Research Assets

This 2018 review, published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, examined how boron influences bone strength, mineral metabolism, immune balance, and inflammation across multiple animal species. While dogs were not directly studied, the findings suggest boron may play a similar role in supporting canine joint health and overall resilience, though more research is needed to confirm its effects.

This 2008 laboratory study investigated whether piperine, the active compound in black pepper, could help reduce inflammation and joint damage in arthritis. Researchers tested piperine on human joint cells from arthritis patients and rats with induced arthritis to observe its effects on inflammatory pathways and pain response. The results showed that piperine reduced key inflammatory markers (IL-6, PGE2) and enzymes that contribute to cartilage breakdown (MMP-13, COX-2). Rats treated with piperine also experienced less joint swelling, improved movement, and reduced pain sensitivity.

This 2016 laboratory study in rats and human-derived cell cultures investigated whether vitamin C could help protect cartilage from osteoarthritis (OA)-related damage. The study found that vitamin C reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, and cartilage breakdown in a rat model of OA, suggesting potential benefits. However, this research was not conducted in dogs, so its relevance to canine health is uncertain. Interestingly, higher doses of vitamin C were not more effective, meaning there may be an optimal amount beyond which additional vitamin C does not provide extra protection.

This 2009 study investigated the effects of vitamin C supplementation on antioxidative capacity and immune function in healthy dogs. While the study, conducted with only 15 dogs, found no significant benefits in oxidative stress markers or immune response, it provides valuable context for understanding vitamin C’s role in canine health. The findings suggest that vitamin C supplementation may be unnecessary in well-nourished dogs with sufficient vitamin E intake but highlight areas where further research is needed—especially in dogs facing oxidative stress, illness, or aging.

This 2020 review article, published in Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, examined vitamin C in the health and disease of dogs and cats. The authors summarize evidence that while dogs and cats can produce their own vitamin C, levels fall during illness, raising interest in supplementation as a low-cost, low-risk therapy to support critically ill patients.

This 2020 review examines the relationship between Vitamin K status and osteoarthritis (OA), focusing on how Vitamin K influences cartilage calcification, inflammation, and joint degeneration. The findings suggest that sufficient Vitamin K levels may help slow OA progression by regulating proteins that prevent abnormal calcium buildup in joints. While the study focuses on human OA research, it may have implications for canine joint health and mobility.

This 2016 review article surveyed what was known about vitamin K2 across species. The authors explain how K2 activates proteins that regulate bone and cartilage health, blood clotting, inflammation, kidney function, and vascular calcification. They also highlight a gap in companion animal nutrition: most commercial pet foods use synthetic K3 (menadione), which does not provide the same benefits as natural K2. The paper underscores the need for targeted research to understand whether dogs and cats could gain broader health advantages from true K2.

This article, published in Oral Diseases in 2017, reviews how Vitamin K2 regulates bone remodeling, the process of breaking down and rebuilding bone tissue. The findings suggest that Vitamin K2 supports bone density, reduces fracture risk, and may help prevent osteoporosis, especially when combined with Vitamin D3. The research primarily examines human, rat, and mouse models to understand Vitamin K2’s role in skeletal health.

This systematic review evaluates the therapeutic effects of EPA and DHA in treating various diseases in dogs and cats. Twenty-three randomized studies were analyzed, with benefits seen in both neoplastic (cancer-related) and non-neoplastic conditions such as allergic dermatitis, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and haircoat disorders. The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of EPA and DHA, through suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases, are highlighted as key mechanisms for their therapeutic effects.

This 2013 review looks at the possible risks of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs and cats, especially EPA and DHA from fish oil. While omega-3s are commonly used to support skin, joint, heart, and kidney health, the authors explain that high amounts can sometimes cause issues like GI upset, changes in clotting, oxidative stress, immune shifts, or slower wound healing. The paper also stresses that plant-based ALA is not the same as EPA and DHA, so the source of omega-3s matters when considering both benefits and risks.

A 2019 doctoral dissertation at Kansas State University explored the use of Miscanthus grass as a fiber source in dog and cat diets, comparing it to cellulose and beet pulp. The research found that Miscanthus grass produced firmer stools and showed similar nutrient digestibility to cellulose, while beet pulp offered higher fermentation benefits. These findings suggest Miscanthus grass may be a useful option in diets where stool firmness or lower fermentation is desired.

The 2021 review article by Tanprasertsuk et al. synthesizes existing research to provide a clear picture of how natural compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and herbs—like carotenoids, polyphenols, and phytosterols—may support dogs' overall well-being.

A 16-week clinical study in 29 pet dogs found that daily omega-3 supplementation from anchovy and sardine oils significantly increased the Omega-3 Index in all size groups and reduced owner-reported pain in small and medium dogs. Large dogs did not show the same pain improvement, likely because fixed-size capsules delivered a lower mg/kg dose. No adverse effects were reported.

This peer-reviewed mini-review (Microbial Cell Factories, 2020) explains why Bacillus subtilis is considered a reliable microbial “cell factory.” The authors describe how this bacterium grows quickly, thrives on inexpensive substrates, and naturally secretes proteins, making it easier to recover useful products. They also highlight the mature set of genetic tools that allow scientists to fine-tune how the microbe works. Together, these qualities make B. subtilis a platform for producing enzymes, vitamins (such as riboflavin [B2] and menaquinone-7 [K2/MK-7]), biomaterials, and probiotic applications.

This peer-reviewed veterinary review, published in JAVMA (2015), highlights the role of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in dogs and cats. It explains that linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) are essential in the canine diet, DHA is conditionally essential for puppies, and dogs convert less than 10% of ALA into EPA and DHA—making direct dietary sources like fish or algae oils an important part of canine nutrition.

This randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging pilot trial tested a turkey tail mushroom extract called polysaccharopeptide (PSP) in pet dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma after splenectomy and without chemotherapy. The highest dose of I’m-Yunity brand PSP (100 mg/kg/day) delayed abdominal metastasis longer than the lowest dose and was associated with a median survival of 199 days, with lab monitoring showing good tolerance.

This 2018 review explains how pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy delivers carefully timed bursts of electromagnetic energy to stimulate tissue repair. Evidence supports its use in bone healing, osteoarthritis, wound healing, and post-operative pain and swelling. The paper emphasizes that different PEMF devices vary widely in waveform design, which determines whether they efficiently trigger biological cascades such as nitric oxide signaling. Veterinary studies are promising, but more controlled trials are needed to guide routine use.

A 2024 feeding trial in healthy adult dogs tested purified beta-1,3/1,6-glucans sourced from yeast. At a 0.14% inclusion in dry food, dogs showed improved protein digestibility, a microbiome shift toward generally beneficial bacteria, and a small uptick in an immune balance marker, with no adverse clinical effects noted. The authors frame beta-glucans as a family of fibers also found in fungi such as mushrooms, so these yeast results help inform the broader beta-glucan conversation.

This 2024 randomized, double-blinded clinical trial tested daily oral prebiotics in dogs with mild inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic intestinal condition where the immune system reacts abnormally to food and normal gut bacteria, disturbing the microbiota (“dysbiosis”). Over 60 days on a standardized hypoallergenic diet, beta-glucan supplementation improved bacterial diversity and supported groups often reduced in dysbiosis; adding mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) did not show clear extra benefit. Dogs stayed clinically stable and the products were well tolerated.

This 2024 study evaluated the effects of shiitake mushroom powder on cholesterol levels and antioxidant activity in healthy Beagle dogs. The authors reported a significant decrease in plasma cholesterol and significant increases in leukocyte sirtuin1 mRNA expression and plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity after four weeks of supplementation. These findings suggest that shiitake powder may increase antioxidative activity and support metabolic regulation in dogs.

This 2024 peer-reviewed review compiles what is known about beta-glucans for dogs and cats with three common chronic problems: atopic dermatitis (skin disease), osteoarthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The authors describe immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory actions of beta-glucans and summarize small clinical reports plus animal and human studies suggesting potential benefits, while emphasizing that veterinary evidence is limited, methods are heterogeneous, and better controlled trials in dogs and cats are still needed.