Abstract
Dogs used for search and rescue (SAR) may experience continuous micro-traumas that predispose them to skeletal disorders. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of diet on osteo-articular apparatus in healthy SAR dogs. A total of sixteen SAR dogs were divided into two groups (low supplementation (LS) and high supplementation (HS)) and were fed for 3 months with two experimental diets, characterised by the same protein and energy density, but different in n-3 PUFA (6·2 v. 8·4 % of metabolisable energy), chondroitin sulfate (219·8 v. 989·0 mg/kg DM) and glucosamine (769·2 v. 1318·7 mg/kg DM) in the LS and HS groups, respectively. At recruitment all dogs showed no joint inflammation signs, except four that showed mild symptoms. Haematology and serum biochemistry were performed every 30 d. Joint status was scored by physical and lameness evaluations. The sampling effect analysis showed potential beneficial effects by a decrease in a specific marker of membrane integrity (creatine kinase; CK). Comparing groups, glucose was significantly higher and CK was significantly lower in the HS group; however, in both cases the levels of these parameters fell in the normal range. At the end of the experiment, erythrocytes, Hb and packed cell volume were significantly higher in the HS compared with the LS group. These could result in an improvement in dogs' performance, even if this aspect was not investigated in the present study. Concerning joint evaluation (pain on manipulation, lameness and range of motion), no statistically significant differences were detected between the groups and within the experimental period.
Highlights
Dogs used for search and rescue (SAR) may experience continuous micro-traumas that predispose them to skeletal disorders
At the end of the experiment, erythrocytes, Hb and packed cell volume were significantly higher in the high supplementation (HS) group compared with the low supplementation (LS) group (P < 0·01 and P < 0·05)
All parameters fall within the normal range, showing, together with the absence of clinical signs, that the nutritional supplement had no adverse effect[16]
Summary
Dogs used for search and rescue (SAR) may experience continuous micro-traumas that predispose them to skeletal disorders. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of diet on osteo-articular apparatus in healthy SAR dogs. At the end of the experiment, erythrocytes, Hb and packed cell volume were significantly higher in the HS compared with the LS group These could result in an improvement in dogs’ performance, even if this aspect was not investigated in the present study. Since dogs used for search and rescue (SAR) start their training programme at 1 year of age, their osteo-articular apparatus is highly stressed. For this reason, SAR dogs in the rubble show early clinical signs of osteo-articular impairment due to continuous micro-traumas. Several studies in dogs showed a marked reduction in arthritic pain with the oral administration of glucosamine and journals.cambridge.org/jns
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