According to one researcher, horses with osteoarthritis could one day benefit from a preventative approach using PAAG. | Photo: iStock

In a “new uses for old things” twist, an equine veterinarian in Qatar has reported that a 2.5% hydrogel originally designed as a cosmetic filler can help horses with early stage to chronic osteoarthritis (OA) and could even one day be used to help prevent joint damage.

Florent David, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS & ECVS, Dipl. ACVSMR, ECVDI Assoc., specialist in Surgery, Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Diagnostic Imaging at the Equine Veterinary Medical Center, in Doha, described what he found in published research on the product at the 2019 Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners Symposium, held Sept. 25-27 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

David began by explaining that there are two polyacrylamide gels designed for horses—Noltrex Vet (4%) and Arthramid Vet (2.5%). He said he has been involved with clinical research on both and hasn’t received renumeration or benefits from either company. More recently he’s conducted research on Arthramid Vet, which he focused on primarily in the current research review