Dog Aging Project finds supplement use is common in dogs
CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: Half of dogs in the Dog Aging Project cohort were reported to receive supplements, according to a recent American Journal of Veterinary Research study highlighted by AVMA’s Veterinary Vertex podcast. In an analysis of 40,367 dogs using Dog Aging Project survey data collected from 2020 through 2022, 52% received at least one supplement. Among supplement users, omega-3 fatty acids and joint supplements were the most common, each used in more than half of supplemented dogs, and the podcast discussion also pointed to probiotics as part of the “big three” supplement categories in dogs. The authors found supplement use was more strongly associated with dog factors than pet parent factors, and was especially common in dogs with orthopedic conditions. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the study is a reminder that supplement use is already mainstream in canine care, particularly for senior dogs and dogs with musculoskeletal disease. That creates a practical need for more routine, evidence-based conversations in the exam room about what a dog is taking, why, and whether the product has meaningful data behind it. Earlier Dog Aging Project work on joint supplements similarly found high use in U.S. dogs and noted mixed efficacy data for many products, with stronger support for omega-3 fatty acids than for some other common joint ingredients. More broadly, AVMA’s Veterinary Vertex has also highlighted the value of integrated companion animal health data systems in a One Health framework, underscoring how better-connected pet health data could improve surveillance and risk mitigation across veterinary and public health. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
What to watch: As the Dog Aging Project continues to follow this cohort longitudinally, future analyses may clarify whether common supplements are simply markers of disease risk or are associated with measurable health outcomes over time. Longer term, projects that combine pet, human, and environmental data more effectively may also make it easier to study companion animal health trends in a broader One Health context. (content.dogagingproject.org)