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A blinded, placebo‐controlled study of the efficacy of borage seed oil and fish oil in the management of canine atopy
Author(s) -
Harvey R. G.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.144.15.405
Subject(s) - medicine , placebo , erythema , fish oil , placebo group , atopy , olive oil , fish <actinopterygii> , surgery , allergy , biology , food science , fishery , pathology , alternative medicine , immunology
Twenty‐one dogs with atopy were entered into a blinded, placebo‐controlled study lasting eight weeks. They were randomly divided into three groups and were all given supplementary oils orally once daily. The dogs in groups A and B were given borage seed oil and fish oil in combination (Viacutan; Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica) to provide 176 mg/kg or 88 mg/kg borage seed oil respectively. The dogs in group C were given 204 mg/kg olive oil as a placebo. They were all re‐examined after four and eight weeks and scored for pruritus, erythema, oedema, alopecia and self‐excoriation. After eight weeks the scores for erythema and self‐excoriation, and the total score for the dogs in group A, and the total score for the dogs in group B were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The dogs in group C showed no significant improvement.