Table 3 Timeline: Products given and questionnaires, tests and evaluations done during study period
Time | Questionnaires and visits | Food, rescue analgesia and tested products | Outcome variables, other tests and evaluations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Questionnaires | At clinic | |||
W −8 | Internet / posted questionnaire | Descriptive data. Questionnaire on pain items, including HCPI. Lameness and QOL VAS. Use of NSAIDs / adjuvant analgesics. | ||
W −8 to W −2 | Telephone interview | Questions about unclear answer in the inclusion questionnaire | ||
W −2 | Screening visit | New feed started. | Questionnaire on pain items, including HCPI. Lameness and QOL VAS. Use of NSAIDs / adjuvant analgesics. | Thorough veterinary evaluation + lameness, jumping and stairs on video. PVF, Impulse. Blood samples (inclusion). Radiographs. |
W 0 | Baseline visit | Oils started. Rescue NSAID given to owner. | Questionnaire on pain items, including HCPI. Lameness and QOL VAS. Use of NSAIDs / adjuvant analgesics. | Veterinary evaluation: Lameness, jumping and stairs on video. PVF, Impulse. Blood samples. |
W 4 | 4 weeks after baseline | Questionnaire on pain items, including HCPI. Lameness and QOL VAS. Use of rescue analgesic. Adverse effect questions. Comparative questions: locomotion, every-day situations and skin and hair-coat. | ||
W 8 | 8 weeks after baseline | Same as at W4. | ||
W 12 | 12 weeks after baseline | Same as at W4. | ||
W 16 | End visit (16 weeks after baseline) | Feed and oils stopped. | Questionnaire on pain items, incl. HCPI. Lameness and QOL VAS. Use of rescue analgesic. Adverse effect questions. Comparative questions: locomotion, every-day situations and skin and hair-coat. Final assessment of outcome. Guessing group. | Veterinary evaluation: Lameness, jumping and stairs on video. PVF, Impulse. Blood samples. |