Purina has partnered with the Senior Dog Veterinary Society to help veterinary professionals address the health and nutritional needs of older dogs, the companies announced.
The collaboration will deliver nutritional insights to Senior Dog Veterinary Society members and the broader veterinary community.
The senior dog population has grown substantially over the past 15 years, with more than half of U.S. dog-owning households now sharing their homes with a senior dog, according to Purina.
"Senior dogs are not simply adult dogs who have reached a certain birthday," said Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, senior veterinarian at Purina. "Subtle changes in muscle condition, mobility, cognition and digestive health may begin before a more significant decline, creating an important opportunity for veterinary teams to take a more proactive approach to senior dog care — especially through nutrition."
Addressing the senior nutrition gap
Unlike puppies or adult dogs, there is no universally defined senior life stage for dogs, as life expectancy and aging rates vary by breed, size, genetics and environment. As a result, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) does not establish specific nutritional requirements for senior dogs, according to Purina, making individualized nutrition developed with veterinary nutritionists an important part of supporting healthy aging.
Purina scientists have researched canine nutrition for more than a century, with findings the company said have helped extend the healthy years of senior dogs.
Building a more consistent approach to senior care
The Senior Dog Veterinary Society offers advanced-training certifications from veterinary specialists and researchers to help veterinary professionals care for older canine patients. Through the partnership, Purina will provide veterinary professionals with additional tools, including nutrition webinars from board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
The webinar courses, open to Senior Dog Veterinary Society members, are RACE-approved, with each webinar qualifying for one hour of continuing education credit. The first webinar, "Feeding the Healthy Senior Dog: Nutrition Strategies for Proactive Aging," will be presented by Martha Cline, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), a Purina veterinary nutritionist, at 7 p.m. ET Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. Veterinary professionals can register here.
"Senior dogs don't wake up one day and suddenly become old. They change gradually, and nutrition is one of the ways we can support them through that process. I'm excited to partner with Purina to help veterinary professionals better understand how nutrition fits into proactive senior care," said Monica Tarantino, DVM, co-founder of the Senior Dog Veterinary Society.
For more information on the Senior Dog Veterinary Society and future Purina webinars, visit seniordogvets.com.
