Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Omega-3 supplements helped improve itching in dogs with atopic
By Mueller, R S et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2004·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on canine atopic dermatitis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 29 dogs with skin issues related to atopic dermatitis (a common allergic skin condition) were given either omega-3 fatty acids from flax oil or a placebo for 10 weeks. The dogs receiving the omega-3 supplements showed improvement in their skin condition, while those on the placebo did not see any changes. Interestingly, the overall amount of fatty acids or the balance of omega-6 to omega-3 did not seem to affect how well the dogs responded to treatment. This suggests that omega-3 fatty acids can help dogs with atopic dermatitis.
People also search for: dog skin problems treatment · omega-3 for dog allergies · atopic dermatitis in dogs
Abstract
Twenty-nine dogs were included in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised trial and were orally supplemented for 10 weeks with either flax oil (200 mg/kg/day), eicosapentaenoic acid (50 mg/kg/day) and docosahexaenoic acid (35 mg/kg/day) in a commercial preparation, or mineral oil as a placebo. For each dog, clinical scores were determined based on a scoring system developed prior to the trial. Total omega-6 and omega-3 intake and the ratio of omega-6:omega-3 (omega-6:3) were calculated before and after the trial. The dogs' clinical scores improved in those supplemented with flax oil and the commercial preparation, but not in the placebo group. No correlation was identified between total fatty acid intake or omega-6:3 ratio and clinical scores. Based on the results of this study, the total intake of fatty acids or the omega-6:3 ratio do not seem to be the main factors in determining the clinical response.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15206474/