The oral intake of specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP) improves gait and quality of life in canine osteoarthritis patients-A translational large animal model for a nutritional therapy option

Dobenecker B, Böswald LF, Reese S, Steigmeier-Raith S, Trillig L, Oesser S, Schunck M, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Hugenberg J · PLoS One

The most objective joint outcome anywhere in the collagen literature: force plates in a treadmill, in animals that cannot report a placebo response. Several kinetic gait parameters improved on collagen peptides and owner-rated quality of life improved on the validated Canine Brief Pain Inventory, while the comparator did neither. Accelerometry — total daily activity — was unaffected by either treatment.

Population

Dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis, client-owned

Intervention

Specific bioactive collagen peptides orally for 12 weeks

Comparator

Approved omega-3 fatty acid plus vitamin E combination

Limitations

Thirty-one dogs split across arms, and the comparator is an active supplement rather than a placebo, so this shows collagen beating omega-3 plus vitamin E rather than beating nothing. The activity measure, the one endpoint that is neither owner-reported nor laboratory-measured, was null. Funded by GELITA AG, with a GELITA employee as an author and Oesser as a collagen-peptide patent co-inventor. Dogs are not people.