Survey of 1,005 Veterinarians: Is Your Dog’s Age 3–5 a “Health Turning Point”? Nearly Half Cite Immune Imbalance, with Gut and Oral Care Key to Longevity

3A-Life Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Operations Director: Dajiro Ninomiya) conducted a survey targeting veterinarians on the health risks hidden in dogs’ pre-senior stage.

Many dog owners may believe that starting health maintenance care at age 7 is sufficient.

However, changes associated with aging—such as declining immunity and oral health issues—may already begin as early as age 3.

Moreover, some over-the-counter supplements raise concerns regarding ingredient justification and quality.

How, then, do veterinarians perceive health risks during a dog’s pre-senior stage?

And what characteristics would make a supplement worthy of trust?

Therefore, 3A-Life Co., Ltd. (https://www.3a-life.com/) conducted a survey of veterinarians on “Hidden Health Risks in Dogs’ Pre-Senior Stage.”

Survey Overview: “Hidden Health Risks in Dogs’ Pre-Senior Stage”

[Survey Period] February 6 (Fri) – February 10 (Tue), 2026

[Survey Method] Internet survey conducted by PRIZMA (https://www.prizma-link.com/press)

[Number of Respondents] 1,005

[Survey Target] Monitors who identified themselves as veterinarians at the time of response

[Survey Conducted By] 3A-Life Co., Ltd. (https://www.3a-life.com/)

[Panel Provider] PRIZMA Research

*This survey presents the results of a questionnaire targeting veterinarians and does not prove efficacy or performance.

Approximately 90% of Veterinarians Feel Dog Owners Are Behind in Awareness

First, when asked, “Do you feel that dog owners begin thinking about their pet’s aging and health maintenance at a later age than the veterinary-defined ‘turning point’ for physical decline (e.g., immune decline)?” approximately 90% responded “Strongly agree (42.3%)” or “Somewhat agree (50.3%).”

This reveals that most veterinarians perceive a lag in owners’ awareness.

Dogs instinctively hide signs of illness, so there is often a gap between outward vitality and internal biological age.

So, what types of care do veterinarians consider effective for extending healthy lifespan?

When asked, “Do you think immune and oral care are effective methods for helping dogs live actively until the end (‘pinpin korori’)?” approximately 90% responded “Very effective (37.5%)” or “Somewhat effective (51.2%).”

It is clear that the vast majority regard immune and oral health care as crucial to extending healthy lifespan.

Maintaining immunity and oral hygiene through daily care is believed to reduce the risk of serious illness later in life. But do risks also exist even at ages generally considered young?

When asked, “What changes are sometimes observed during examinations or checkups in relatively young dogs aged 3–5?” the most common response was “Immune imbalance (e.g., dermatitis, allergies) (49.6%),” followed by “Early signs of periodontal disease (e.g., gingivitis, bad breath) (37.4%)” and “Decline in stamina (29.1%).”

At ages 3–5, equivalent to humans in their 20s–30s, nearly half of veterinarians observe immune-related issues and about 40% observe oral health problems.

This age range is often considered “still young,” but in reality, signs of aging and health decline are already emerging in areas such as skin and oral environment.

Approximately 90% of Veterinarians Believe Gut Health Is Linked to Overall Wellness

Is there a fundamental approach to addressing immune imbalance and early health issues?

When asked, “Do you believe maintaining gut health in dogs forms the foundation for overall physical condition?” approximately 90% responded “Strongly agree (38.4%)” or “Somewhat agree (52.3%).”

Since the majority agreed, it is evident that in veterinary medicine, the understanding that gut health affects overall well-being is now well established.

Then, does the state of the gut—the foundation of overall health—affect the environment of the mouth, its entry point?

When asked, “Do you think a dog’s gut condition is also related to bad breath or oral health issues?” approximately 90% responded “Strongly agree (44.0%)” or “Somewhat agree (47.5%).”

It is clear that many veterinarians adopt the “gut-oral axis” perspective, recognizing that the mouth and gut are connected via the digestive tract and mutually influence each other.

Cases where deteriorating gut health leads to immune decline and oral issues, or where internal organ issues manifest as bad breath, are conceivable. This supports the validity of caring for both mouth and gut together.

How do veterinarians evaluate internal conditioning using supplements in addition to physical oral care?

Among those who responded “Strongly agree” or “Somewhat agree” to the previous question, when asked, “Do you think it’s important to support your dog’s health with pet supplements alongside oral care?” approximately 90% responded “Strongly agree (42.9%)” or “Somewhat agree (51.0%).”

Many veterinarians are positive about supplementing diet with nutrients and functional ingredients that may be lacking.

In particular, the ability to approach from both external and internal angles by combining supplements with oral care is considered a rational strategy for health support.

What Are the Criteria for a Trusted Supplement?

In this context, to what extent do veterinarians actually recommend using supplements for dog health?

When asked, “Do you recommend adding supplements to your dog’s regular diet as part of health management?” approximately 90% responded “Actively recommend (38.6%)” or “Somewhat recommend (50.3%).”

In practice, many veterinarians appear to recommend incorporating supplements into daily feeding.

While dog food quality has improved, individual differences in age and constitution, as well as specific health risks like gut and skin conditions, cannot always be fully addressed by diet alone. Therefore, the “add-on” approach of supplementing base diets is becoming a rational and accepted choice in modern pet care.

Then, among the many available supplements, what criteria do veterinarians use to judge reliability?

When asked, “What characteristics would make a pet supplement highly trustworthy?” the most common response was “Clear explanation of ingredient mechanisms of action (47.5%),” followed by “Test data from third-party institutions (38.0%)” and “Proven use in livestock settings (e.g., cattle, pigs, chickens) (34.2%).”

It is evident that most veterinarians prioritize “scientific evidence” and “real-world professional use” over packaging appeal or brand recognition.

In particular, practical results in livestock are valued more than applications in human medicine.