To determine the effect of weight reduction on clinical signs of lameness among overweight dogs with clinical and radiographic signs of hip osteoarthritis.
Results suggest that in overweight dogs with hind limb lameness secondary to hip osteoarthritis, weight reduction alone may result in a substantial improvement in clinical lameness.
To evaluate factors associated with lameness severity and hip joint range of motion in dogs with hip dysplasia and to assess the association between hip joint range of motion and degree of lameness.
Conclusion:Longer daily exercise duration was associated with lower lameness scores in dogs with hip dysplasia. Dogs with hip joint luxation secondary to hip dysplasia had higher lameness scores than did dogs without hip joint luxation.
To determine the effects of feeding a diet supplemented with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on carprofen dosage in dogs with osteoarthritis.
Results suggested that in dogs with chronic osteoarthritis receiving carprofen because of signs of pain, feeding a diet supplemented with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids may allow for a reduction in carprofen dosage.
The aim of this randomized, placebo‐controlled and double‐blinded trial was to compare the effect of a veterinary therapeutic diet (VTD) rich in omega‐3 fatty acids (omega‐3) from fish origin to a regular diet used as control (CTR) over a period of 13 weeks in dogs afflicted by naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA). Thirty privately owned dogs were selected. Dogs had lameness confirmed by an orthopaedic examination, had stifle/hip OA and had 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 2–5 activities of daily living that were the most impaired. Activities were scores (0–4) in accordance with severity using case‐specific outcome measures (CSOM). The PVF was also measured. Dogs (15/group) were then randomly assigned to receive either the CTR or the VTD. The CSOM was completed twice weekly. The recording of PVF was repeated at Week 7 and 13. The VTD‐fed dogs showed a significantly higher PVF at Week 7 (p < 0.001) and at Week 13 (p < 0.001) when compared to Baseline. From Baseline to Week 13, VTD‐fed dogs had a mean (± SD) change in PVF recording of 3.5 ± 6.8% of body weight (%BW) compared with 0.5 ± 6.1%BW (p = 0.211) in CTR‐fed dogs. This change in the primary outcome was consistent with an effect size of 0.5. Conversely, dogs fed the CTR did not show significant change in PVF measurements. At the end of the study, the CSOM was significantly decreased (p = 0.047) only in VTD fed dogs. In lame OA dogs, a VTD that contains high level of omega‐3 from fish origin improved the locomotor disability and the performance in activities of daily living. Such nutritional approach appears interesting for the management of OA.
Citing Literature
This clinical trial evaluated the functional outcomes of lame privately owned dogs afflicted by OA follow- ing 13 weeks of feeding with a VTD containing high levels of omega-3. According to the primary study outcome (PVF), OA dogs were significantly improved (p < 0.001) 7 weeks after the beginning of a dietary modulation. The improvement in the functional disability was maintained through the 13 weeks duration, achieving a mean improvement of 3.5 ± 6.8%BW when compared to initial limb support (p < 0.001). When expressed relatively to Baseline (pre-treatment) values, the improvement corresponded to 6.9 ± 12.2%. The ameliorative effect of VTD was in accordance with previous trials performed by our group (Moreau et al., 2003, 2004, 2007) and others (Budsberg et al., 1999) using NSAID and powder of elk velvet antler. Moreover, the level of improvement represented an increment of 1.4 kg applied to the afflicted and painful limb for a dog of 36.7 kg. The effect size of the VTD improvement was 0.5, which was consistent with a moderate therapeutic effect (Cohen, 1992).
To evaluate the effects of diet restriction on development of radiographic evidence of hip joint osteoarthritis in dogs.
Restricted feeding delayed or prevented development of radiographic signs of hip joint osteoarthritis in this cohort of Labrador Retrievers. Lifetime maintenance of 25% diet restriction delayed onset and reduced severity of hip joint osteoarthritis, thus favorably affecting both duration and quality of life. In addition, the data indicated that development of hipjoint osteoarthritis was not bimodal in these dogs but occurred as a continuum throughout life.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the modifications of some physiological parameters during moderate treadmill exercise in seven healthy Beagle dogs.
Considering these significant variations, the knowledge of RT, HR, glucose and lactate concentrations, RBC, and Hct, the most suitable and sensitive indicators of response to treadmill exercise in untrained dogs, is essential in order to evidence the individual levels of exercise tolerance, to investigate exercise-related problems and to design specific and individual treadmill protocols.
To determine associations between serum concentrations of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids or body condition and serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, insulin, glucose, or triglyceride in healthy dogs.
Docosapentaenoic acid may increase serum concentrations of adiponectin and leptin and decrease serum triglyceride concentration in healthy dogs.
To assess the effect of food containing high concentrations of fish oil omega-3 fatty acids and a low omega-6–omega-3 fatty acid ratio on clinical signs of osteoarthritis in dogs.
Dogs fed the test food had a significantly higher serum concentration of total omega-3 fatty acids and a significantly lower serum concentration of arachidonic acid at 6, 12, and 24 weeks. According to owners, dogs fed the test food had a significantly improved ability to rise from a resting position and play at 6 weeks and improved ability to walk at 12 and 24 weeks, compared with control dogs.
