Submitted by J. Hudson on Thu, 06/02/2025 - 10:50
Seeking Dogs for a Study on Laser Therapy for Osteoarthritis Pain
Does your dog suffer from osteoarthritis? We are looking for dogs to take part in an important research study investigating the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for managing osteoarthritis-associated pain.
About the Study
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and painful condition that can significantly impact a dog's quality of life. While laser therapy is already used successfully in humans with OA, more research is needed to determine its full benefits for dogs. This study will help build stronger scientific evidence on whether laser therapy can be an effective treatment option for canine OA.
Who Can Take Part?
We are seeking dogs with a radiographic diagnosis of osteoarthritis, particularly in the shoulder or elbow joints. Dogs with multiple affected joints may also be eligible, provided there are no recent acute changes in other joints. Participating dogs should be comfortable in a hospital environment and able to engage in some level of daily voluntary activity.
What Does Participation Involve?
- The study will last 8-10 weeks.
- Owners will need to bring their dogs for hospital visits of 30-60 minutes, with up to 14 visits over the study period.
- The first two weeks will involve baseline monitoring, during which no laser treatment will be administered.
- Some dogs will receive laser therapy at specific points in the study period, but owners will not know when until the study concludes to ensure unbiased results.
- Dogs already receiving pain medication can continue their treatment, with potential adjustments if necessary.
- Owners will need to ensure that their dog wears an accelerometry device (a small activity tracker) throughout the study.
Owner Commitment
We understand that participating in a clinical study is a commitment, and we aim to make the schedule as flexible as possible to accommodate owners. Your involvement will contribute to important research that could improve treatment options for dogs with OA in the future. For full details clink this link.
If you are interested in enrolling your dog or would like more information, please contact Professor Chiara Adami on this email: ca573@cam.ac.uk
