Frequently Asked Questions

Synovetin OA® is a safe, effective, and long-lasting treatment for the pain and inflammation of canine elbow osteoarthritis (OA). It’s a single injection into the elbow, done here in our hospital, after which your dog can go home.

Synovetin OA® is a very advanced, safe form of nuclear medicine. It uses microscopic particles of therapeutic medical radioactive material. These particles are absorbed by and deactivate the cells within the joint cause pain, inflammation, and ongoing damage to the cartilage. While the microparticles are only active for a short time, the benefits of this targeted treatment can last up to one year.

Synovetin OA® is marketed for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Typically, any arthritic joint can be injected, but there is a limit on the number of joints able to be injected.

We limit the Synovetin OA® treatment to one treatment per year due to the amount of radiation exposure.

In most cases, you should begin to see improvement in your dog’s mobility within a few weeks, depending on the severity of arthritis. Some dog owners see results almost immediately, while in other instances of severe arthritis, it can be up to 2 months. This improvement should continue over time as Synovetin OA® works inside the joint to reduce inflammation.

To be approved for Synovetin OA® treatment for your pet, you need to go through a pre-screening process, typically a questionnaire. Once this information is filled out and obtained, recommendations will be made for your specific pet’s lifestyle. Additionally, any updated labwork or imaging recommended by your pet’s sports medicine specialist must be completed prior to the procedure itself. Additionally, if your pet is receiving Librela injections, we recommend the procedure to be 2 weeks after or 2 weeks before any Librela injections.

To be approved for Synovetin OA® treatment, a pre-screening form must be completed. Once submitted, our team will review the information and provide recommendations based on your pet’s specific needs.

The patient is put under light sedation for the duration of the procedure.

Your pet will be dropped off in the morning and discharged later that afternoon.

The injection itself will occur in one of our sports medicine OR’s with our staff wearing appropriate radiation PPE.

Please alert VSCR for any adverse reactions post-injection to the affected joints to allow for appropriate next steps.

Like any injection, this procedure may involve some minor discomfort afterward, typically lasting up to 72 hours. Following the procedure, your veterinarian will prescribe appropriate medications for pain.

For the first 48 hours following injection, your pet should be rested. This is best done in a crate or small room with outside bathroom breaks for 5 minutes, 2 to 4 times per day. The activity for the first 4 weeks following the injection should be limited to leashed walks 2 to 4 times daily for between 5 and 10 minutes to start. Each week, the total time during each walk can be increased by 3-5 minutes as long as your pet tolerates it. After 4 weeks, your pet can gradually return to his/her normal activity. The progression can be discussed with your veterinarian based on your pet's progress and response to treatment. Additionally, there are restrictions on how far away you need to stay from your pet’s injected joint (this is determined based on your prescreening questionnaire). In most cases, your veterinarian may recommend rehabilitation to optimize the procedure’s outcome. Following the procedure, no ice packs for 2 weeks over the injected joint(s), and no laser therapy or shockwave therapy for 3 months following injections.

Some insurance companies still consider Synovetin OA® too new of a treatment to be covered. However, some insurance companies are recognizing the value of Synovetin OA® treatments and are providing owners with reimbursement. Please check with your insurance provider to see if this will be covered. We are happy to provide any necessary documentation for them.

There are a variety of measures that can be used to measure progress. While pain improvement may be a part of the goal, it is not often an objective way to measure progress. Initially, strength and stability followed by an improvement in function are most common. Improved functional movement and tissue healing then hopefully lead to a significant reduction in pain. Typically, we expect to see improvement within a couple of weeks up to 3 months post-injection. Post-injection, a recheck is needed 2 weeks afterwards to measure radiation levels and determine your pet’s progress.