A 2022 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Enriched Therapeutic Diets and Nutraceuticals in Canine and Feline Osteoarthritis

Abstract

With osteoarthritis being the most common degenerative disease in pet animals, a very broad panel of natural health products is available on the market for its management. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis, registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021279368), was to test for the evidence of clinical analgesia efficacy of fortified foods and nutraceuticals administered in dogs and cats affected by osteoarthritis. In four electronic bibliographic databases, 1578 publications were retrieved plus 20 additional publications from internal sources. Fifty-seven articles were included, comprising 72 trials divided into nine different categories of natural health compound. The efficacy assessment, associated to the level of quality of each trial, presented an evident clinical analgesic efficacy for omega-3-enriched diets, omega-3 supplements and cannabidiol (to a lesser degree). Our analyses showed a weak efficacy of collagen and a very marked non-effect of chondroitin-glucosamine nutraceuticals, which leads us to recommend that the latter products should no longer be recommended for pain management in canine and feline osteoarthritis.

Assessment of cannabidiol use in pets according to a national survey in the USA

“…2021, Barbeau‐Grégoire et al . 2022). From 7 studies on dogs with OA supplemented with CBD assessed in a meta‐analysis (Barbeau‐Grégoire et al .…”

“…From 7 studies on dogs with OA supplemented with CBD assessed in a meta‐analysis (Barbeau‐Grégoire et al . 2022), only one did not find evidence for an improvement in pain related to OA in dogs when using a lower dose (0.5 mg/kg/day) (Verrico et al . 2020).…”

“…Nevertheless, CBD is promising in reducing pain associated with OA, but more studies are needed on the efficacy, dosing, formulation, and medication combination (Barbeau‐Grégoire et al . 2022).…”

“…Studies evaluating dogs with chronic osteoarthritis found evidence that pet owners noted improvement in their dogs' condition when given CBD alone or concomitant with other anti-inflammatories (Gamble et al 2018, Brioschi et al 2020, Mejia et al 2021, Barbeau-Grégoire et al 2022). From 7 studies on dogs with OA supplemented with CBD assessed in a metaanalysis (Barbeau-Grégoire et al 2022), only one did not find evidence for an improvement in pain related to OA in dogs when using a lower dose (0.5 mg/kg/day) (Verrico et al 2020).…”

“…Therefore, the improvement noted by owners in the present survey is not surprising and should not be interpreted as evidence for clinical efficacy. Nevertheless, CBD is promising in reducing pain associated with OA, but more studies are needed on the efficacy, dosing, formulation, and medication combination (Barbeau-Grégoire et al 2022).…”