In Australia, the joint injections your vet can offer a dog with osteoarthritis are intra-articular corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid viscosupplements, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous protein solution and — off-label — the polyacrylamide hydrogel Arthramid Vet. The regulatory detail matters more here than almost anywhere: Arthramid Vet is APVMA-registered in Australia, but for horses, not dogs. And the injection most Australian owners already know, Cartrophen, is a subcutaneous injection rather than an intra-articular one.
Here is what is genuinely available through an Australian practice, what sits outside the label, and what the evidence supports.
How these treatments are regulated in Australia
Veterinary chemical products are registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Injectables of this kind are prescription animal remedies, generally Schedule 4 (S4), supplied only by a vet with your dog under their care. Where no registered product exists for the species or indication, an Australian vet may prescribe off-label at their professional discretion, with informed owner consent. That is legal and common — but it is worth knowing when it applies to your dog.
Not every "joint injection" goes into the joint
- Cartrophen Vet (pentosan polysulfate sodium), made by Biopharm Australia and APVMA-registered for dogs, is given subcutaneously, typically weekly for four weeks. It is a systemic disease-modifying agent, not an intra-articular injection.
- Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) is intramuscular, not intra-articular. It is a US-registered canine product and is not the brand Australian owners will encounter — pentosan polysulfate occupies that space here. Our explainer on Adequan for dogs covers the American product.
- Beransa (bedinvetmab) — the same monoclonal antibody sold as Librela elsewhere — is a monthly subcutaneous injection. See Beransa for dogs Australia.
What Australian vets inject into the joint
| Treatment | Australian status | Evidence in dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Corticosteroid (e.g. methylprednisolone acetate) | Off-label, S4; widely used | Rapid anti-inflammatory effect; cartilage effects unresolved |
| Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplement) | Available through practices | Small trials, benefit from about day 15 |
| PRP or ACP (autologous) | Prepared in-clinic from your dog's own blood | Mixed quality; gains often fade by 6 months |
| Autologous protein solution (IRAP-type, Pro-Stride) | Referral and rehab centres | One blinded RCT showed a force-plate gain |
| Arthramid Vet (2.5% iPAAG) | APVMA-registered S4 for lameness in horses; canine use is off-label | Owner-survey data only in dogs |
| Stem cells (MSC) | Specialist centres | Owner scores improve; objective gait does not |
| Synovetin OA (tin-117m) | Australian availability not established | Small manufacturer-funded studies |
Corticosteroids
The fastest way to settle an inflamed joint, and the oldest and cheapest option. The unresolved question is cartilage: a pharmacology review concluded that animal studies "have not yet provided definitive data" (Vandeweerd, 2015). A 2026 survey of 174 practitioners found the elbow was the most commonly injected joint, PRP and viscosupplements the most used products, and 40% combined viscosupplements with corticosteroids (Sepulveda, 2026).
Hyaluronic acid
In 16 dogs with hip osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid improved owner-reported pain scores from day 15 over 90 days (Carapeba, 2016). In a 48-week double-blind study, hyaluronic acid beat allogeneic stem cells on body-weight distribution at weeks 24 and 36 (Kim, 2022) — the cheaper, older option outperforming the headline one. More detail in our guide to hyaluronic acid for dogs.
PRP and autologous protein solution
A 2025 systematic review of PRP covered 18 studies and 379 dogs, but 8 were at high risk of bias and only 7 used objective gait analysis (Cardona-Ramirez, 2025). The strongest single trial found a 12% increase in peak vertical force at 12 weeks with no change in saline controls (Fahie, 2013), while another showed gains peaking within three months and drifting back near baseline by six (Vilar, 2018). Autologous protein solution produced a 14.9% peak-vertical-force gain at 12 weeks in 21 blinded dogs — with the telling detail that saline controls improved on owner scores at week 2 with no force-plate change (Wanstrath, 2016). A head-to-head against hyaluronic acid plus triamcinolone found no objective difference, though analgesic use fell from 14 dogs to 5 over six months; the authors own the research company (Franklin, 2021).
Arthramid Vet: registered here, but not for dogs
Arthramid Vet is a 2.5% cross-linked polyacrylamide hydrogel from Contura Vet, registered with the APVMA as a Schedule 4 product for the treatment of lameness in horses. It is not registered for use in dogs in Australia or New Zealand — canine use is extra-label and at the treating vet's discretion. Ask your vet to confirm this in writing before proceeding. The canine evidence is also weaker than the marketing implies: the largest dataset is an owner survey rather than a trial — 100 owners, 150 injections, 82 of 100 reporting improvement, 44% reducing analgesics, 10% mild adverse events, a 52% response rate and a manufacturer-employed co-author (Barnhard, 2026).
Stem cells and Synovetin OA
In 68 dogs, stem cells achieved 46% owner-rated success versus 14% placebo at six months, yet peak vertical force did not change in either group (Kim, 2019). A 130-dog report claiming 88% improvement had no control group and no blinding (Zeira, 2018). Synovetin OA rests on small manufacturer-funded studies — 23 dogs with grade 1–2 elbow osteoarthritis improved on peak vertical force at 3 and 9 months, but only in the high-dose 2.5 mCi group (Aulakh, 2021), and a 14-dog grade 3 study reported over 70% owner success across a year with no placebo group (Donecker, 2021). We could not verify that it is available in Australia; treat any claim otherwise as something to confirm locally.
How safe are joint injections?
The most useful safety data covers 505 joint injections across 283 visits in 178 dogs at Cornell between 2010 and 2022: transient soreness in 18.4% of visits (median 2 days, range 1–20), gastroenteritis in 6.8%, and septic arthritis in 1 of 505 joints (0.2%). Stem cells were the only injectate with significantly increased odds of soreness (Miller, 2023). Self-limiting flares occurred in 5 of 22 joints after a first injection in another series (Cabon, 2019).
When to call your vet
- Sudden lameness, or a leg your dog will not put weight on — see dog limping.
- A hot, swollen, painful joint after an injection, particularly with fever or flatness — septic arthritis is rare but urgent.
- Post-injection soreness lasting more than a few days.
- Before adding anything new alongside prescribed anti-inflammatories. The 2022 AAHA pain management guidelines emphasise multimodal, vet-directed care (Gruen, 2022); see also dog arthritis medicine.
Where daily nutrition fits
Injections are a clinical decision made with your vet. Everyday nutrition works alongside that plan, never instead of it. Our dog hip and joint chews provide daily nutritional support for normal joint function and mobility, with 18 active ingredients grouped as cartilage support (glucosamine HCl, chondroitin, UC-II, eggshell membrane), movement (MSM, hyaluronic acid, green-lipped mussel) and comfort (turmeric, Boswellia, ginger). Made in North America to GMP standards with a certificate of analysis on every batch, and we offer free worldwide shipping to Australia. For fussier dogs there is liquid glucosamine for dogs, and formats are compared in our roundup of the best joint supplements for dogs. A supplement is not an alternative to, replacement for, or booster of any injection, and does not treat, cure or prevent arthritis.
For the full international picture of every injectable option, read our master guide to joint injections for dogs.
FAQ
Is Arthramid Vet approved for dogs in Australia?
No. Arthramid Vet is APVMA-registered as a Schedule 4 product for the treatment of lameness in horses. Use in dogs in Australia or New Zealand is extra-label, at the treating vet's discretion and with your informed consent.
Is Adequan available in Australia?
Adequan is a US-registered polysulfated glycosaminoglycan given intramuscularly, not into the joint, and is not the brand Australian owners will typically encounter. The APVMA-registered injectable disease-modifier used here is pentosan polysulfate sodium (Cartrophen Vet), given subcutaneously. Ask your vet which applies.
Is Cartrophen a joint injection?
Not in the intra-articular sense. Cartrophen Vet is injected under the skin, usually once weekly for four weeks, and acts systemically rather than being placed inside a specific joint.
How much do joint injections for dogs cost in Australia?
Cost varies widely by product, joint, clinic and whether sedation and imaging are needed, and we do not publish figures we cannot verify. Ask your practice for a written estimate that includes sedation and any follow-up injections.
How long does a joint injection last?
It depends on the product and the dog. In published studies PRP gains peaked within three months and were near baseline by six, while autologous protein solution and hyaluronic acid showed measurable effects between 12 and 36 weeks. No single figure applies to every dog.
Veterinary disclaimer: This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Veterinary chemical products in Australia are registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA); the treatments described are prescription animal remedies and several are used off-label. Registration and availability change — always confirm with your own vet, who must examine your dog before prescribing.
Adequan is a trademark of American Regent; Librela and Beransa of Zoetis; Arthramid of Contura Vet; Synovetin OA of Exubrion; Pro-Stride and ACP of Arthrex; Cartrophen Vet of Biopharm Australia. Pure Majesty Pets is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these companies.