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<html><body><p>Posts in our <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/"><strong>Scientific Results</strong> series</a> introduce recent papers published in the scientific literature by members of the Dog Aging Project research team. <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/">Follow this series to learn more about the scientific questions we&rsquo;re asking, the kinds of results we&rsquo;re getting, and what it all means for you and your dog</a>.</p>
<h2>Author</h2>
<p>Benjamin R Harrison</p>
<h2><strong>Who worked on this research?</strong></h2>
<p>Benjamin R Harrison<br>
Joshua M Akey<br>
Noah Snyder-Mackler<br>
Dan Raftery<br>
Dog Aging Project Consortium<br>
Kate E Creevy<br>
Daniel E L Promislow</p>
<h2>Where was it published?</h2>
<p>The Journals of Gerontology: Series A</p>
<h2>&nbsp;What is this paper about?</h2>
<p>Dog Aging Project researchers wanted to know if molecules measured in blood samples from pet dogs could be used to predict the risk of death as the dogs age. They focused on metabolites, which are small molecules in the blood that reflect how the body is working.&nbsp; Not only was the answer a resounding &lsquo;yes&rsquo;, but when they sat down to compare these canine risk factors to those identified in long-term human studies, they found nearly perfect agreement. Put simply, dogs and humans share biomarkers of mortality.</p>
<p>They used data from the Dog Aging Project, a huge long&#8209;term study of tens of thousands of companion dogs. In this analysis, they examined 937 dogs from the Precision Cohort and compared their blood metabolite patterns with those in humans.</p>
<p>What they discovered:</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Dogs and humans share the same warning signs of aging.</b> Certain tiny molecules within the blood that predict a higher chance of death in humans also predict death in dogs. This means dogs and humans have similar biological aging patterns.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Many of the strongest signs were related to kidney health.</b> Some molecules increased as kidney function got worse. These same chemicals were linked to a higher risk of death in both dogs and humans.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Dogs show these signs much sooner than humans.</b> In people, these patterns take 8 to 28 years to develop. Because dogs age more quickly, scientists observed the same patterns in just 2 to 3 years. This means dogs can help us understand human aging more quickly.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Dogs are a great model for studying human aging. </b>They live with us, have many different genetic backgrounds, develop many of the same diseases, and age more quickly than people. As the Dog Aging Project learns about how dogs age, we continue to see that dogs are also an excellent species for learning how humans age.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What do these results mean for me and my dog?</h2>
<p>This study shows that when you and your dog participate in the Dog Aging Project, you help scientists make new discoveries. By answering surveys and giving samples, you are making important research possible. Dogs, just like humans, live complex lives, and this study was only able to reach a highly impactful discovery because of the unique and diverse participants in the Dog Aging Project.</p>
<p>Lab-based studies of aging, such as those on lab mice, fruit flies, or even worms, have been used for decades to understand aging.&nbsp; The path to translating those discoveries into meaningful interventions in canine or human aging has been modest. One major challenge is simply the complexity of life in the &lsquo;real world&rsquo;. Dogs offer a real chance for scientists to study and understand health and aging in the real-world.</p>
<p>Thanks to you and your dog, scientists were able to discover important clues in dogs&rsquo; blood that help predict aging and health. Your participation showed that dogs and people share many of the same biological markers of aging, and this knowledge will help researchers better understand how to help both pets and people stay healthier for longer.</p>
<h2>Where can I learn more?</h2>
<p>Harrison BR, Akey JM, Marye A, et al. Dogs and humans share biomarkers of mortality, The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 2025; glaf279, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaf279">https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaf279</a></p>
<h2>Abstract</h2>
<p>There is growing interest in the use of molecular features as predictors of age, age-related disease risk and mortality. A major shortcoming of this field, however, is the lack of suitable translational research models to identify and understand the underlying mechanisms of these predictive biomarkers in human populations. In particular, we lack a system which, like humans, is genetically variable, lives in diverse environments, and experiences aging-related chronic conditions treated in the context of a sophisticated health care system. Here, we present results from our analysis of data from the Dog Aging Project (DAP), a long-term longitudinal study of aging in companion dogs. Using longitudinal survival models on data from 937 dogs of the deeply phenotyped Precision Cohort within the DAP, we present the striking finding of a strong, highly significant positive correlation between the effect of individual metabolites on all-cause mortality in humans, and the association of those same metabolites on all-cause mortality in dogs. We also find that across these independent human studies, the biomarkers identified are also highly correlated, strongly suggesting a general signature of mortality within the plasma metabolome across humans, and now in dogs as well. Given the many similarities between dogs and humans with respect to genetics, environment, disease, and disease treatment, and the fact that dogs are so much shorter lived than humans, we argue that dogs represent an extremely valuable translational model in our ongoing effort to understand the underlying molecular causes and consequences of age-related morbidity and mortality in humans.</p>
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Dogs and humans share biomarkers of mortality

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<html><body><p>Posts in our <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/"><strong>Scientific Results</strong> series</a> introduce recent papers published in the scientific literature by members of the Dog Aging Project research team. <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/">Follow this series to learn more about the scientific questions we&rsquo;re asking, the kinds of results we&rsquo;re getting, and what it all means for you and your dog</a>.</p>
<h2>Author</h2>
<p>Benjamin R Harrison</p>
<h2><strong>Who worked on this research?</strong></h2>
<p>Benjamin R Harrison<br>
Maria Partida-Aguilar<br>
Abbey Marye<br>
Danijel Djukovic<br>
Mandy Kauffman<br>
Matthew D Dunbar<br>
Blaise L Mariner<br>
Brianah M McCoy<br>
Yadid M Algavi<br>
Efrat Muller<br>
Shiri Baum<br>
Tal Bamberger<br>
Dan Raftery<br>
Kate E Creevy<br>
Dog Aging Project Consortium<br>
Anne Avery<br>
Elhanan Borenstein<br>
Noah Snyder-Mackler<br>
Daniel E L Promislow</p>
<h2>Where was it published?</h2>
<p>Aging Cell</p>
<h2>&nbsp;What is this paper about?</h2>
<p>The Dog Aging Project is working to understand how and why dogs age. By studying genetics, environment, and biology, researchers hope to learn what affects healthy aging in dogs. One area of interest is the identification of aging biomarkers, which are measurements that can be made across the life of a dog that reflect their aging.</p>
<p>In this study, the researchers focus on the plasma metabolome &ndash; the hundreds of different small molecules that can be measured in blood samples &ndash; which are taken annually from the Precision Cohort of the DAP. Among these molecules, they identified a group called post-translationally modified amino acids (ptmAAs), whose only known source is the breakdown of protein.</p>
<p>By analyzing the samples collected from about 800 dogs of various ages at their entry into the DAP, researchers found that these ptmAAs were generally higher in abundance in older dogs compared to younger dogs. ptmAAs had been measured in several studies of aging biomarkers in humans, however at the time, a connection was not made to protein catabolism.</p>
<p>Tracing the potential physiological causes for the rise in ptmAAs in older dogs, DAP researchers found evidence that kidney function drives much of this pattern. The source of the protein catabolites is not known, and diet did not appear to strongly influence this pattern.&nbsp; This study, the first one published from the DAP investigation of the blood metabolome, identifies an aging biomarker in dogs and humans and sheds light on a potential physiological driver of this variation.</p>
<h2>What do these results mean for me and my dog?</h2>
<p>Every dog owner has seen the aging process happen in the many ways their dog changes as they grow older. This study gives us a window into the changes that are impossible to see, those inside the bloodstream.&nbsp; Thus, your participation is making this research possible. By sharing your dog&rsquo;s health information and blood samples, you&rsquo;ve helped scientists discover important clues about how dogs age.</p>
<p>Your dog&rsquo;s blood tells a story about aging:<br>
Researchers have found that certain molecules in blood increase as dogs get older. By studying these changes, scientists can learn more about how your dog&rsquo;s body is aging, not just how many years old they are.</p>
<p>Why your participation matters:<br>
By allowing researchers to collect blood and health information from your dog, you are helping to develop tools that could one day predict health problems, improve care, and support longer, healthier lives for dogs.</p>
<p>What&rsquo;s next:<br>
This is just the first step. As the study continues, researchers will keep following these dogs to learn how these molecules change over time and what they can tell us about aging and disease</p>
<h2>Where can I learn more?</h2>
<p>Harrison BR, Partida-Aguilar M, Marye A, et al. Protein Catabolites as Blood-Based Biomarkers of Aging Physiology: Findings From the Dog Aging Project. Aging Cell. 2025 Nov;24(11):e70226. doi: 10.1111/acel.70226. Epub 2025 Oct 22. PMID: 41121965; PMCID: PMC12611326.</p>
<h2>Abstract</h2>
<p>Our understanding of aging has grown through the study of systems biology, including single-cell analysis, proteomics and metabolomics. Studies in lab organisms in controlled environments, while powerful and complex, fall short of capturing the breadth of genetic and environmental variation in nature. Thus, there is now a major effort in geroscience to identify aging biomarkers that might be applied across the diversity of humans and other free-living species. To meet this challenge, the Dog Aging Project (DAP) aims to identify cross-sectional and longitudinal patterns of aging in complex systems, and how these are shaped by the diversity of genetic and environmental variation among companion dogs. Here we surveyed the plasma metabolome from the first year of sampling of the Precision Cohort of the DAP. By incorporating extensive metadata and whole genome sequencing, we overcome the limitations inherent in breed-based estimates of genetic effects, and probe the physiological basis of the age-related metabolome. We identified effects of age on approximately 36% of measured metabolites. We also discovered a novel biomarker of age in the post-translationally modified amino acids (ptmAAs). The ptmAAs, which are generated by protein hydrolysis, covaried both with age and with other biomarkers of amino acid metabolism, and in a way that was robust to diet. Clinical measures of kidney function mediated about half of the age effect on ptmAA levels. This work identifies ptmAAs as robust indicators of age in dogs, and points to kidney function as a physiological mediator of age-associated variation in the plasma metabolome.</p>
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Scientific Results: Protein Catabolites as Blood-Based Biomarkers of Aging Physiology: Findings From the Dog Aging Project

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<html><body><p>Posts in our <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/"><strong>Scientific Results</strong> series</a> introduce recent papers published in the scientific literature by members of the Dog Aging Project research team. <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/">Follow this series to learn more about the scientific questions we&rsquo;re asking, the kinds of results we&rsquo;re getting, and what it all means for you and your dog</a>.</p>
<h2>Author</h2>
<p>Maxwell C. K. Leung</p>
<h2><strong>Who worked on this research?</strong></h2>
<p>Kendra D. Conrow<br>
Richard S. Haney<br>
Michael H. Malek-Ahmadi<br>
Julia D. Albright<br>
Barbara L. F. Kaplan<br>
Noah Snyder-Mackler<br>
Kathleen F. Kerr<br>
Yi Su<br>
Daniel E. L. Promislow<br>
Emily E. Bray<br>
Dog Aging Project Consortium<br>
Maxwell C. K. Leung</p>
<h2>Where was it published?</h2>
<p>Frontiers in Veterinary Science</p>
<h2>&nbsp;What is this paper about?</h2>
<p>Cannabidiol is a substance extracted from <i>Cannabis</i> <i>sativa </i>plants (i.e., cannabis and hemp) that may have valuable medical properties. Importantly, cannabidiol is not a &lsquo;psychoactive&rsquo; component of these plants, meaning that it generally does not cause intoxicating effects in people. Laws around the use of cannabis products change frequently, which tends to keep people&rsquo;s attention on these products and their use. In this post, we will use the abbreviation &ldquo;CBD&rdquo; to describe any type of product administered to dogs that contains cannabidiol.</p>
<p>This study used surveys from the Dog Aging Project between 2019 and 2023. These surveys asked about their dogs&rsquo; health, behavior, and whether they received CBD. Altogether, the research included data from about 47,000 dogs.</p>
<p>To understand how CBD use might affect dogs, the researchers compared two groups: dogs whose owners reported giving any kind of CBD (either often or sometimes) and dogs that never received CBD. They looked for differences between these groups in several areas, including:</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Demographics (age, breed, location)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Health conditions (arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, etc.)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Behavior (aggression, reactivity)</li>
</ul>
<p>The results showed that giving dogs CBD is fairly common. About 5 to 7% of dogs in the study received it. Older dogs and those with health conditions were more likely to be given CBD, especially those with:</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Arthritis or hip pain</li>
<li aria-level="1">Cancer</li>
<li aria-level="1">Epilepsy (seizures)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Dementia (memory problems)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Long-term stomach issues</li>
</ul>
<p>*Also, dogs in states where cannabis is legal were slightly more likely to get CBD.</p>
<p>The researchers also looked at changes in behavior over time:</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">At the start of owner-reported CBD use, dogs who received CBD seemed to show more aggression than those who did not.</li>
<li aria-level="1">In dogs with aggression given CBD for at least two years, owners reported decreased aggression over time,&nbsp; while aggression in dogs that did not receive CBD stayed about the same.</li>
</ul>
<p>These findings suggest that CBD might help calm some dogs, but it is too soon to know for sure. If there is some kind of calming effect, we can&rsquo;t tell whether that is a direct effect of CBD itself, or is a secondary effect from, for instance, control of pain. We also don&rsquo;t know whether some dogs were being given training or medications to modify their&nbsp; behavior. More research is needed to understand how CBD affects dog behavior.</p>
<p>*It&rsquo;s important to note that this study relied on owner reports, not veterinary exams, and did not track exact doses or product types. These results show patterns, not proof. Scientists will need more controlled studies to know if CBD really works and is safe for dogs. Also, if you have concerns about your dog&rsquo;s health, we encourage you to discuss these concerns with your primary care veterinarian. Suggestions for a treatment plan are best recommended by the veterinarian who has a relationship with your dog and understands their medical history.</p>
<h2>What do these results mean for me and my dog?</h2>
<p>Your participation in the Dog Aging Project has made a big difference. By sharing information about your dog, you&rsquo;ve helped researchers learn how CBD is being used and what it could mean for dogs&rsquo; health and behavior.</p>
<p>Because of you:</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Because of your participation, researchers now have a clearer picture of which dogs are most likely to get CBD and why.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The information you provided is giving researchers early clues that CBD could help reduce aggression in dogs over time.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Your input is guiding future research, helping scientists look for safe and effective treatments that could benefit dogs everywhere.</li>
</ul>
<p>This research wouldn&rsquo;t be possible without you and your dog. Your contribution is helping to improve the lives of dogs everywhere.</p>
<p>*If you want to learn more about cannabis in veterinary medicine, you can visit the <a href="https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/cannabis-use-and-pets">AVMA&rsquo;s resource on cannabis use and pets</a>.</p>
<h2>Where can I learn more?</h2>
<p>Conrow, K.D., Harney, R.S.,&nbsp; et al. Demographic features, health status, and behavioral changes associated with cannabidiol use in the Dog Aging Project. Frontiers Vet. Sci., 27 November 2025</p>
<p>Sec. One Health. Volume 12 &ndash; 2025. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1666663">https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1666663</a></p>
<h2>Abstract</h2>
<p><b>Introduction:</b> In recent years, there has been an increase in access to and interest in cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp products, including use in companion dog supplements.</p>
<p><b>Methods:</b> Using survey data from the Dog Aging Project (DAP), we characterized how human decisions around administering CBD and hemp products are informed by owner and dog demographics, the legal status of medical cannabis in their state, and the dog&rsquo;s health status. Furthermore, in a subset of longitudinal data, we investigated if frequent CBD use over time was associated with behavioral changes in the dogs. The patterns of canine CBD use were first categorized by sorting owner responses into frequent use, infrequent use, and no use. They were then analyzed for associations with location and general demographic features. Further cross-sectional analyses identified the association of CBD use with different medical conditions, as well as age-associated behavioral changes in dogs with consistent CBD use for at least 2 years as compared to dogs with no use.</p>
<p><b>Results:</b> Cannabidiol use tended to be higher in states with legalized medical cannabis. Dogs with dementia, osteoarthritis, cancer, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, clinical sign&ndash;based gastrointestinal disorders, and chronic diarrhea were more likely to use CBD as compared to dogs without those conditions. Dogs with consistent CBD use showed a decline in the intensity of aggressive behaviors over time compared to a more steady trend among non-use dogs.</p>
<p><b>Discussion: </b>The use of CBD in dogs is linked to owner perceptions of what CBD could treat or alleviate. The decline in the intensity of aggressive behaviors suggests the potential use of CBD in dog training. Further studies are needed to advance our understanding of this novel supplement at the mechanistic, clinical, and population levels. This will benefit the health of humans and dogs alike.</p>
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Scientific Results: Demographic features, health status, and behavioral changes associated with cannabidiol use in the Dog Aging Project

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<html><body><p>Posts in our <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/"><strong>Scientific Results</strong> series</a> introduce recent papers published in the scientific literature by members of the Dog Aging Project research team. <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/">Follow this series to learn more about the scientific questions we&rsquo;re asking, the kinds of results we&rsquo;re getting, and what it all means for you and your dog</a>.</p>
<h2>Author</h2>
<p>Amanda E. Coleman</p>
<h2><strong>Who worked on this research?</strong></h2>
<p>Amanda E. Coleman<br>
Kate E. Creevy<br>
Rozalyn Anderson<br>
May J. Reed<br>
Virginia R. Fajt<br>
Kathleen M. Aicher<br>
Genna Atiee<br>
Brian G. Barnett<br>
Ryan D. Baumwart<br>
Beth Boudreau<br>
Suzanne M. Cunningham<br>
Matthew D. Dunbar<br>
Bobbie Ditzler<br>
Anna M. Ferguson<br>
Kiersten K. Forsyth<br>
Anya N. Gambino<br>
Sonya G. Gordon<br>
Hillary K. Hammond<br>
Sydney N. Holland<br>
Mary K. Iannaccone<br>
Kate Illing<br>
Saki Kadotani<br>
Shelby A. Knowles<br>
Evan L. MacLean<br>
the Dog Aging Project Consortium</p>
<h2>Where was it published?</h2>
<p>GeroScience</p>
<h2>&nbsp;What is this paper about?</h2>
<p>This paper describes the TRIAD clinical trial, which is part of our ongoing work to understand healthy aging in dogs. In TRIAD, we are testing whether a drug called rapamycin can help middle-aged dogs stay healthier and live longer. This is a double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial, meaning that some dogs receive rapamycin and others receive a placebo, and neither the owners nor the researchers know which group each dog is in.</p>
<p>The TRIAD study is still in progress, and this paper explains how the study is designed. We have set up the clinical trial to make sure we get fair and reliable results. Publishing a study&rsquo;s design elements, in advance of publishing the results of the study, is called a &ldquo;methods paper.&rdquo; It is another way that scientists provide transparency about our research.</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Dogs in the study are divided into two groups. </b>One group receives rapamycin, while the other group receives a placebo, which is a pill that looks the same but does not contain the drug.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Double-masked: </b>Neither the dog owners nor the researchers know which dogs are getting rapamycin and which are getting the placebo. This is called a double-masked study, and it helps make sure the results are unbiased.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Randomized: </b>Dogs are randomly assigned to each group, so the results are not influenced by any outside factors.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Multicenter: </b>The study takes place at several different veterinary clinics, which helps us include a wide variety of dogs.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Prospective:</b> Researchers follow the dogs over time to see how they do during the study.</li>
</ul>
<p>The main goal of TRIAD is to find out if rapamycin can help middle-aged dogs by improving their heart health, keeping them more mobile, supporting their brain function, and helping them live longer, healthier lives.</p>
<h2>What do these results mean for me and my dog?</h2>
<p>This paper explains how the Dog Aging Project team is working toward important research goals. While we don&rsquo;t have scientific results yet, early studies in other animals show that treatments like this could help dogs live healthier, longer lives&mdash;even after the treatment is finished.</p>
<p>Rapamycin is still being tested, but it may one day help dogs stay healthier and live longer. If it is shown to be safe and effective, it could help prevent or delay age-related problems like heart disease and help dogs stay active as they age. For now, rapamycin is experimental, so you don&rsquo;t need to make any changes to your dog&rsquo;s care. Your participation is helping us learn more and move closer to new ways to support healthy aging in dogs.</p>
<p>We&rsquo;re looking for more dedicated volunteers to join this important research. If you&rsquo;d like to see if your dog is eligible, you can learn more at dogagingproject.org/triad.</p>
<h2>Where can I learn more?</h2>
<p>Coleman, A.E., Creevy, K.E., Anderson, R. et al. Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD): study design and rationale for a prospective, parallel-group, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of rapamycin in healthy middle-aged dogs from the Dog Aging Project. GeroScience 47, 2851&ndash;2877 (2025). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01484-7">https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-024-01484-7</a></p>
<h2>Abstract</h2>
<p>Companion dogs are a powerful model for aging research given their morphologic and genetic variability, risk for age-related disease, and habitation of the human environment. In addition, the shorter life expectancy of dogs compared to human beings provides a unique opportunity for an accelerated timeline to test interventions that might extend healthy lifespan. The Test of Rapamycin In Aging Dogs (TRIAD) randomized clinical trial is a parallel-group, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial that will test the ability of rapamycin to prolong lifespan and improve several healthspan metrics in healthy, middle-aged dogs recruited from Dog Aging Project participants. Here, we describe the rationale, design, and goals of the TRIAD randomized clinical trial, the first rigorous test of a pharmacologic intervention against biological aging with lifespan and healthspan metrics as endpoints to be performed outside of the laboratory in any species.</p>
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Scientific Results: Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD): study design and rationale for a prospective, parallel-group, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of rapamycin in healthy middle-aged dogs from the Dog Aging Project

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd">
<html><body><p>Posts in our <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/"><strong>Scientific Results</strong> series</a> introduce recent papers published in the scientific literature by members of the Dog Aging Project research team. <a href="https://dogagingproject.org/tag/scientific-results/">Follow this series to learn more about the scientific questions we&rsquo;re asking, the kinds of results we&rsquo;re getting, and what it all means for you and your dog</a>.</p>
<h2>Author</h2>
<p>Janice S. O&rsquo;Brien</p>
<h2><strong>Who worked on this research?</strong></h2>
<p>Janice S. O&rsquo;Brien<br>
Ellyott Lawson<br>
Dog Aging Project Consortium<br>
M. Katherine Tolbert<br>
Audrey Ruple</p>
<h2>Where was it published?</h2>
<p>American Journal of Veterinary Research (published online ahead of print 2025)</p>
<h2>&nbsp;What is this paper about?</h2>
<p>This study explored what dog owners like to cook up for their furry friends at home. We were curious about the ingredients they choose and whether those meals provide the essential nutrients that keep our pups healthy and happy.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What we did:</span><br>
Our team gathered insights from dog owners involved in the Dog Aging Project. These owners shared what they feed their dogs through surveys, especially focusing on homemade meals.</p>
<p>We looked at 1,726 different dog diets that people reported, which included a variety of ingredients like meat, veggies, grains, and even some supplements.</p>
<p>With the help of two independent coders, we dug into all the dietary ingredients that dog owners mentioned. Then, five nutrition specialists entered those ingredients into a nutrition analysis tool to see if the meals met dogs&rsquo; nutritional needs. We compared each diet against the AAFCO guidelines, which are the official recommendations for what dogs need to stay healthy.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What did we find?</span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Most homemade dog meals had meat (90%) and vegetables (65%).</li>
<li aria-level="1">About 45% of owners added store-bought food or supplements to help balance the meals.</li>
<li aria-level="1">But only 6% of the homemade diets met all the nutrients that dogs need according to official standards.</li>
</ul>
<p>It&rsquo;s great to see so many dog owners getting creative with their pets&rsquo; meals, but it&rsquo;s also important to ensure they&rsquo;re getting everything they need to thrive!</p>
<h2>What do these results mean for me and my dog?</h2>
<p>Making your dog&rsquo;s meals at home can be a wonderful way to show your love&mdash;but it takes careful planning to make sure it&rsquo;s healthy. Just like us, dogs need a balanced diet, and getting all the right nutrients is crucial for their well-being. It&rsquo;s super important to ensure they&rsquo;re getting all the right nutrients, as missing even one over time could lead to health issues. Before you start whipping up homemade doggy dinners, it&rsquo;s a great idea to have a chat with your vet. They can help you figure out what&rsquo;s best for your pup based on their age, size, and health.</p>
<p>Plus, by sharing information about your dog&rsquo;s meals through the Dog Aging Project&rsquo;s surveys, you&rsquo;re helping veterinarians and pet owners discover how to enhance the health of our beloved companions. Your input is valuable and plays a big role in helping scientists learn how to better support all dogs. Thank you for being a thoughtful pet parent!</p>
<p>Also, Dr. O&rsquo;Brien is diving into a follow-up study to determine whether dogs on home-prepared diets are any more or less at risk for disease than those on commercial diets. Our researchers are looking into all kinds of dog diets, so thank you for your patience as it takes time to gather data and share results. We&rsquo;re excited to keep you updated on what we learn about dog diets, so stay tuned!</p>
<p>*Note: If you have concerns about your dog&rsquo;s health, we encourage you to discuss these concerns with your primary care veterinarian. Suggestions for a treatment plan are best recommended by the veterinarian who has a relationship with your dog and understands their medical history.</p>
<h2>Where can I learn more?</h2>
<p>O&rsquo;Brien, J. S., Lawson, E., Dog Aging Project Consortium, Tolbert, M. K., &amp; Ruple, A. (2025). Findings from the Dog Aging Project: home-prepared diets for companion dogs feature diverse ingredients, and few are nutritionally complete. American Journal of Veterinary Research (published online ahead of print 2025). Retrieved Sep 8, 2025, from <a href="https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.25.06.0216">https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.25.06.0216</a></p>
<h2>Abstract</h2>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>To qualitatively describe the home-prepared diets of dogs enrolled within the Dog Aging Project cohort and to evaluate the overall potential for the diet to be complete when possible.</p>
<h3>Methods</h3>
<p>Free-text responses provided from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, by dog owners were evaluated by 2 independent coders to describe dietary ingredients in this observational study. Five independent coders input ingredients into a website for pet owners that was designed by veterinary nutritionists to determine the overall completeness of diets.</p>
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Overall, 1,726 home-prepared diets were composed of a range of ingredients, which may include meat and organs, vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and seeds, and added oils. The most common dietary ingredients were meat (90%) and vegetables (65%). Nearly half (45%) of owners added some form of commercially prepared diet or base/topper to supplement the home-prepared ingredients. Only 6% of these diets were potentially nutritionally complete according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials adult dog maintenance standards.</p>
<h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>The composition of home-prepared diets varied substantially in terms of ingredients, and few are likely to be nutritionally complete.</p>
<h3>Clinical Relevance</h3>
<p>Veterinarians collecting diet history information should take care to fully examine the home-prepared diets reported by owners and use a variety of tools, including consultation with board-certified veterinary nutritionists (diplomate of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine&ndash;Nutrition), to assist owners in the selection of a maintenance diet.</p>
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Scientific Results: Findings from the Dog Aging Project: home-prepared diets for companion dogs feature diverse ingredients, and few are nutritionally complete

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<html><body><p>Three of the earliest participants in the Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD) clinical trial had a common reason for enrolling their aging companion pet in the study: wanting to enhance their dog&rsquo;s <i>quality</i> as well as <i>quantity</i> of life.</p>
<p>The trial, which is part of the Dog Aging Project (DAP), is a double-blind placebo-controlled study. The trial is evaluating the use of the drug rapamycin on aging canines&rsquo; health and lifespan through building on two previous studies that showed evidence that small doses may help mitigate or delay the diseases of aging. The<a href="https://dogagingproject.org/triad"> TRIAD study is continuing to enroll</a> new study participants, who take part in an initial cardiology or neurology screening exam at the nearest trial site or clinical trial partner, receive the study&rsquo;s medication or a placebo weekly, and visit a clinical site every six months for the trial&rsquo;s duration.</p>
<p>These &ldquo;clinical trial graduate owners&rdquo;&mdash;JoAnna O., Linda B., and Bill S.&mdash;appreciate the trial&rsquo;s intent. &ldquo;I absolutely believe in the project, which is a wonderful idea,&rdquo; Bill said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a huge fan of the combination of extending the life of dogs, but more so extending the quality of life while they&rsquo;re alive.&rdquo;</p>
<h3>All In</h3>
<p>JoAnna, a long-time resident of the Seattle, WA area, enrolled Madi, an Akita-Rottweiler mix, in the trial. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s very loyal, sweet, and calm,&rdquo; the University of Washington retiree said of the family&rsquo;s canine companion, who was adopted in 2009. &ldquo;My kids were in grade school when we got her, and now they&rsquo;re in their 20s, so they grew up with her.&rdquo;</p>
<p>She initially learned about the Dog Aging Project from a newsletter and decided to enroll her animal companion in TRIAD&rsquo;s first cohort through Washington State University (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine. &ldquo;I was interested because Madi was getting older and I knew that this study was a longevity study for dogs,&rdquo; JoAnna explained. &ldquo;I thought if I could extend her life and have good quality of life, which would be really fabulous.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Linda, who lives in West Des Moines, IA, has always adopted older pets. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had a lot of pets, all from shelters,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re not normally the pets you see in the magazine articles; they&rsquo;re second-, third- and fourth-chance pets,&rdquo; said the senior analytics operating analyst.</p>
<p>She adopted Sadie in 2020 from the pet shelter in Marshalltown, IA. &ldquo;She hadn&rsquo;t seen a vet for about nine years, which is not uncommon for these pets,&rdquo; Linda said. &ldquo;She also wouldn&rsquo;t walk on non-carpeted surfaces, so my vet always puts rugs out for her.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Wanting Sadie to enjoy good quality of life for her remaining years, Linda quickly volunteered for the Dog Aging Project and TRIAD. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve certainly been provided with second chances in life, and I&rsquo;d like to offer that to pets,&rdquo; she said, adding that she appreciates that other older dogs will benefit. &ldquo;For a lot of them, their circumstances have not been great, so my goal is just to provide them with the best quality for life for as long as possible.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Bill, who lives in Georgetown, Texas, has had his dog Zoe, a Labrador-Rottweiler mix, since she was a puppy. As she grew up, the pair enjoyed an active lifestyle, including regular walks around the hilly trails around his Georgetown subdivision.</p>
<p>Bill first heard about the DAP in December 2020 and enrolled Zoe, who was then 10 years old. &ldquo;Because I was a computer repairman, I went into people&rsquo;s homes a lot and saw a lot of dogs,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I ended up realizing the importance of quality of life as they get older.&rdquo;</p>
<h3>Car Ride!</h3>
<p>Participating in TRIAD required the three participants to travel several hours to the partnering university. However, each said they as well as their companion animal benefited from those trips, which ranged from 40-300 miles one-way based on these participants.</p>
<p>Bill found that the team at Texas A&amp;M University&rsquo;s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to be easy to work with. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re all so wonderful,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They did in-depth blood work, a heart study, and an extensive physical. They also suggested a medication to help ease her anxiety during vet visits.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Linda appreciated seeing Iowa State University&rsquo;s commitment to companion animals through TRIAD. &ldquo;I got to know the people at Iowa State,&rdquo; Linda said. &ldquo;The first time we went there, Sadie was pretty nervous and there was concern about if she&rsquo;d have to be sedated, but by the second appointment, she seemed to understand the routine and they understood her.&rdquo;</p>
<p>She also enjoyed the opportunity to develop a deeper bond with Sadie. &ldquo;She just liked being with me, so it was another opportunity to be in the car on a long trip as well as spending time going through the exercises that they ask you to do, such as running up and down steps,&rdquo; Linda said.</p>
<p>JoAnna complimented the WSU team&rsquo;s friendliness, competency, kindness and flexibility. &ldquo;For the first few years of this study, we would go over to WSU for her visits, which is five hours away from Seattle and involves traveling over a mountain pass,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;There was a huge snowstorm right before Madi was supposed to go for a check-in in December, so WSU&rsquo;s team allowed me to go to my regular veterinarian and do all of the blood draws and necessary tests. They put safety first.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Soon after, WSU affiliated with Olympic Veterinary Cardiology in Everett, WA, which meant that JoAnna and Madi could complete all check-ins and testing in the Seattle area. As a result, Madi &ldquo;graduated&rdquo; from Olympic, including a graduation certificate and a bandana.</p>
<h3>Added Benefits</h3>
<p>Each participant pointed to TRIAD&rsquo;s thorough screening process, which helped participants learn about the health and mental status of their dogs.</p>
<p>Thanks to the TRIAD testing, WSU&rsquo;s team identified that Madi had high blood pressure, which might have precluded her from the study. &ldquo;They explained what that would mean and put her on medication,&rdquo; JoAnna said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m thankful that TRIAD allowed us to be in the study, even though she had high blood pressure. I&rsquo;m also thankful that I learned that she had high blood pressure because it&rsquo;s treatable, and I don&rsquo;t know that I would have known that otherwise.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Similarly, Bill noted that the Texas A&amp;M vets identified a small heart murmur that did not preclude her from the study. He&rsquo;s since been able to work with his local veterinarian to monitor it over the past three years.</p>
<p>He also appreciated the different activities that TRIAD required, including agility tests, mental challenges, and a test where dogs had to find a hidden treat. &ldquo;I learned that Zoe was a lot healthier than I thought she was,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<p>As part of the process, Iowa State&rsquo;s DNA testing determined that Sadie was a lab/husky mix while her health screenings came back all-clear. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s reassuring that you can know some of those things because certainly, the cardiac test and screening and other tests were not things that I would have done otherwise, just because she was not symptomatic,&rdquo; Linda said. &ldquo;I remember when they were doing initial screenings. Out of 10 participants, seven had to be declined because they discovered undiagnosed arrythmias with these pets.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Linda also complimented the primary care veterinarians&rsquo; willingness to participate in the study through sending updated records and information. &ldquo;Mine has certainly played a part in our being able to successfully participate,&rdquo; she said.</p>
<h3>Next Chapter of Life</h3>
<p>Now two of these TRIAD graduates are continuing to have opportunities to enjoy life&mdash;and Bill and JoAnna are looking for ways to keep them engaged.</p>
<p>Bill noted that while Zoe has developed some arthritis and deafness and is displaying some dementia, she still enjoys walks, although the duration is shorter.</p>
<p>This summer, Madi accompanied JoAnna and her husband on an adventure through the Western United States in their travel trailer. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s enjoying her life, and she gets to go on cool road trips,&rdquo; JoAnna said. &ldquo;When we&rsquo;re at home, we&rsquo;re busy doing things and going places, but when we were in the travel trailer, we would go places, but then we hang out at our campsite a lot and she has all of our attention. She loved it.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Sadly, Sadie crossed the rainbow bridge after her graduation from the trial &mdash;but Linda doesn&rsquo;t regret the time she and her companion spent with TRIAD. Instead, she sees their participation as part of Sadie&rsquo;s legacy. &ldquo;Through participation in TRIAD, Sadie was potentially able to &lsquo;give back&rsquo; and contribute positively to the health, longevity and quality of life of others,&rdquo; Linda said. &ldquo;Given Sadie&rsquo;s willingness to accept all canines, felines and people she encountered in life and her ability for compassion to others, I think that she recognized she was doing good.&rdquo;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dorian Martin<br>
</strong><strong>&amp;<br>
</strong><strong>Harmony Peraza, RVT</strong><br>
Study Participant Manager</p>
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TRIAD Tails: Graduate Owners Share Their TRIAD Journey

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We have established the Dog Aging Project as an engine for innovation. We are supported by research grants from organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Dog Aging Institute. We also receive philanthropic donations from organizations and individuals. We are actively seeking additional support to sustain and expand our existing initiatives and to develop new, cutting-edge programs that will benefit dogs and people too. View </span><a href="https://dogagingproject.org/our-supporters"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our Supporters</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> page for more information</span></p>


Donate Now

<p>The goal of the Dog Aging Project is to understand how genes, lifestyle, and environment influence health and aging. Our research program is designed to collect—and connect—critical data in six scientific domains: health, genetics, environment, lifestyle, cognition, and activity. We use innovative approaches and cutting-edge technologies to assemble, analyze, and share high quality canine health data with the scientific community and the public.</p>


<p>From within the Dog Aging Project Pack, we enroll subsets of dogs into cohorts based on specific scientific criteria. These cohorts include Foundation, a genomics study; Precision, a biochemical study; and the Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD), a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.</p>


Our Research Goals

<p>Once you’ve completed the Health and Life Experience Survey, your dog will be an official member of the Dog Aging Project Pack!</p>


<p>The Dog Aging Project is a community science project. This means that we rely on our participating dog owners and their primary care veterinarians to provide the information that fuels our scientific research.</p>
<p>We’ll ask you to tell us about your dog’s health, behavior, environment, and physical activity on an annual basis. A study of this magnitude would be impossible without the help of dog lovers around the US. Our participants truly are the heart and soul of the Dog Aging Project!</p>


<p>Everyone whose dog is a member of the Pack is invited to join the Dog Park, a private, online community where dog owners can interact with other participants, join clubs, post cute dog pics, attend monthly Pack Appreciation Events, and have insider access to our research team.</p>


Unique mixed breed combinations represented

Participating institutions & clinical studies

<p>At the Dog Aging Project, we care deeply about the health and happiness of dogs. Our discoveries about healthy aging in our canine companions will translate into medical advances for people too. We’re working toward a future where dogs, and their humans, can live longer and stay healthier—together!</p>


Enroll Your Dog

<p>At the Dog Aging Project, we know how important dogs are for the health and wellbeing of their owners. They give us comfort, joy, and unconditional love. Being a part of this study gives each and every one of us a chance to enhance the lives of future generations of dogs.</p>
<p>Will you join us?</p>


<p>Our team collects comprehensive health and diet data via owner-reported surveys, veterinary medical records, and frailty assessments.</p>
<p>For members of the Precision and TRIAD Cohorts, we partner with primary care and speciality veterinarians to collect biological samples for detailed biochemical analysis.</p>


HEALTH

<p>Participants in the Foundation, Precision, and TRIAD cohorts receive a free DNA Kit with which to collect a cheek swab sample for use in low-pass sequencing.</p>
<p>Genome sequence data are integrated with health measures and age-related physiological and behavioral traits to carry out comprehensive genome-wide association studies of common diseases, frailty, and co-morbidity associated with age.</p>


GENETICS

<p>Dogs share our environment. They live with us. They often sleep with us. Sometimes they even share our food. Environmental exposures can have a profound impact on health.</p>
<p>In addition to owner-reported information about each dog’s home and yard, our team compiles extensive environmental data geolocated by zip code for each participant. For smaller cohorts, we conduct physical sampling from the home environment.</p>


ENVIRONMENT

<p>The Pack contains dogs from all walks of life, including companion dogs, working dogs, and dogs who participate in many different activities like nosework or agility. We use owner-reported information to understand how different canine lifestyles are related to health and aging.</p>


LIFESTYLE

<p>Aging dogs sometimes experience canine cognitive decline, a condition that is analogous to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. We’ve designed a comprehensive program to study all phases of cognitive development, health, and disease through surveys, interactive games that owners play with their dogs, and even an opportunity for interested participants to donate their dog’s body to science at the end of their natural lifespan.</p>


COGNITION

<p>Our research is already demonstrating links between activity levels and various health measures. We quantify activity levels through surveys, at-home mobility activities that owners complete with their dogs, and with collar-mounted actigraphs that collect high granularity data on movement in three dimensions.</p>


ACTIVITY

<p>We welcome ALL dogs—young and old, mixed breed and purebred, healthy and those with chronic illness—from all fifty US states.</p>
<p>The only requirement is that you have a good estimate of your dog’s age. If you and your furry best friend are interested in joining the Pack, start the process by clicking the button below.</p>


Brooks

Nero

George

Buster

Utah

Lexi

Rosie

Bailey

Lucy

Nelly Bly

Emmy

Roxie

Emma

Tibor

<p>The Dog Aging Project is an innovative initiative that brings together a community of dogs, owners, veterinarians, researchers, and volunteers to carry out the most ambitious canine health study in the world. We invite you to partner with us and help future generations of dogs live the best lives possible!</p>
