title: Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on canine atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Twenty-nine dogs were included in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised trial and were orally supplemented for 10 weeks with either flax oil (200 mg/kg/day), eicosapentaenoic acid (50 mg/kg/day) and docosahexaenoic acid (35 mg/kg/day) in a commercial preparation, or mineral oil as a placebo. For each dog, clinical scores were determined based on a scoring system developed prior to the trial. Total omega-6 and omega-3 intake and the ratio of omega-6:omega-3 (omega-6:3) were calculated before and after the trial. The dogs' clinical scores improved in those supplemented with flax oil and the commercial preparation, but not in the placebo group. No correlation was identified between total fatty acid intake or omega-6:3 ratio and clinical scores. Based on the results of this study, the total intake of fatty acids or the omega-6:3 ratio do not seem to be the main factors in determining the clinical response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Fieseler
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fettman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zabel
authors.forename: R A W
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rosychuk
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Ogilvie
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Greenwalt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3