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Updated: Feb 19, 2026
Ferric Chloride-induced Canine Carotid Artery Thrombosis: A Large Animal Model of Vascular Injury
Published on: September 7, 2018
Effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and aspirin, alone and combined, on canine platelet function
S Westgarth1, S L Blois1, R D Wood2
1Department of Clinical Studies, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontaria N1G 2W1, Canada.
Objectives:
To compare haemostatic function in healthy dogs after treatment with low-dose aspirin alone, fish oil alone or a combination of these two therapies.
Materials And Methods:
Double-blinded randomised controlled clinical trial on 16 healthy client-owned dogs. Comprehensive haemostatic testing was performed at baseline and after 7 days of therapy with low-dose aspirin in all dogs. Following a 14-day washout, six dogs received fish oil, and nine dogs received combination therapy of aspirin plus fish oil; haemostatic testing was performed before and at 7 and 28 days after treatment initiation.
Results:
Aspirin was associated with significantly decreased platelet function as measured by a collagen-epinephrine cartridge and inhibited arachidonic acid-induced whole-blood platelet aggregometry. Fish oil alone did not significantly affect any haemostatic tests. The combination of aspirin plus fish oil therapy caused a significantly greater inhibition of adenosine diphosphate and collagen-induced whole blood aggregometry compared to aspirin alone.
Clinical Significance:
Fish oil added to aspirin therapy appears to augment inhibition of some measures of platelet function in healthy dogs.
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