Community Science
Scientific Results: Social determinants of health and disease in companion dogs: A cohort study from the Dog Aging Project
Published on June 20, 2023In this study, we explored how the social environment affects the health and well-being of companion dogs. We closely looked at data from over 21,000 dogs that are part of the Dog Aging Project and linked different components of the dog’s environment to their health. Dogs in lower-income houses or areas with more residential turnover had poorer health and less physical mobility. While these adverse environmental factors were linked to poorer health, things that capture positive social environments, like social support (e.g., living with other dogs), were associated with better health outcomes for the dogs, even after taking into account their age and weight. What’s interesting is that not all environmental components had the same impact: social support was 5x more predictive of dog health compared to financial factors. This suggests that having companionship and interaction with other dogs can greatly contribute to a dog’s overall well-being.
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Scientific Results: Demographic factors associated with joint supplement use in dogs from the Dog Aging Project
Published on September 12, 2022[vc_message message_box_color=”violet” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-paw”]Posts in our Scientific Results series introduce recent papers published in the…
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Scientific Results: Lifetime prevalence of malignant and benign tumors in companion dogs
Published on September 8, 2022Cancer is a disease that affects both humans and our dogs. Many cancers share similar features in both species and the etiology (set of causes) and the treatment can be similar in our furry companions. The DAP Pack presents a unique opportunity for researchers to explore the reasons why cancers occur in order to help both species live longer, healthier lives together.
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Scientific Results: Living in a Disadvantaged Neighborhood is Associated with Reduced Dog-Walking
Published on September 6, 2022[vc_message message_box_color=”violet” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-paw”]Posts in our Scientific Results series introduce recent papers published in the…
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Inside Science: Characteristics of Scientifically Useful Veterinary Electronic Medical Records
Published on August 8, 2022Many of the insights the Dog Aging Project gathers are through its surveys and activities; however, we also gain valuable information from the veterinary electronic medical records (VEMRs) that we receive. Submission of a VEMR is not necessary to enroll in the Dog Aging Project longitudinal observational study, but some of our smaller cohorts like Precision and TRIAD do require eligible VEMRs for consideration.
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Inside the Measurement & Mobility Activities
Published on June 2, 2022It can be heartbreaking to watch your once agile pup grow old and slow down….
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Meet Dr. Emily Bray, Canine Cognition Expert and Puppy Wrangler!
Published on March 28, 2022[vc_message message_box_color=”violet” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-paw”]Our Canine Cognition series explores the many ways in which our scientists…
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Demystifying Inbreeding
Published on July 29, 2021[vc_message message_box_color=”violet” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-paw”]Our Inside Foundation series is a deep dive into the genomic research…
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Celebrating Science on Your Pack Day Anniversary!
Published on May 18, 2021What’s a Pack Day Anniversary? We’re glad you asked! Pack Day is the anniversary of the day on which you completed the Health and Life Experience Survey, and your dog became a member of the Dog Aging Project Pack!
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Expanding the Pack
Published on April 13, 2021The Dog Aging Project is recruiting! Can you help us spread the word? We’re so grateful to the current members of the Dog Aging Project Pack, our largest and most important scientific cohort. Through annual surveys completed by owners, we are building a comprehensive dataset, which will help us understand how life experiences and environment affect healthy aging in dogs. We’re over the moon about their participation and what we will be able to learn from these magnificent dogs!
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