title: The effect of dietary long-chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on owner's perception of behaviour and locomotion in cats with naturally occurring osteoarthritis.
abstract: The aim of this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over designed study was to demonstrate the clinical effect, registered by a survey, of a 10-week period of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation of the diet (1.53 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 0.31 g DHA, both per 1000 kcal ME, equivalent to the complete diet) of 16 cats with radiologically documented, naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA), in comparison with a 10-week period of supplementation with corn oil (0.00 g EPA and 0.00 g DHA, both per 1000 kcal ME). Cats on the fish oil revealed higher activity level (p = 0.07), more walking up and down the stairs (p = 0.07), less stiffness during gait (p = 0.03), more interaction with the owner (p = 0.07) and higher jumps (p = 0.03) compared to those on corn oil supplementation. In conclusion, supplementation of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids changes the owner's perception of some aspects of behaviour and locomotion in cats with naturally occurring OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands Applied Biology, High School of Agriculture, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Corbee
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands Applied Biology, High School of Agriculture, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M M C
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Barnier
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands Applied Biology, High School of Agriculture, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C H A
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van de Lest
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands Applied Biology, High School of Agriculture, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H A W
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hazewinkel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D002415:Cats; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010067:Ownership
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3