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Nutrition

Effects of caloric restriction and a moderate or intense physiotherapy program for treatment of lameness in overweight dogs with osteoarthritis.

Summary:

To evaluate the effects of a weight reduction program combined with a basic or more complex physical therapy programincluding transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation on lameness in overweight dogs with osteoarthritis.

Conclusion:

Caloric restriction combined with intensive physical therapy improved mobility and facilitated weight loss in overweight dogs. The combination of dietetic and physical therapy may help to improve the health status more efficiently than dietetic treatment alone.

Author & Journal:Mlacnik E, et al, J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006;229:1756-1760
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Exercise enhances memory consolidation in the aging brain.

Summary:

Exercise has been shown to reduce age-related losses in cognitive function including learning and memory, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain poorly understood. Memory formation occurs in stages that include an initial acquisition phase, an intermediate labile phase, and then a process of consolidation which leads to long-term memory formation. An effective way to examine the mechanism by which exercise improves memory is to introduce the intervention (exercise), post-acquisition, making it possible to selectively examine memory storage and consolidation. Accordingly we evaluated the effects of post-trial exercise (10 min on a treadmill) on memory consolidation in aged canines both right after, an hour after, and 24 h after acute exercise training in concurrent discrimination, object location memory (OLM), and novel object recognition tasks.

Conclusion:

In summary, the results of this study indicate that acute and chronic exercise are both effective against the functional deficits associated with cognitive aging. Exercise may therefore be a viable training mechanism to improve cognitive reserve in the brain and bolster resiliency against the consequences of brain aging.

Author & Journal:Snigdha S, et al, Front Aging Neurosci 6(3):1-14, 2014
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Effects of feeding a high omega-3 fatty acids diet in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis.

Summary:

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).

Conclusion:

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.

Author & Journal:Moreau M, et al, J An Physiol An Nutrition 2013;97:830-837
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Evaluation of the effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis

Summary:

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

Conclusion:

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.

Author & Journal:Roush JK, Cross AR, Renberg WC, Dodd CE, Sixby KA, Fritsch DA, Allen TA, Jewell DE, Richardson DC, Leventhal PS, Hahn KA, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
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Integration of a physical training program in a weight loss plan for overweight pet dogs.

Summary:

To investigate whether a controlled physical training plan for overweight dogs during a weight loss program would improve cardiorespiratory fitness and better preserve lean body mass, compared with results for dogs undergoing a weight loss program based on caloric restriction alone.

Conclusion:

The controlled exercise plan used with a dietary weight loss program prevented loss of lean body mass in dogs. This finding supports inclusion of controlled physical training for obesity management in dogs.

Author & Journal:Vitger AD, et al, J Am Vet Med Assoc 2016;248:174-182
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Potential adverse effects of omega-3 Fatty acids in dogs and cats.

Summary:

Fish oil omega-3 fatty acids, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, are used in the management of several diseases in companion animal medicine, many of which are inflammatory in nature. This review describes metabolic differences among omega-3fatty acids and outlines potential adverse effects that may occur with their supplementation in dogs and cats with a special focus on omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil.

Conclusion:

Important potential adverse effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation include altered platelet function, gastrointestinal adverse effects, detrimental effects on wound healing, lipid peroxidation, potential for nutrient excess and toxin exposure, weight gain, altered immune function, effects on glycemic control and insulin sensitivity, and nutrient-drug interactions.

Author & Journal:Lenox CE, et al, J Vet Intern Med 2013;27:217-226
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Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 production in chondrocytes by avocado soybean unsaponifiables and epigallocatechin gallate

Summary:

“To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of the combination of avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) and epigallocatechin gal- late (EGCG) on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in cytokine-activated equine chondrocytes.”

Conclusion:

“The present study demonstrates that the anti-inflammatory activity of ASU and EGCG is potentiated when used in combination. This combination may offer an attractive supplement or alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the management of osteoarthritis.”

Author & Journal:Heineckey, L.F., et al, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2010
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