Dog Aging Project study finds supplements common in dogs
CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: About half of dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project were receiving at least one supplement, according to a new American Journal of Veterinary Research study analyzing enrollment survey data from 40,367 dogs collected from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2022. Among dogs getting supplements, omega-3 fatty acids and joint supplements were the most common, each used in more than half of supplement-using dogs. The authors, from Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, and the Dog Aging Project Consortium, said the study was intended as a broad first look at what supplements dogs are getting, which dogs are more likely to receive them, and whether use tracks with certain diagnosed conditions. They concluded that supplement use was widespread and varied more by dog characteristics than by pet parent characteristics. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the findings reinforce that supplement use should be part of routine history-taking, especially in senior dogs and dogs with orthopedic disease. The study’s clinical relevance section specifically says veterinary professionals should spend more time discussing supplement use and efficacy with pet parents. That message is timely because supplement use in companion animals is a fast-growing market, driven in part by owner interest in preventive care, longevity, and quality of life, even though these products are not regulated like drugs and generally do not have to prove safety or efficacy before reaching the market. Existing guidance from AAHA and WSAVA also emphasizes nutrition assessment at every visit and notes that evidence for many nutraceuticals remains limited, with omega-3 fatty acids among the better-supported options for canine osteoarthritis. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
What to watch: Expect more follow-on analyses from the Dog Aging Project as its longitudinal dataset matures, including work linking diet, supplements, environment, and age-related disease outcomes. More broadly, these kinds of large companion-animal datasets may also feed into emerging One Health surveillance efforts that aim to connect animal, human, and environmental health data for earlier risk detection and better population-level insights. (news.vt.edu)