Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a simple and effective tool to help veterinarians and pet owners assess frailty in older dogs. By combining a straightforward questionnaire with a veterinarian's assessment of physical and muscular condition, the tool can predict the likelihood of death in the short term (within six months). This information can help owners make important treatment and quality of life decisions for their aging pets.
“In humans, frailty is characterized by decreased strength, slow walking speed, weight loss, fatigue and reduced activity,” explains Dr. Natasha Orby, Distinguished Chair Professor of Gerontology at North Carolina State University. “It is a sign of diminished physical function. Although frailty has been linked to disability and mortality in humans, the concept is still emerging in veterinary medicine. We need an easy-to-use screening tool for dogs.
Dr. Orby, who is the principal investigator of the Canine Neurological Aging Program at North Carolina State University, says her team created the tool to address two key questions. First, frailty may affect the results of clinical trials in older dogs. Second, frailty is a phenomenon often observed by veterinarians, but not much is known about it.
“One of the most common questions we get from owners of aging dogs is, 'How long will my dog live?'” says Orby. “While no one can accurately predict this, the frailty phenotype - a set of common characteristics - can help us estimate short-term mortality. This can be invaluable to owners making difficult treatment decisions.”
The frailty screening questionnaire focuses on five key areas:
Nutritional status: Overall body condition and appetite.
Energy levels: Fatigue and endurance
Mobility: mobility.
Muscle status: Muscle mass and strength.
Social activities Interaction and participation.
These are the same domains used in human frailty assessments. The tool was tested on two groups of dogs: 39 participating in a neuroaging study at North Carolina State University and 198 aged 10 years or older. Dogs categorized as frail - impaired in three or more domains - were twice as likely to die within six months compared to dogs that were not frail.
“This tool does not require lab tests or advanced diagnostics,” says Orby. “Veterinarians can assess physical and muscular conditions with only a basic physical examination, making it easy to apply in daily practice.”
The researchers hope this tool will allow for a finer definition and measurement of canine frailty.
“While this work is still in progress, this screening tool provides a practical starting point for discussing care options for older dogs,” Olby added.
The study, supported by the Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chairs in Gerontology, was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. The first author is Dr. Katharine Russell, who was a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University, and the second author is a current and former colleague at North Carolina State University, including Dr. Gilad Fefer, Dr. Alejandra Mondino, Prof. Emily Griffith, Prof. Korinn Saker and Prof. Margaret Gruen.
The tool is an important step forward in understanding and addressing the challenges of aging in dogs, providing much-needed guidance for dog caregivers.