Half of dogs in Dog Aging Project cohort received supplements

CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: About half of dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project were reported to receive supplements, 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, the most common products were omega-3 fatty acids and joint supplements, and the authors found supplement use was more strongly associated with dog characteristics than pet parent characteristics. The paper also noted higher use among dogs with orthopedic conditions, extending earlier Dog Aging Project work that found joint supplement use was common in older, heavier, and osteoarthritis-diagnosed dogs. In related AVMA podcast discussion, the authors said the study was intended as a “broad strokes overview” of what supplements dogs are getting, which dogs are more likely to receive them, and who is giving them, against the backdrop of a rapidly growing companion animal supplement market driven in part by owner interest in preventive care, longevity, and quality of life. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the findings are a reminder that supplement use is already mainstream in canine care, especially in senior patients and dogs with mobility concerns. That makes medication and diet histories more important, not less, because products marketed as “supplements” for animals don’t fall under the same legal framework as human dietary supplements: FDA says products for animals are generally regulated as food or new animal drugs depending on intended use, and DSHEA does not apply to animal products. As the study authors noted in AVMA’s Veterinary Vertex podcast, animal supplements also are not regulated like drugs and generally are not required to demonstrate safety or efficacy before reaching the market, even though marketing often uses medical language. In practice, that leaves veterinarians in a key role helping pet parents sort evidence, safety, product quality, and realistic expectations. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Expect follow-up work from the Dog Aging Project to dig deeper into which supplements are being used for which conditions, and whether reported use tracks with measurable health outcomes over time. More broadly, the project’s community-based, longitudinal design also points to the growing value of integrated companion animal data systems for surveillance and One Health-style analyses that connect pet health patterns with larger environmental and public health questions. (pubs.dogagingproject.org)