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Nutrition

Canine Hip Dysplasia: Reviewing the Evidence for Nonsurgical Management

Summary:

This systematic review of available evidence for nonsurgical management of hip dysplasia considered 14 articles and scored nonsurgical management including: activity restrictions, weight management, acupuncture, modulation of joint disease by polysulfated glycosaminoglycans, mesenchymal stem cell therapy, and extra corporeal shock wave therapy.

Conclusion:

“Weight management is an effective and important component of managing dogs with HD and associated osteoarthritis. Techniques that modulate the progression of joint disease may also be beneficial for treating dogs with HD. Further studies are needed to investigate other methods of managing HD such as hydrotherapy and physical rehabilitation.”

Author & Journal:Shaw, Kristin Kirkby et al, Veterinary Surgery, 2012
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Assessment of the effects of diet and physical rehabilitation on radiographic findings and markers of synovial inflammation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy

Summary:

To determine the effects of an omega-3 fatty acid and protein-enriched diet, physical rehabilitation, or both on radiographicfindings and markers of synovial inflammation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy and arthroscopic surgery for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease. DESIGN Randomized, prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS 48 dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament disease.

Conclusion:

Results suggested that feeding the TF can result in lower synovial fluid PGE2 concentrations and that both the TF and rehabilitation can reduce progression of osteoarthritis in the 6 months following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy; clinical relevance of slower osteotomy healing in dogs fed the TF was unclear.

Author & Journal:Verpaalen VD, et al, J Am Vet Med Assoc 252:701-709, 2018
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Success of a weight loss plan for overweight dogs: The results of an international weight loss study.

Summary:

Obesity is a global concern in dogs with an increasing prevalence, and effective weight loss solutions are required that work in different geographical regions. The main objective was to conduct an international, multi-centre, weight loss trial to determine the efficacy of a dietary weight loss intervention in obese pet dogs.

Conclusion:

This is the largest international multi-centre weight loss study conducted to date in obese dogs. Most dogs lost a clinically significant amount of weight, although there were notable differences between dogs of different sex, neuter status and in different geographical locations.

Author & Journal:Flanagan J, PLOS One 2017
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Evaluating Complementary Therapies for Canine Osteoarthritis Part I: Green-lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus)

Summary:

A green-lipped mussel (GLM) preparation was evaluated in a randomized, double-controlled and double-blinded clinical trial. It was hypothesized that the treatment effect would be less than that of the positive control (carprofen) but more than that of the negative control (placebo).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, our results suggest that the modern stabilized and freeze-dried GLM is more effective than the placebo in treating chronic pain due to moderate to severe OA and that it has no side-effects. For dogs that can not use NSAIDs or corticosteroids and for patients who need analgesic support over extended periods of time, oral GLM may be an acceptable alternative for treating chronic arthritis pain, although it does not alleviate pain as well as carprofen. As dogs are used as models for human OA, we hope these promising results will stimulate new human research in this area.

Author & Journal:Hielm-bjorkman A, et al, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Sep; 6(3): 365–373
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2014 AAHA weight management guidelines for dogs and cats.

Summary:

Communicating and implementing a weight management program for dogs and cats can be a challenging endeavor for veterinarians, but a rewarding one. An effective individualized weight loss program provides a consistent and healthy rate of weight loss to reduce risk of disease, prevent malnutrition, and improve quality of life. Weight loss is achieved with appropriate caloric restriction, diet selection, exercise, and strategies to help modify behavior of both the pet and client.

Conclusion:

This document offers guidelines and tools for the management of weight loss and long-term maintenance of healthy weight.

Author & Journal:Brooks D, et al, J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2014; 50:1-11
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Comparative Efficacy of Water and Land Treadmill Training for Overweight or Obese Adults

Summary:

Comparative Efficacy of Water and Land Treadmill Training for Overweight or Obese Adults. {Humans}

Purpose: No known previous research has been published to explore the efficacy of underwater treadmill (UWTM) exercise training for the obese. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare changes in physical fitness, body weight, and body composition in physically inactive, overweight, and obese adults after 12 wks of land treadmill (LTM) or UWTM training.

Conclusion:

UWTM and LTM training are equally capable of improving aerobic fitness and body composition in physically inactive overweight individuals, but UWTM training may induce increases in LBM.

Author & Journal:Greene, Nicholas, et al, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2009
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Responses of dogs to dietary omega-3 fatty acids

Summary:

Modification of metabolic responses for cholesterol and other lipids as a result of dietary methods or drugs has been extensively studied in humans and laboratory animals, and much has been published on this topic. However, less is known about this topic in small companion animals, such as dogs and cats. One of the reasons is that compared to humans, cats and dogs are typically resistant to coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular stroke, and atherosclerosis. Thus, they are rarely studied in regard to these disorders. Nonetheless, dogs are especially useful in the evaluation of compounds that lead to important discoveries of drugs for humans. Therefore, knowledge of canine cholesterol, fatty acid, and lipoprotein metabolism must be understood for these comparative purposes.

Conclusion:

Progress has been made during the past years in several areas of fatty acid metabolism and nutrition for dogs. Renal and cardiovascular diseases may be amenable to dietary management with omega-3 fatty acids. Dietary changes to cause improvements in skin and coat exist, and although related to total dietary fat content, additional benefits can be derived when these diets contain higher amounts of polyunsatu- rated fats. The addition of ALA to a diet containing LA results in further accumulation of LA in plasma, which may contribute to a sparing effect on LA. This phenomenon may indirectly promote skin and coat benefits.

Author & Journal:John E. Bauer, DVM, Ph.D., DACVN, J Am Vet Med Assoc.
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Responses of dogs to dietary omega-3 fatty acids.

Summary:

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and other marine sources appear to be capable of modifying inflammatory and immune responses in dogs. Information is provided on the capacity of dogs to metabolize omega-3 fatty acids and the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on skin and coat, inflammatory responses, and neurologic development in puppies.

Author & Journal:Bauer JE, J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;231:1657-1661
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Understanding the relationship between body weight and osteoarthritis.

Summary:

Overweight people are at high risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (OA) and may also be at increased risk of hand and hip OA. Furthermore, being overweight accelerates disease progression in knee OA. While the increased joint stress accompanying obesity may explain the strong linkage between obesity and knee OA risk, it does not necessarily explain why obese people have a high risk of disease in the hand nor why obese women are at higher comparative risk of knee disease than obese men. Unfortunately, studies of metabolic factors linked to obesity have not provided an explanation for these findings.

Conclusion:

There are a paucity of data on weight loss as a treatment for OA, but preliminary information suggests it is especially effective in knee disease and that even small amounts of weightreduction may have favourable effects.

Author & Journal:Felson DT, et al, Ballieres clin Rheumatol 11: 671-681, 1997
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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:

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. JAVMA 2016
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