published on June 1, 2010
For dogs with more than 48 hours severe neurological deficits, electroacupuncture was more effective than decompressive surgery for return to ambulation.
Demographic and lifestyle characteristics impact lifetime prevalence of owner-reported intervertebral disc disease: 43,517 companion dogs in the United States
Crystal Wee BVMS; Darren Z. Nin PhD
Published on May 1, 2025
Dogs spayed/neutered at younger age tend to have higher risk for IVDD. Males are affected more often than females. Dogs with more than 1 hour of activity per day had lower odds of IVDD. Home prepared diets may increase risk.
Manual Therapies
Manual Therapy in Veterinary Patients
Narda G. Robinson, DVM, DO, FAAMA
Published on September 1, 2022
Massage can be extremely therapeutic with the correct training but chiropractics pose an immense threat to animals, including neurological and circulatory injuries. Non-veterinarians can often perform chiropractic treatments despite having no formal education in animal anatomy or pathophysiology.
Medication & Supplements
Fortetropin inhibits disuse muscle atrophy in dogs after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy
Dana A. White, Kenneth R. Harkin, James K. Roush, Walter C. Renberg, David Biller
Published on April 9, 2020
Dogs receiving Myos Muscle Formula during exercise restricted recovery from TPLO maintained their muscle mass despite inactivity, while placebo dogs experienced muscle atrophy.
FDA panel votes against Pfizer’s tanezumab for osteoarthritis pain
Darcy Jimenez
Published on March 26, 2021
The human equivalent to Librela was rejected by the Food & Drug Administration because there was no evidence that it was more effective than traditional treatments like ibuprofen and the risk of Rapid Progression Osteoarthritis was too great.
Musculoskeletal adverse events in dogs receiving bedinvetmab (Librela)
Mike Farrell, Felix W. A. Waibel, Ines Carrera, Giliola Spattini, Louise Clark, Robert J. Adams, Dirsko J. F. Von Pfeil, Ricardo J. R. De Sousa, Diego Bobis Villagrà, Maria Amengual-Vila, Annalisa Paviotti, Rob Quinn, Justin Harper, Stephen P. Clarke, Christopher J. Jordan, Michael Hamilton, Andy P. Moores, Mark Irwin Greene
Published on May 8, 2025
Ligament/tendon injuries, polyarthritis, fractures, musculoskeletal neoplasia, and septic arthritis were reported nine times more frequently in Librela-treated dogs. Studies have shown that NSAIDs are equally effective at treating osteoarthritis pain when compared to Librela
Rapidly progressive osteoarthritis (RPOA) in companion animals treated with bedinvetmab (Librela™): an expected pathophysiological phenomenon or a cause for concern?
Ali Mobasheri PhD; Peter Hanson DVM, PhD; Jonathan Larkin PhD
Published on August 29, 2025
Increasing numbers of dogs being given Librela are presenting with accelerated osteoarthritis that severely impacts comfort and function. This adverse effect has been apparent in multiple studies conducted on human NGF inhibitors. Human trials showed worsened symptoms when patients on NGF inhibitors were also taking NSAIDs - will dogs experience the same?
Acupuncture
Application and underlying mechanism of acupuncture for the nerve repair after peripheral nerve injury: remodeling of nerve system
Yongke Yang, Chang Rao, Tianlong Yin, Shaokang Wang, Huiyan Shi, Xin Yan, Lili Zhang, Xianggang Meng, Wenlong Gu, Yuzheng Du, Feng Hong
Published on October 24, 2023
Acupuncture can remodel nerve tissue after injury and promote release of nerve growth factors to relieve pain and accelerate the regeneration and repair of nerve fibers.
The scientific basis of acupuncture for veterinary pain management: A review based on relevant literature from the last two decades
Curtis Wells Dewey, Huisheng Xie
Published on April 15, 2021
Veterinary Medical Acupuncture has evolved from Traditional Chinese Medicine to become a proven modality for powerful pain relief and neurological stimulation.