Evaluation of the effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of a food supplemented with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
38 client-owned dogs with osteoarthritis examined at 2 university veterinary clinics.


METHODS
Dogs were randomly assigned to receive a typical commercial food (n = 16) or a test food (22) containing 3.5% fish oil omega-3 fatty acids. On day 0 (before the trial began) and days 45 and 90 after the trial began, investigators conducted orthopedic evaluations and force-plate analyses of the most severely affected limb of each dog, and owners completed questionnaires to characterize their dogs' arthritis signs.


RESULTS
The change in mean peak vertical force between days 90 and 0 was significant for the test-food group (5.6%) but not for the control-food group (0.4%). Improvement in peak vertical force values was evident in 82% of the dogs in the test-food group, compared with 38% of the dogs in the control-food group. In addition, according to investigators' subjective evaluations, dogs fed the test food had significant improvements in lameness and weight bearing on day 90, compared with measurements obtained on day 0.


CONCLUSIONS
At least in the short term, dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids resulted in an improvement in weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis.
Roush
James K
JK
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
Cross
Alan R
AR
Renberg
Walter C
WC
Dodd
Chadwick E
CE
Sixby
Kristin A
KA
Fritsch
Dale A
DA
Allen
Timothy A
TA
Jewell
Dennis E
DE
Richardson
Daniel C
DC
Leventhal
Phillip S
PS
Hahn
Kevin A
KA
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils