Impact of supplemented undenatured type II collagen on pain and mobility in healthy Labrador Retrievers during an exercise regimen

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of undenatured type II collagen supplementation on inflammation and pain using gait analysis and industry-accepted pain and mobility questionnaires during an exercise regimen in healthy dogs. Forty healthy Labrador Retrievers (20 male/20 female; range: 5 to 12 yr) were sorted into two groups: undenatured type II collagen group receiving 40 mg UC-II product (10 mg total collagen and ≥3% undenatured type II collagen) and placebo group receiving 40 mg maltodextrin daily by capsule. After 2 wk loading, all dogs began an 11 wk endurance exercise regimen consisting of two weekly runs, starting at 5 km and increasingly incrementally to 8 km, with one final 16 km run. Gait analysis was performed at baseline; before, 24 and 48 h after the first 5 km run; and before, 24 and 48 h after the final 16 km run. Gait analysis was calculated to obtain a Four Rivers Kennel (FRK) Inflammation Index score. Dogs were scored according to the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) and Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) assessments at baseline, before and after the first 5 km run, and before and after the final 16 km run. On the LOAD questionnaire, undenatured type II collagen group had improved “how active is the dog” (P = 0.03) and less “stiffness after a lie down” (P = 0.041) compared with placebo at pre 5 km. Undenatured type II collagen appeared to mitigate the development of pain after exercise compared with placebo, as related to the CPBI assessment. Undenatured type II collagen dogs had lower “pain at worst” pre 5 km (P = 0.021), “pain at least” post 5 km (P = 0.015), “pain at average” post 5 km (P = 0.046), and “pain as it is now” post 16 km (P = 0.006) compared with placebo dogs. Undenatured type II collagen was more effective than placebo at mitigating inflammation on gait analysis per the FRK Inflammation Index. Undenatured type II collagen dogs had a 6.42 lower FRK Inflammation Index score at 24 h post 5 km (P = 0.032) and 6.3 lower score at 24 h post 16 km (P = 0.029), indicating the mitigation of inflammation on gait analysis. When considering the change between timepoints, undenatured type II collagen had a lower increase in FRK Inflammation scores compared with placebo for baseline to pre 5 km (P < 0.001), pre 16 km to 24 h post 16 km (P = 0.028), and pre 16 km to 48 h post 16 km (P = 0.027). Undenatured type II collagen supplemented Labrador Retrievers improved pain assessment variables and improved FRK Inflammation Index on gait analysis.