Dog owners have quite a bit of control over their pets’ diets, and many have strong opinions on what kinds of diets are best for their canine friends.
Dog owners have quite a bit of control over their pets’ diets, and many have strong opinions on what kinds of diets are best for their canine friends.
But a new study from the Dog Aging Project (DAP) at Texas A&M University and investigators at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine has revealed that the reasons owners choose certain diets for their dogs can vary widely, with owner age making a bigger difference than income or education level.
The DAP is a collaborative, community scientist-driven research project that enrolls companion dogs from all backgrounds across the United States to study the effects of aging and gain a better understanding of what contributes to a long and healthy canine life. Many of its research projects have led to studies that inform not only dog health but also human health, and today there are more than 50,000 dogs enrolled in the program.
In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, DAP researchers collected information from more than 40,000 dog owners regarding their income, education, age and whether they live in an urban, suburban or rural environment.
