Submitted by J. Hudson on Mon, 27/04/2026 - 12:51
New research from the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH) suggests that chondroitinase injections for dogs with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) may offer an important additional benefit - significantly reducing the risk of the condition recurring.
The treatment, known as percutaneous intra-discal chondroitinase injection, involves delivering an enzyme directly into affected intervertebral discs. The enzyme breaks down part of the disc material, helping to relieve pressure on the spinal cord without the need for open surgery.
The new study, published ahead of print in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association, compared dogs treated with intra-discal chondroitinase injections to those undergoing routine spinal surgery. The results showed that recurrence of clinical signs occurred in 30% of dogs treated surgically, compared to just 13% of those receiving the injections.
This equates to an approximate 70% reduction in recurrence risk for dogs treated with chondroitinase, highlighting a potential protective effect when multiple adjacent discs are treated.
The study included dogs that had recovered the ability to walk following treatment for severe IVDD and compared outcomes between 47 dogs treated with injections and 79 undergoing surgery. The findings suggest that, in addition to being less invasive, the injection approach may help reduce the likelihood of future episodes.
This builds on earlier research demonstrating that chondroitinase injections can deliver comparable recovery outcomes to surgery for suitable cases. Together, these findings strengthen the case for this treatment as a valuable option in both the management and potential prevention of IVDD.
The work reflects the continued development of the technique at the QVSH, where more than 170 dogs have now been treated. The procedure is currently only available in the UK at Cambridge and has recently attracted national media attention.
The new study was led by Dr Joe Poacher, a former rotating intern at the QVSH, working alongside Professor Paul Freeman and the Neurology Team.
