Ensuring our pets stay healthy and happy goes beyond simply knowing their age; it’s also about understanding how they age. Nestlé scientists have now developed an algorithm that can determine a dog’s biological age, offering insights into its health trajectory.
Biological age serves as a key health indicator, both for people and pets. Unlike chronological age—based on birthdate—biological age reflects how the body functions and how well it has aged compared to others of the same chronological age.
Though we can’t change chronological age, factors like diet, lifestyle, and environmental conditions can influence biological age. Even in later life stages, lowering biological age can reduce disease risk and extend lifespan.
Nestlé’s new research shows that their biological age algorithm can predict a dog’s overall health path. This algorithm was developed and validated using research data collected over the past 12 years. It factors in routine blood markers, fasting glucose levels, and kidney function indicators to estimate biological age. The findings are published in GeroScience.
Pascal Steiner, Nestlé Research’s petcare nutrition director, explains: “Biological age can be a powerful health measure, showing how a pet’s body ages compared to others of the same age. This research helps us use scientific data to better understand biological age and drive the development of science-based pet care products.”
Routine blood markers are vital health indicators, but the study revealed that dogs with a higher biological age often had blood markers still within normal ranges. This suggests that biological age may be a more accurate health indicator than chronological age.
Philipp Gut, a biology of aging expert at Nestlé Research, notes: “At Nestlé, we approach nutrition and health holistically, aiming to create solutions for all life stages. Our algorithm could assist pet owners and veterinarians in assessing a dog’s biological age, helping to identify health risks early and manage them proactively.”
Nestlé is committed to science-based, personalized pet care. The company recently introduced the Petivity ecosystem, powered by Purina PetCare, which includes smart devices and analysis kits to provide predictive health insights for pets. The ecosystem includes tools like the Petivity Microbiome Analysis Kit, offering personalized nutrition recommendations based on microbiome data, and a Smart Litter Box Monitor for tracking cats’ health indicators via AI technology.
