OLD-DOG Project: 30-month prospective biomarkers-of-aging cohort of 209 companion dogs (University of Padua)
The OLD-DOG Project, launched in 2023 at the University of Padua's Veterinary Teaching Hospital, is a 30-month prospective observational study of 209 privately owned, multi-breed dogs aged 5 years and over from the Veneto region of Italy, evaluated every six months with clinical examinations, physical fitness testing, blood and fecal sampling and owner questionnaires. Its purpose is to identify and validate biomarkers of aging and assess their predictive value for healthspan and lifespan. Preliminary cross-sectional analyses show consistent age-related patterns in hematological and biochemical indices, inflammatory markers and physical and cognitive performance, the frailty index correlates moderately with age, and 29 of 206 dogs had died by the fourth time point; longitudinal analyses are ongoing.
Record
| Design | longitudinal cohort |
|---|---|
| Status | ongoing |
| Setting | client owned |
| Intervention class | none |
| Duration | 30-month prospective study with comprehensive evaluations every six months |
| Dogs | 209 |
| Population note | 209 privately owned dogs enrolled and assessed at baseline; survival status available for 206 dogs at the fourth time point |
| Breed | Multi-breed cohort |
| Age | Aged 5 years and over (dogs aged over five years with at least the month of birth known) |
| Other | Located in the Veneto region of Italy; absence of acute disease symptoms at the time of each evaluation |
| Primary outcome | Identification and validation of biomarkers of aging (physiological, biochemical, hematological and behavioral parameters, microbiota profiles, telomere length, DNA methylation) and their predictive value for healthspan and lifespan |
| Result (as reported) | Preliminary cross-sectional analyses have identified consistent age-related patterns across multiple domains, including hematological and biochemical indices, inflammatory markers, and measures of physical and cognitive performance. The frailty index showed a moderate correlation with chronological age (ρ=0.56, p < .0001); of the 206 dogs for which survival status was available, 29 had died by the fourth time point. Longitudinal analyses are ongoing. |
| Lead organisation | University of Padua's Veterinary Teaching Hospital |
| Sponsor or funder | Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), PRIN grant 20228NKPNH |
| Start year | 2023 |
| Tags | cohort, biomarkers, frailty, italy, longitudinal, biological-age |
Notes: Observational cohort with no intervention. Ethics approval by the University of Padua ethical committee (protocol number 215906, released 31/10/2023) is not a trial registry entry. End year not stated.
Sources and verbatim quotes
OLD DOG - Validating the dog as an animal model for human aging studies. (2026) PMID 41860870 (design)
The OLD-DOG Project, launched in 2023 at the University of Padua's Veterinary Teaching Hospital, is a 30-month prospective study designed to identify and validate biomarkers of aging in companion dogs and to assess their predictive value for healthspan and lifespan
A cohort of 209 privately owned dogs aged ≥ 5 years was enrolled and underwent comprehensive evaluations every six months, including clinical examinations, physical fitness testing, blood and fecal sampling, and owner questionnaires.
Collected data encompass physiological, biochemical, hematological, and behavioral parameters, as well as microbiota profiles, telomere length, and DNA methylation patterns.
Preliminary cross-sectional analyses have identified consistent age-related patterns across multiple domains, including hematological and biochemical indices, inflammatory markers, and measures of physical and cognitive performance.
Ongoing longitudinal analyses aim to determine the predictive value of these candidate biomarkers for morbidity and mortality
OLD DOG - Validating the dog as an animal model for human aging studies. (2026) PMID 41860870 (results)
The OLD-DOG Project is a 30-month prospective observational study designed to identify biomarkers of aging in companion dogs. A total of 209 privately owned dogs were enrolled and assessed at baseline, with follow-up evaluations every six months. All the dogs recruited are located in the Veneto region of Italy.
Dogs aged over five years, with at least the month of birth known
Absence of acute disease symptoms at the time of each evaluation
in a multi-breed canine cohort
Of the 206 dogs for which survival status was available, 29 had died by the fourth time point.
The index exhibits a right-skewed distribution and a moderate correlation with chronological age (ρ=0.56, *p* < .0001).
The study was approved by the ethical committee of the University of Padua. Protocol number: 215906 released on 31/10/2023.
The following study has been funded by the Italian ministry of university, and research (MUR) with a grant PROGETTO DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE (PRIN) 20228NKPNH OLD DOG - Validating the dog as animal model for human ageing studies.
Reproduce: canine_trial_search(trial_id="old-dog-padua-cohort") in dog-geroscience-mcp; dataset canine-trial-registry.