Combined treatment with concentrated essential fatty acids and prednisolone in the management of canine atopy.

Eleven perennially affected atopic dogs which had previously responded poorly to dietary supplementation with a combination of evening primrose oil and fish oil were studied to determine whether a concentrated essential fatty acid supplement containing gammalinolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid would reduce their prednisolone requirements. The prednisolone dose required for satisfactory control of the dogs' clinical signs was reduced in eight of the 11 cases when assessed after 12 weeks of supplementation, but there were no significant differences in mean clinical scores during the same period. The mean plasma phospholipid linoleic acid concentrations after eight and 12 weeks of supplementation were significantly lower than the initial mean value but there were no significant differences in the mean plasma phospholipid concentrations of dihomogammalinolenic acid, arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid.