Dog Aging Project data show supplements are common in dogs

Supplement use appears to be common in U.S. dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project, with nearly half of dogs in one large cross-sectional analysis receiving at least one daily supplement. In that dataset of 26,951 dogs age 1 year and older, 46.7% were reported to get a daily supplement, and most supplemented dogs were receiving a joint product. Among dogs with an owner-reported osteoarthritis diagnosis, 70% were getting a joint supplement, compared with 37.4% of dogs without an OA diagnosis. The findings come from a peer-reviewed Dog Aging Project analysis focused on joint supplement use, a useful proxy for how widespread supplement administration has become in companion animal care. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, the takeaway isn't just that supplements are popular, it's that they’re already embedded in how many pet parents manage aging, mobility, and preventive care. That creates both an opportunity and a responsibility in practice: to ask specifically about supplements during diet and medication histories, to discuss evidence gaps around common ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin, and to steer pet parents toward products made under stronger quality standards. FDA says products for animals don't fall under the human dietary supplement framework, and some products making drug-like claims can cross into unapproved animal drug territory. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: As the Dog Aging Project continues to generate longitudinal data, a key next question is whether dogs receiving common supplements show measurable differences in outcomes such as osteoarthritis incidence, mobility, cognition, or longevity. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)