Half of dogs in Dog Aging Project cohort receive supplements

CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: Supplement use is widespread in U.S. dogs, at least in one of the country’s largest canine research cohorts. A new American Journal of Veterinary Research study using Dog Aging Project enrollment surveys found that 52% of 40,367 dogs received at least one supplement between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Among dogs getting supplements, the most common products were omega-3 fatty acids and joint supplements, each used in more than half of supplement-fed dogs. In the related AVMA podcast, the authors also highlighted omega-3s, glucosamine/chondroitin, and probiotics as the “big three,” with probiotics used most often in puppies and less often in senior dogs, while joint supplement use increased with life stage. The work, led by researchers including Janice S. O’Brien and Audrey Ruple, was published online in November 2025 and appeared in the February 1, 2026 print issue. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the finding reinforces that supplement use is no longer a niche history item. The Dog Aging Project researchers said dog characteristics were more strongly associated with use than pet parent demographics, and the podcast discussion suggested use often appears reactive rather than preventive, with dogs perceived to be in poorer health more likely to receive supplements. The same discussion noted that owners reported a wide range of products, including unfamiliar items such as bee pollen and dental powders, underscoring how broad and loosely defined the supplement category has become. That matters because many products reach the market without drug-level review, while evidence varies widely by category. In the AVMA podcast tied to the paper, the authors highlighted omega-3s, glucosamine/chondroitin, and probiotics as the “big three,” and noted a 2022 systematic review found strong evidence of non-effect for chondroitin-glucosamine nutraceuticals in canine and feline osteoarthritis. FDA says pet foods are regulated as animal food, and animal food products generally are not preapproved in their final packaged form before marketing. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Expect more attention on how clinics document supplement use, counsel pet parents on evidence and quality, and distinguish supportive products from therapies with stronger clinical backing as Dog Aging Project data continue to mature. More broadly, the study fits into a larger push in veterinary medicine to make companion-animal health data more usable across systems for surveillance and risk mitigation, rather than leaving common exposures and owner-reported practices scattered across disconnected records. (veterinaryvertex.buzzsprout.com)