Efficacy and safety of supplementation of Exclzyme Pet for the management of arthritis and inflammatory symptoms in dogs: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

BACKGROUND

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled interventional pilot trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Exclzyme Pet in alleviating clinical symptoms associated with canine arthritis.

METHODS

A total of 26 client-owned dogs exhibiting clinical signs of arthritis were enrolled in a 30-day pilot trial, of which 23 completed the study. Subjects were randomly allocated to either the treatment group (N = 12), receiving Exclzyme Pet (2 g per dog, administered orally twice daily on an empty stomach with water), or the placebo group (N = 11), receiving maltodextrin at an equivalent dose.

RESULTS

Exclzyme Pet resulted in a statistically significant reduction in scores for lameness, weight bearing, joint mobility, willingness to hold up contralateral limb, and pain by 51.96, 46.94, 48.94, 58.0, and 55.56%, respectively and demonstrated clear superiority over placebo. The overall quality of life, mood, and mobility improved significantly in the treatment group over the placebo. Serum C-reactive protein levels decreased markedly by 56.10% in dogs receiving Exclzyme Pet, whereas levels increased by 15.38% in the placebo group, indicating a strong anti-inflammatory effect (p < 0.001). No adverse hematological findings or clinical events were reported, and the supplement was well tolerated, without gastrointestinal or systemic complications.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Exclzyme Pet demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing clinical signs of arthritis and improving functional outcomes in dogs, with no evident safety concerns during the entire study period. These results suggest that Exclzyme Pet may serve as a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for managing canine arthritis. Nevertheless, longer-duration clinical trials with large study population are needed to confirm these findings and further elucidate the mechanisms its therapeutic effects.