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New Tool Developed to Assess Risk of Mortality in Aging Dogs
Researchers from North Carolina State University have created a new assessment tool aimed at helping pet owners and veterinarians evaluate the frailty of elderly dogs. This innovative tool, when paired with basic evaluations of a dog’s body and muscle condition by a veterinarian, can predict the likelihood of short-term mortality—specifically within a six-month timeframe. This insight can be crucial for pet owners who are making difficult decisions regarding the treatment options and quality of life for their aging pets.
“In humans, we define frailty as a physical or physiological condition marked by loss of strength, a slow walking pace, weight loss, exhaustion, and decreased activity, all of which reflect a decline in bodily function,” explains Natasha Olby, who holds the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology at NC State. “While we have established tools for assessing frailty in people, similar methodologies for dogs are still in their infancy, highlighting the pressing need for effective screening techniques.”
Olby leads NC State’s canine neuro-aging program, a research initiative focused on pinpointing the underlying mechanisms of canine aging.
“Our drive to create a frailty phenotype—defined by a set of common characteristics—stems from our belief that frailty influences outcomes for some dogs involved in our clinical trials,” Olby states. “Moreover, frail dogs are a frequent sight in veterinary practices, yet their condition remains poorly characterized.”
“Veterinarians often encounter the pivotal question from pet owners: ‘How long will my dog live?'” Olby continues. “If we can create a phenotype that effectively forecasts short-term mortality, it will certainly assist owners during challenging treatment decisions.”
The research team constructed a frailty screening questionnaire that probes dog owners about their pets’ nutritional status, including body condition and appetite, overall energy and exhaustion levels, mobility, muscle condition, and social activity. Interestingly, these five criteria align with those used in human assessments of frailty.
Validation of the tool involved two distinct dog populations: 39 dogs currently participating in Olby’s neuro-aging study and 198 dogs aged 10 years or older not enrolled in the study. Findings showed that dogs categorized as impaired in three out of the five domains were twice as likely to die within six months compared to those deemed not frail.
“While it’s important to recognize that predicting a dog’s lifespan is inherently uncertain, this questionnaire, alongside evaluations of body and muscle condition, demonstrates a strong capacity for indicating six-month mortality,” says Olby. “The beauty of this tool lies in its simplicity—it requires no laboratory tests; a veterinarian can evaluate body and muscle condition through straightforward palpation.”
The research team is optimistic that their screening tool will pave the way for developing more comprehensive phenotypes associated with canine frailty.
“We’re still in the early stages of this research, but this screening tool provides a practical starting point for discussions between pet owners and veterinarians regarding care options for senior dogs,” remarks Olby.
The findings of this study were published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science and received backing from the Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology. Olby serves as the corresponding author, while former NC State postdoctoral researcher Katharine Russell holds the first author title. Contributions also came from former resident Gilad Fefer, current resident Alejandra Mondino, and NC State faculty members Emily Griffith, Korinn Saker, and Margaret Gruen.
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