# Nutrition Research in Aging Dogs and Cats: What We Know and What We Need to Do

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the current state of nutritional research for aging dogs and cats and suggests ways to improve future studies to support their healthy aging.

## Contribution

The paper proposes three strategies to address research gaps in aging pet nutrition, including biomarker development and international collaboration.

## Key findings

- Nutritional research for aging dogs and cats is limited due to unclear aging biomarkers and fragmented studies.
- Non-invasive biomarker development and international collaboration are recommended to advance the field.
- Establishing nutritional guidelines for senior pets is identified as a key action for future research.

## Abstract

Advances in veterinary medicine and pet nutrition have led to an increasing aging population in dogs and cats. However, researches on the nutritional requirements of aging dogs and cats remain scarce. This review focuses on the development predicaments in research related to aging companion animals and explores the core challenges in the aging research of dogs and cats. This study examines the underlying causes of this research gap, attributing it to the ambiguity of aging biomarkers, fragmentation of relevant studies, and a lack of experimental aged animal models. In response to these three issues, we propose three strategies: developing aging biomarkers based on non-invasive sampling methods, formulating nutritional guidelines for senior dogs and cats, and establishing extensive international collaborations. This study aims to reveal the predicaments in nutritional research on senior pets, call for targeted measures to advance the development of research in this field, and ultimately facilitate the healthy aging of dogs and cats.

The population of dogs and cats is rapidly increasing, and their lifespans are extending due to advances in veterinary medicine and increased owner awareness. As a result, companion animals are also gradually entering an aging society. Research on the nutritional needs of aging dogs and cats remains limited. Key factors contributing to this gap include unclear biomarkers of aging, fragmented research efforts, and a lack of experimental models using healthy aged animals. By reviewing recent publicly available literature on aging biomarkers in dogs and cats, this study identifies biomarkers with practical value for aging research. It further analyzes reported physiological changes, nutritional requirements, and common dietary supplements for senior pets, and summarizes large-scale research programs focused on aging dogs and cats. Capitalizing on rapid advances in artificial intelligence, this paper proposes three key recommendations: developing aging biomarkers based on non-invasive sampling methods; accelerating the establishment of nutritional guidelines for healthy aging dogs and cats; and promoting personalized nutrition research for aging pets through cross-border and cross-regional collaboration. This study aims to consolidate existing knowledge on nutrition for aging dogs and cats, identify current research gaps, suggest directions for future studies, and provide evidence-based recommendations to support healthy aging in dogs and cats.