The Aging Microbiome

From a graying muzzle to a few extra naps, there’s something special about our more seasoned companions. The bond between you and your forever puppy has grown that much stronger, and memories have embedded themselves that much deeper.

Similarly, the microbiome (the collection of bacteria living in your pet’s gut) carries a unique relationship with an aging dog, and the Nom Nom R&D team is interested in learning more about how the microbiome changes as the years go by. 

More on the microbiome

In humans, clear changes in the microbiome composition have been associated with aging. And please excuse us while we geek out a bit, but certain changes have even been considered to be “healthy” vs. “unhealthy” — that’s pretty phenomenal if you ask us. 

So as usual, we’re curious if the same is true in our paw-footed best friends: We found the research there is significantly more limited. So we’re stepping in to study the microbiome that may drive the process of aging and help close this research gap. 

How do dogs age?

Not all dogs age at the same pace. In fact, there are many factors that influence a pup’s biological age including breed, sex and spay/neuter status — all the way down to their health and hygiene routines. Over and over, it’s been shown that the number one predictor of a dog’s lifespan is body size, with our larger friends aging faster. And with dogs being the most diverse species, there’s a huge range in body size. 

Biologically speaking, an 8-year old chihuahua may not be as old as a great dane of the same age. Fascinating, right?

Back to business

So here’s what we know — age is confusing, especially in dogs. So, how do we fix this? We conduct studies and learn more about it. But we need you and your dog to help us out.

Enrollment for this study is closed at this time, but thank you to all those interested in our research. We’re looking forward to diving into the results of this trial and sharing what we found with you! The Nom Nom R&D team is always up to something, follow our research opportunities on this page or contact us at [email protected]. There may be an additional study opportunity in the future that your dog qualifies for.