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Nutrition

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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Therapeutic use of fish oils in companion animals.

Author & Journal:Bauer JE, J Am Vet Med Assoc 2011;239:1441-1451
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A multicenter study of the effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on carprofen dosage in dogs with osteoarthritis

Summary:

Human clinical studies and a recent meta-analysis7 have found that dietary supplementation with fish oil and fish oil-derived fatty acids (in particular omega-3 fatty acids) provides benefits for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Although the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis in humans differs from the pathophysiology of OA in dogs, both conditions have an inflammatory aspect that could be sensitive to omega-3 fatty acids. In 2 recent studies, the effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids in dogs with OA found that feeding a diet containing 3.4% to 3.5% omega-3 fatty acids improved some clinical outcomes and weight bearing. In clinical practice, many dogs with OA are treated long term with NSAIDs such as carprofen, and neither of the aforementioned studies9,10 examined whether dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids would allow a decrease in NSAID dosage. The purpose of the study reported here, therefore, was to determine the effects of feeding a diet supplemented with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on carprofen dosage in dogs with OA.

Conclusion:

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.

Author & Journal:Fritsch DA, Allen TA, Dodd CE, Jewell DE, Sixby KA, Leventhal PS, Brejda J, Hahn KA., J Am Vet Med Assoc.
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The effect of weight loss on lameness in obese dogs with osteoarthritis.

Summary:

This paper describes the effect of weight loss on lameness in obese dogs with osteoarthritis (OA).

Conclusion:

The results indicate that body weight reduction causes a significant decrease in lameness from a weight loss of 6.10% onwards. Kinetic gait analysis supported the results from a body weight reduction of 8.85% onwards. These results confirm that weight loss should be presented as an important treatment modality to owners of obese dogs with OA and that noticeable improvement may be seen after modest weight loss in the region of 6.10 – 8.85% body weight.

Author & Journal:Marshall WG, et al, Vet Res Commun 2010;34:241-253
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Lifelong diet restriction and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip joint in dogs

Summary:

To evaluate the effects of diet restriction on development of radiographic evidence of hip joint osteoarthritis in dogs.

Conclusion:

Restricted feeding delayed or prevented development of radiographic signs of hip jointosteoarthritis 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.

Author & Journal:Smith GK, et al, JAVMA 2006
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Timely Topics in Nutrition: An overview of fatty acids in companion animal medicine.

Author & Journal:Lenox CE, J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015;246:1198-1202
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Timely Topics in Nutrition: An overview of fatty acids in companion animal medicine

Summary:

Fatty acids have a number of important roles in the body. These include, among others, serving as a source of fuel, transporting fat-soluble vitamins, serving structural functions as part of cell membranes, and being involved in cell regulation and signaling. Fatty acids are also used for the management of disease, giving them a unique role as a nutraceutical, which is a nutrient that has properties of a drug. The objective of the information reported here is to provide an overview of topics related to fatty acids and to improve general understanding of these topics.

Conclusion:

Although lipid biochemical processes are a complicated topic, veterinarians should have a basic understanding of fatty acids and their impact on health and disease in companion animals. It is important for veterinarians to understand that different sources and types of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids do not have the same functions, and that animals of all life stages require both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. In addition to the fact that they are essential for physiologic tissue function, fatty acids can modulate disease and influence growth and development. The provision of supplemental omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids can result in adverse effects.

Author & Journal:Catherine E. Lenox, DVM, J Am Vet Med Assoc.
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Evaluation of the effect of limited food consumption on radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in dogs.

Summary:

To determine prevalence of radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in 4 diarthrodial joints of dogs with restricted feed intake, compared with dogs without restricted feed intake.

Conclusion:

Prevalence and severity of osteoarthritis in several joints was less in dogs with long-term reduced food intake, compared with control dogs. Food intake is an environmental factor that may have a profound effect on development of osteoarthritis in dogs.

Author & Journal:Kealy RD, et al, JAVMA 2000
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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.

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
Learn More