The
aim of the trial was to compare the effect of a veterinary therapeutic diet (VTD)
rich in omega-3 fatty acids from fish origin to a regular diet used as control
(CTR) in dogs afflicted by naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA). Thirty
privately owned dogs had lameness confirmed by an orthopedic examination,
stifle/hip OA and locomotor disability based on the peak of the vertically
oriented ground reaction force (PVF) measured using a force platform.
At
baseline, all owners were asked to determine two to five of the dogs’ daily activities
that were most impaired. Activities were scored (0–4) in accordance with
severity using case-specific outcome measures (CSOM). Dogs were then randomly
assigned to receive either the CTR or VTD. CSOM were completed twice weekly; the
recording of PVF was repeated at weeks 7 and 13.
The
VTD-fed dogs showed a significantly higher PVF at weeks 7 and 13 compared to
baseline, with a mean change in PVF recording at week 13 of 3.5 ± 6.8% of body
weight (% BW) compared with 0.5 ± 6.1% BW in CTR-fed dogs. At the end of the
study, CSOM was significantly decreased only in VTD-fed dogs.
In
lame OA dogs, a VTD with high levels of omega-3 from fish origin improved
locomotor disability and performance in daily activities. Such nutritional
approach appears interesting for managing OA.
Source: M. Moreau et al., 2012. Effects of feeding a high
omega-3 fatty acids diet in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. JAPAN online July 2012. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2012.01325.x