Review scope

This summary is based on the published abstract. We have not appraised the full methods, tables or supplementary material. Details absent from the abstract remain unverified.

Question and design

29 dogs with atopic dermatitis; double-blinded 10-week trial. Flax oil or a commercial EPA/DHA preparation. Comparator: Mineral-oil placebo.

What was measured?

Clinical scores, fatty-acid intake and omega-6:omega-3 ratio.

Main findings

The abstract reports improvement in supplemented groups but not placebo. Clinical scores did not correlate with total fatty-acid intake or the omega-6:omega-3 ratio.

Study strengths

Randomisation, blinding and placebo control.

Limitations

Small trial. The abstract does not quantify treatment differences or adequately describe concurrent therapy, attrition and adverse events.

Researchers’ conclusion

The authors did not consider total intake or the fatty-acid ratio the main determinants of response.

Evidence.pet interpretation

Within-group improvement alone does not establish superiority between treatments. This does not prove flax oil and EPA/DHA are interchangeable.

Funding and conflicts

Not verified from the abstract; full declarations have not been reviewed.

Source and review date

Mueller et al. Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on canine atopic dermatitis. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 2004. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2004.tb00238.x.

Read the primary source · DOI record

STU-036. Reviewed 25 September 2026. Next review 25 December 2026.