Chondroitinase Injection Treatment

Cambridge vets offer new injection treatment for dogs with IVDD

A new enzyme injection treatment for dogs with severe intervertebral disc disease
(IVDD) is now available at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH), offering
a safe, less invasive, and more affordable alternative to surgery for some patients.

The treatment, called percutaneous intra-discal chondroitinase injection, involves
delivering an enzyme directly into the damaged intervertebral discs. This enzyme
dissolves the central part of the disc, potentially relieving pressure on the spinal cord.
The QVSH in Cambridge recently worked with colleagues from Texas A&M
University in the United States, to run a clinical trial involving 54 dogs who had lost
the ability to walk due to IVDD. The trial, now published in the Journal of the
American Veterinary Medical Association, showed that dogs receiving chondroitinase
injections recovered the ability to walk at a similar rate to those who undergo other
forms of treatment for IVDD.

The procedure is now available at the QVSH as part of a low-cost IVDD treatment
package including a full neurological consultation, MRI scan, and injections into
multiple discs for a total cost of £1,750. We are still accepting dogs for the original
trial, where pet owners who are unable to afford traditional treatment may be offered
the injections at a significantly reduced fee of £400, but with no MRI or CT scan.

For further information about chondroitinase injections for IVDD or about the ongoing
trial, contact the QVSH on 01223 337621, or alternatively email Professor Freeman
at pf266@cam.ac.uk or the neurology service at neuro@vet.cam.ac.uk.