Clinical evaluation of an antiinflammatory and antioxidant diet effect in 30 dogs affected by chronic otitis externa: preliminary results

Abstract

The aim of this evaluation study was to assess the possible role of a specific nutraceutical diet in relieving main clinical symptoms of chronic bilateral otitis externa (occlusion of ear canal, erythema, discharge quantity, and odor) in 30 adult dogs. Thirty dogs of different breeds (mean age ± SEM; 6.03 ± 0.15 years and mean weight ± SEM; 32.01 ± 1.17 Kg; 53.3 % males, 46.6 % females) with evident chronic clinical otitis symptoms were equally divided and randomly assigned to receive either the nutraceutical diet (ND group) or a standard diet (SD group) over a period of 90 days. In all cases a topical pharmacological treatment was given. The nutraceutical diet, also endowed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, significantly decreased the mean score intensity of all symptoms after 90 days of intervention (P < 0.0001) with the exception of Malassezia pachydermatis infection which was only slightly reduced. Our investigation is one of the few evidence-based results where a commercial nutraceutical diet has been proven effective, in combination with drugs, in relieving otitis externa-related symptoms. This study opens new insights into otitis externa clinical management providing evidence of efficacy of a combined therapy with drugs and a specific nutraceutical diet.

Functional Pet Foods

“…We recently identified a specific compound, oxytetracycline (OTC), as the possible underlying cause of most inflammatory pathologies both in vitro [9,10] and in vivo [11,12]. OTC belongs to the class of tetracyclines, which are the most widely and legally used antibiotics in intensive farming, for example, poultry [10], livestock [13], and aquaculture [14], due to their low cost and efficacy [15].…”

“…Some scientific evidence has pointed out the efficacy of selected ingredients, as part of a commercially available diet, in relieving inflammatory conditions in pets by means of an immune modulatory and antioxidant activity [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57].…”

“…As previously stated, cats and dogs can be affected by adverse food reactions, which can involve apparatuses including the gastroenteric and cutaneous but can be extended also to otological, ocular, urinary, and respiratory systems [49,62]. We recently ascertained the effectiveness of a combined use of a nutraceutical diet and current pharmacological therapy in 15 adult dogs affected by chronic bilateral otitis externa [49].…”

“…As previously stated, cats and dogs can be affected by adverse food reactions, which can involve apparatuses including the gastroenteric and cutaneous but can be extended also to otological, ocular, urinary, and respiratory systems [49,62]. We recently ascertained the effectiveness of a combined use of a nutraceutical diet and current pharmacological therapy in 15 adult dogs affected by chronic bilateral otitis externa [49]. The diet, which was composed of fish proteins, rice carbohydrates, Melaleuca alternifolia, Tilia platyphyllos scapoli et cordata, Allium sativum L., Rosa canina L. and Zinc and an Omega 3/6 ratio of 1:4, and the drug (Otomax ® ) significantly reduced the mean intensity of all clinical symptoms (occlusion of ear canal, erythema, discharge quantity, and odor) within 90 days ( *** p < 0.001).…”

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet

“…Inflammation is also known to contribute to the etiology of anxiety disorders, depression 27 , and neurotransmitter activity 28 . In this sense, we recently identified a specific compound, oxytetracycline, as a possible agent able to trigger an inflammatory condition both in and in vivo 31,32 . Oxytetracycline belongs to the class of tetracyclines, which are the most widely and legally used antibiotics in intensive farming (e.g., poultry 30 , livestock 33 , and aquaculture 34 ) due to their low cost and high efficacy 35 .…”