Half of dogs in Dog Aging Project cohort received supplements

CURRENT FULL VERSION: Supplement use appears to be a routine part of care for many U.S. dogs, at least among participants in the Dog Aging Project. In a newly published AJVR study, researchers reported that 20,993 of 40,367 enrolled dogs, or 52%, were receiving supplements based on pet parent survey responses collected from 2020 through 2022. Among supplement users, omega-3 fatty acids and joint supplements were the most commonly reported categories. In AVMA’s Veterinary Vertex podcast, the authors described the project as a first “broad strokes overview” of the Dog Aging Project’s supplement questionnaire—meant to map which supplements are most commonly used, what types of dogs receive them, and which owners are giving them. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

The study adds a broad population-level view to a research area that has mostly been discussed product by product. The Dog Aging Project, a large U.S. longitudinal community-science initiative, was built to examine how genetics, lifestyle, and environment shape healthy aging in dogs, and it has already generated earlier analyses on specific supplement patterns. In 2022, investigators using Dog Aging Project data reported that joint supplement use was associated with factors including age, size, activity, and osteoarthritis diagnosis, suggesting that many pet parents are using these products both reactively and, in some cases, preventively. The new paper arrives as the companion animal supplement market continues to grow, a trend the study authors linked in podcast discussion to owner interest in preventive care, longevity, and quality of life. (pubs.dogagingproject.org)

In the new analysis, the authors examined owner-reported supplement use, demographic variables, and selected health conditions from enrollment surveys. Their topline finding was simple: supplements are common. But the more actionable detail for clinicians is that dog-level factors mattered more than pet parent demographics, and use was especially notable in dogs with orthopedic conditions. That pattern fits with what many general practitioners and sports medicine clinicians already see in exam rooms, where omega-3s, glucosamine-chondroitin products, and other joint-focused products often enter the conversation early in the course of chronic mobility disease. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

The study does not, however, answer the efficacy question on its own. It describes what pet parents are giving, not whether those products work, for whom, or at what dose. That distinction matters because the regulatory structure for animal supplements remains less intuitive than many clients assume. FDA states that the human dietary supplement framework created by DSHEA does not apply to animal products; instead, products marketed for animals are generally treated as food or as new animal drugs depending on intended use and claims. The authors also emphasized in AVMA’s Veterinary Vertex podcast that animal supplements are not regulated the way drugs are and generally are not required to demonstrate safety or efficacy before they reach the market, even though marketing language may sound medical. (fda.gov)

That gap between widespread use and uneven evidence is where veterinary guidance becomes most valuable. For practices, the takeaway isn’t simply that many clients use supplements, but that teams may need a more systematic way to ask about them, document them, and discuss expected benefits and limitations. Product quality is another practical issue. The National Animal Supplement Council’s Quality Seal program is one of the few visible industry quality markers in this space, though it is not the same thing as FDA approval. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Industry and research interest in the category also appears to be expanding. Separate recent Dog Aging Project work has explored cannabidiol use in dogs, underscoring how quickly the supplement conversation can move beyond traditional joint and fatty acid products into newer categories with more complicated evidence and compliance questions. That broader trend may increase pressure on veterinarians to be ready with nuanced, product-specific counseling rather than blanket endorsements or dismissals. And beyond supplements alone, related AVMA reporting on One Health-oriented companion animal surveillance has highlighted the larger opportunity in integrating pet, human, and environmental data sources so researchers can ask more complex questions and support earlier risk mitigation. Large longitudinal datasets such as the Dog Aging Project could become part of that broader surveillance picture. (frontiersin.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this study is less about proving a supplement works than about confirming how often these products are already part of the patient picture. When one in two dogs in a large national cohort is receiving some kind of supplement, supplement history should be treated as a standard part of nutrition, medication, and chronic disease management conversations. That’s especially true in senior care, orthopedics, rehabilitation, and multimorbidity cases, where supplement stacking, caregiver expectations, and possible interactions can complicate care plans. Just as important, the market is growing faster than the evidence base, and products can reach clients without the premarket safety and efficacy demonstrations expected of drugs. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: The next important question is longitudinal: whether specific supplement patterns in the Dog Aging Project correlate with better mobility, cognition, gastrointestinal health, or longevity over time. If those analyses emerge, they could help move the profession from documenting supplement use to stratifying which products may actually deserve a place in evidence-based preventive or adjunctive care. More broadly, as veterinary researchers push toward integrated companion animal surveillance and One Health data systems, datasets like these may also help connect everyday pet care behaviors with larger population-health and environmental questions. For now, the study’s clearest message is operational: ask, record, and counsel. (pubs.dogagingproject.org)