In the UK, the joint injections your vet can realistically offer for canine osteoarthritis are intra-articular corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous protein solution and — via a Veterinary Medicines Directorate import route — the polyacrylamide hydrogel Arthramid Vet. Very few of these hold a UK marketing authorisation for dogs, so most are given under the prescribing cascade by a vet who has examined your dog. And one product British owners often lump in with the rest, Adequan, is not a joint injection at all and is not marketed under that name here.
This guide separates what is genuinely obtainable in Britain from what you will only read about on American websites, and what the published evidence actually supports.
How injectable joint treatments are regulated in the UK
Veterinary medicines in Britain are regulated by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). Anything relevant here is POM-V: prescription-only, supplied by a veterinary surgeon who has your dog under their care. Where no UK-authorised product exists for a condition, the vet may work down the prescribing cascade — using a product authorised for another species, or importing one authorised abroad under a Special Import Certificate (SIC). That is not a loophole; it is a documented, lawful route, and it is why some treatments discussed online are available here even though you will not find them on a UK datasheet.
Intra-articular versus everything else
An intra-articular injection goes into the joint capsule itself, usually under sedation with a clipped and scrubbed site. Several treatments British owners call "joint injections" are nothing of the sort:
- Cartrophen Vet (pentosan polysulfate sodium) — the injectable disease-modifying agent most familiar to UK practices — is given subcutaneously, typically as a weekly course.
- Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) is intramuscular, not intra-articular. It is a US-authorised canine product; in the UK the PSGAG molecule is not marketed to dog owners under that brand, and pentosan polysulfate fills the same niche here. Our full explainer on Adequan for dogs covers the American product in detail.
- Librela (bedinvetmab) is a monthly subcutaneous monoclonal antibody, licensed in the UK — see Librela for dogs UK.
What UK vets actually inject into the joint
| Treatment | UK route | Evidence in dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Corticosteroid (e.g. methylprednisolone acetate) | Cascade, off-licence; widely used | Fast anti-inflammatory effect; cartilage effects unresolved |
| Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplement) | Cascade / veterinary device; widely used | Small trials, benefit from ~day 15 |
| PRP or ACP (autologous) | Prepared in-practice from your dog's blood | Mixed; gains often fade by 6 months |
| Autologous protein solution (IRAP-type, Pro-Stride) | Referral / rehab centres | One blinded RCT showed a force-plate gain |
| Arthramid Vet (2.5% iPAAG) | Not UK-licensed; obtainable under VMD Special Import Certificate | Owner-survey data only in dogs so far |
| Stem cells (MSC) | Specialist centres only | Owner scores improve; objective gait does not |
| Synovetin OA (tin-117m) | UK availability not established | Small manufacturer-funded studies |
Corticosteroids
Still the quickest way to calm a flaring joint. The long-running worry is cartilage: a pharmacology review concluded that animal studies "have not yet provided definitive data" on corticosteroid effects on cartilage (Vandeweerd, 2015). A 2026 survey of 174 practitioners found the elbow was the most commonly injected joint, and that 40% combined viscosupplements with corticosteroids (Sepulveda, 2026).
Hyaluronic acid
In 16 dogs with hip osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid produced better owner-reported pain scores from day 15 across 90 days (Carapeba, 2016). A 48-week double-blind study found hyaluronic acid outperformed allogeneic stem cells on body-weight distribution at weeks 24 and 36 (Kim, 2022) — a useful corrective to the assumption that newer means better. More on the molecule 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 best single trial showed a 12% rise in peak vertical force at 12 weeks with no change in saline controls (Fahie, 2013) — but gains peaked within three months and had drifted back towards baseline by six (Vilar, 2018). Autologous protein solution gave a 14.9% peak-vertical-force gain at 12 weeks in a blinded study of 21 dogs; notably, the saline controls improved on owner scores at week 2 with no force-plate change (Wanstrath, 2016). A later comparison found no objective difference between APS and hyaluronic acid plus triamcinolone, though analgesic use fell from 14 dogs to 5 over six months — with the caveat that the authors own the research company (Franklin, 2021).
Arthramid Vet in Britain
Arthramid Vet is a 2.5% cross-linked polyacrylamide hydrogel from Contura Vet. It is not authorised for dogs in the UK; British vets obtain it under the VMD's Special Import Certificate scheme via the cascade, which means a conversation about off-licence use and written consent. The canine data is thinner than the marketing suggests: the largest published dataset is an owner survey, not a trial — 100 owners, 150 injections, 82 of 100 reporting improvement, 44% reducing analgesics, 10% mild adverse events, a 52% survey response rate, and a manufacturer-employed co-author (Barnhard, 2026).
Stem cells and Synovetin OA
In 68 dogs, stem cells gave 46% owner-rated success versus 14% placebo at six months — but with no change in peak vertical force in either group (Kim, 2019). A 130-dog report claiming 88% improvement had no control group and no blinding (Zeira, 2018). Synovetin OA (radiosynoviorthesis with tin-117m) has small manufacturer-funded studies behind it (Aulakh, 2021; Donecker, 2021), and we could not establish that it is available in the UK — treat any claim that it is as something to confirm with your own vet.
How safe are they?
The most useful safety figures come from Cornell, covering 505 joint injections across 283 visits in 178 dogs 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 were reported in 5 of 22 joints after a first injection in another series (Cabon, 2019).
When to ring your vet
- Non-weight-bearing lameness, or lameness that appears suddenly — see dog limping.
- A hot, painful, swollen joint after any injection, especially with fever or lethargy — septic arthritis is rare but an emergency.
- Soreness that lasts beyond a few days post-injection.
- Before adding anything new alongside prescribed anti-inflammatories — the 2022 AAHA pain management guidelines stress multimodal, vet-led care (Gruen, 2022). See also dog arthritis medicine.
Where daily nutrition fits
Injections are a clinical decision made with your vet. Diet and day-to-day support sit alongside them, never in place of them. 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). They are made in North America to GMP standards with a certificate of analysis on every batch, and we offer free worldwide shipping to the UK. If your dog prefers a liquid, see our liquid glucosamine for dogs, or compare formats 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 overview of every injectable option, read our master guide to joint injections for dogs.
FAQ
Are joint injections for dogs licensed in the UK?
No. Mostly not. These are vet-administered treatments provided privately by your veterinary practice or a referral centre, and most are given under the prescribing cascade because they hold no UK canine marketing authorisation.
Is Adequan available in the UK?
Adequan is a US-authorised polysulfated glycosaminoglycan product and is given intramuscularly, not into the joint. It is not marketed to dog owners under that brand name in the UK; British practices generally use pentosan polysulfate sodium (Cartrophen Vet), given subcutaneously. Ask your vet which, if either, applies to your dog.
Can my UK vet give my dog Arthramid Vet?
Arthramid Vet is not a licensed veterinary medicine in the UK; it is supplied as a veterinary device and its use in dogs is at your veterinary surgeon's discretion. Expect a discussion about the evidence and consent. Expect a discussion about off-licence use and consent.
How long do joint injections last in dogs?
It varies by product and dog. PRP gains peaked within three months and had returned close to baseline by six months in one study, while autologous protein solution and hyaluronic acid showed measurable effects at 12 weeks to 36 weeks in others. No published figure applies to every dog.
Are joint injections safe?
Serious complications are uncommon. In a 505-injection Cornell series, septic arthritis occurred in 0.2% of joints, though transient soreness affected 18.4% of visits. Any injection into a joint carries some risk and needs a sterile technique under sedation.
Veterinary disclaimer: This article is general information and is not veterinary advice. Veterinary medicines in the UK are regulated by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD); the treatments described are POM-V and many are used under the prescribing cascade. Availability changes — always confirm with your own veterinary surgeon, who must examine your dog before prescribing.
Adequan is a trademark of American Regent; Librela 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.