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IntroductionWith little to no regulation of the supplement markets and a paucity of quality information regarding clinical utility of individual marketed supplements, it is difficult for veterinarians to provide any evidence-based recommendations to owners. The current study aimed to provide clinically useful comparative efficacy data on certain marketed supplements.MethodsUsing a prospective, block-randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design, one hundred and one pet dogs with clinical hip OA-associated pain with one side worse than the other (index limb) were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: Green lipped Mussel plus Krill oil extracts (Antinol® Rapid, EAB-277); Biota orientalis extracts (4CYTE™ Epiitalis® Forte); an NSAID (meloxicam); or placebo (sunflower oil). Peak vertical force (PVF, expressed as a percentage of bodyweight) of the index limb, orthopedic assessment score (OAS) and hematology and blood chemistry values were evaluated before treatment (week 0), at 2, 4 and 6 weeks during treatment.ResultsAt 6 weeks, the changes from baseline in PVF of the index limb in the EAB-277 and meloxicam groups were significantly greater than the change in the placebo and 4CYTE™ groups, and the placebo and 4CYTE groups were not different from each other. At 6 weeks, there were significant differences between the groups for overall OAS scores with the lowest scores (least impairment) in the EAB-277 and meloxicam groups, followed by the 4CYTE group and then the placebo group.DiscussionResults of this study indicate that meloxicam and EAB-277 have significant objectively measured benefits in managing OA-related pain in dogs compared to placebo, but 4CYTE does not differ from placebo.

IntroductionGlucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate are commonly used in dogs with OA, but evidence around efficacy is mixed. This study evaluated the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, marine based fatty acid compounds (PCSO-524 and EAB-277), and carprofen for the alleviation of canine hip OA pain. This was a prospective, block-randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.MethodsSeventy-five owned pet dogs with hip OA were assigned randomly into five treatment groups: PCSO-524, Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, EAB-277, carprofen, and Placebo (sunflower oil). Peak vertical force (PVF) and subjective orthopedic assessment scores (OAS) were evaluated before treatment (week 0), and at weeks 2, 4, and 6 during treatment.ResultsAt week 2, the carprofen group showed a significant increase in PVF (3.14 ± 5.33; mean ± SD). After 4 weeks, the increases in PVF of the PCSO-524 (3.90 ± 3.52), EAB-277 (4.17 ± 4.94), and carprofen (3.08 ± 5.87) groups were significant, and significantly greater than placebo (0.08 ± 1.90) and glucosamine (−0.05 ± 6.34) groups. After 6 weeks, the change of PVF in the PCSO-524 (4.14 ± 4.65), EAB-277 (4.45 ± 4.23), and carprofen (4.21 ± 6.52) groups were significant and significantly higher than the placebo group (−0.33 ± 3.65). The change in PVF in the glucosamine group (1.08 ± 5.49) lay between the placebo group and the other treatment groups. The OAS did not show any significant change in any group.DiscussionPCSO-524 and EAB-277, but not glucosamine/chondroitin, resulted in significant improvements in PVF from baseline after 4 weeks, and 6 weeks, and to a similar degree to that seen with carprofen.