Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
EPA and DHA supplements help dogs and cats with allergies
By Magalhães, Tomás Rodrigues et al.·Published in In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2021·Department of Veterinary Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Therapeutic Effect of EPA/DHA Supplementation in Neoplastic and Non-neoplastic Companion Animal Diseases: A Systematic Review.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Dogs and cats with various health issues, including skin problems, heart disease, and arthritis, may benefit from omega-3 fatty acid supplements like EPA and DHA. Research showed that these supplements helped dogs with allergic dermatitis, coat issues, and even chronic heart failure, as well as cats with similar skin problems. While the results are promising, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm these benefits. If your pet is facing any of these conditions, discussing omega-3 supplementation with your veterinarian could be a good option.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study is to identify and describe randomized controlled studies evaluating the therapeutic effect of EPA and DHA supplementation in companion animal diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed database and the information collected was summarized and evaluated according to the risk of bias, using the revised Cochrane tool (RoB2). RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were eligible for inclusion: twenty performed in dogs and three in cats. A therapeutic benefit was found in canine allergic dermatitis, haircoat disorder, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, valvular disease, and canine and feline osteoarthritis. Dogs diagnosed with chronic heart failure and lymphoma and cats with allergic dermatitis also seem to benefit from supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, but studies with improved methodological quality are needed to strengthen this evidence. CONCLUSION: EPA and DHA supplementation has proven benefits in the adjuvant treatment of various neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases in dogs and cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33910819/