Joint Anatomy

Synovial Joints. The foundation of movement.

Synovial joints are the most common type of joint in the dog’s body, and they serve two functions. They enable movement and transfer weight distribution. They are natural pivot points that give dogs their flexibility and mobility. For a joint to stay active, it must remain stable. Instability exerts abnormal forces on the joint and results in joint damage and disease progression.

Five Components: Each with a Purpose

Adequan Equine horse healthy joint graphic solo

Joint Capsule with two layers:

Encloses and protects the joint

Outer Fibrous Layer: Provides mechanical stability

Inner Synovial Membrane: Produces components of healthy joint fluid, allows movement of nutrients into the joint and helps facilitate removal of waste products.

Articular Cartilage

Allows bones to glide over each other smoothly
Helps distribute loads evenly to the subchondral bone below

Subchondral Bone

Helps absorb the forces related to movement
Has the ability to adapt and remodel in response to changes in forces and joint loading

The importance of preserving cartilage.¹

Articular cartilage is a highly specialized connective tissue of the synovial joints. Unlike most tissues, it contains no blood vessels, lymphatics or nerves. This unique and complex structure of articular cartilage gives it a limited capacity for intrinsic healing and repair. It’s also subjected to the harsh biomechanical environment, the daily “wear and tear” of every movement. Damage to cartilage is associated with significant musculoskeletal disease. Therefore, maintaining the health of articular cartilage is paramount to joint health.

Key facts about canine joints.

There are three types of canine joints:

Fibrous or fixed, such as skull structures, are connected by dense connective tissue consisting mainly of collagen.
Cartilaginous, such as between the intervertebral discs, are connected entirely by cartilage.
Synovial, to enable movement and transfer load, and is the most common type of joint in the body.

Dogs have synovial joints that include ball and socket, hinge or gliding types. Following are the joints most affected by osteoarthritis.

Shoulder (ball and socket)
Hip (ball and socket)
Stifle/Knee (hinge)
Elbow (hinge-type)
Hock (gliding)

HEALTHY JOINT CYCLE

DISEASED JOINT CYCLE

Because it contains
no nerves, damage
to cartilage is not a
source of joint pain.

Adequan Equine degraded cartilage rendering

Healthy Cartilage

Damaged Cartilage

See how equine joints are similar.

LEARN MORE

Adequan^® Canine Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan Sterile Injection 100 mg/mL

INDICATIONS Adequan^® Canine is recommended for the treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic arthritis and associated lameness of canine synovial joints.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Adequan^® Canine is for veterinary use only. The prescribing information contains complete use information which includes dosing, contraindications, warnings and cautions. Always read, understand and follow label and use directions. PLEASE CONSULT the Full Prescribing Information.

1. WC Renberg. Pathophysiology and Management of Arthritis, Vet Clin Small Anim 35 (2005): 1073 1091; doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2005.05.005.