Key Studies

The Empirical Evidence Powering DoggyD's Mission

Get a "5 Bullet Breakdown" of the studies we regard as "cornerstones" of vitamin D research in dogs. These key studies provide invaluable information to dog owners.

Read below to learn why DoggyD considers these findings vital in the mission to lower cancer rates in dogs - and improve the overall health of our fuzzy friends.

FAQs on Vitamin D Research in Dogs

Shocking Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Dogs

75% of Dogs Suffer From Vitamin D Deficiency

5 Bullet Breakdown

320 “apparently healthy” dogs - mostly golden retrievers and German shepherds - had their vitamin D levels measured and analyzed based on their breed, gender, age, and feeding pattern

Most dogs ate commercial-brand dog food (40 brands were included), but a minority had homemade diets or a mix of homemade and commercial-brand kibble

After blood analysis, German Shepherds had a 26% higher concentration of vitamin D than the golden retriever - a significant difference and intriguing finding that suggests intestinal absorption of vitamin D may vary by breed

Spayed and neutered dogs both had lower levels than their “non-fixed” counterparts, implying sex hormones play a role in boosting vitamin D levels in dogs

Dogs that received some kind of vitamin D-boosting supplement had much healthier vitamin D levels (89 ng/mL vs 69 ng/mL), whereas fish oil and fortified dog biscuits appeared to have no effect on vitamin levels in the blood

Why is It a Cornerstone Study?

This study was led by one of the most respected veterinary schools in America: the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. It included a good number of dogs to fill out the study (320), and included kibble, fresh food, and mixed diets to provide a good picture of how dietary patterns affect vitamin D levels in dogs.

The study also puts to rest the notion that common fish oil supplements or fortified dog biscuits have any notable impact on your dog’s health. A more targeted vitamin D supplement was the thing that made a notable, positive impact on vitamin D levels for the dogs. It also sets a clear boundary of what should be considered “healthy” vitamin D levels in dogs: 100-250 ng/mL.

Finally, the analysis of this study is very interesting, as it breaks down findings based on sex, spayed/neutered dogs vs “fixed” ones, breed, age, and brand of dog food. This sort of cross-sectional analysis can be very helpful for dog owners. It empowers them to better consider their individual dog’s health needs based on these identifying traits.

It also points research in the direction it needs to go for veterinarians: a study observing disease rates (e.g. - cancer, chronic illness) in dogs with vitamin D levels between 100-250 ng/mL - versus dogs with levels below 100 ng/mL. We hope a study like this is done in the near future, and gets carried out over a period of 5+ years. DoggyD is confident a study like the one described above will demonstrate a direct correlation between increased vitamin D levels and a lower rate of chronic illness and cancer in dogs.

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Dogs Low in Vitamin D Have a Greater Risk of Cancer

Veterinary Diagnostic Institute: Dogs Low in Vitamin D Are "at Risk"

5 Bullet Breakdown

The Study measured 282 dogs comprised mostly of golden retrievers, German shepherds, various mixed breeds

The study compared vitamin D levels of dogs with cancer vs. “apparently healthy” dogs

All dogs with cancer were found to have insufficient vitamin D levels - except for one

Researchers noted even “apparently healthy” dogs with low vitamin D levels have a heightened risk of disease; there is a latency period between low vitamin D and the clinical manifestation of disease

Final conclusion: the optimal range for vitamin D levels in dogs is 100-120 ng/ml, and most commercial brand dog food simply lacks this amount of vitamin D

Why is It a Cornerstone Study?

Three reasons: this study provides solid empirical grounds for DoggyD to suggest that your dog’s vitamin D levels should be AT LEAST 100 ng/ml - and up to 250 ng/mL - for optimal health. When it comes to chronic illness and cancer, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Improved vitamin D levels may play a key role in preventing some of these illnesses in your dog.

Second, this study provides strong evidence for an association between low levels of vitamin D and increased risk of cancer in dogs. The conclusion plainly states that dogs with vitamin D levels below 100 ng/mL should be considered at risk for cardiac and bowel diseases, as well as different forms of cancer.

Third, the Veterinary Diagnostics Institute conducted this study - Look these guys up. They are leaders in cancer detection and treatment for animals. Sometimes, studies look very promising but will be done by a company that arguably has a vested interest in painting a certain picture. For example, if Purina came out with a study that claimed, “Purina brand dog food found to be healthiest dog kibble…” you would probably scrutinize the results. VDI's sole mission is how to best prevent and treat diseases like cancer in our beloved fuzzy friends.

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AAFCO's Vitamin D Recommendations: Inadequate for Dogs?

Vitamin D Recommendations Were Informed by Poor Data

5 Bullet Breakdown

The AAFCO - the American Association of Feed Control Officials - recommends an insufficient amount of vitamin D for dogs (3000 IU/KG of dry food)

The AAFCO set guidelines for vitamin D levels in dog food based on only 2 studies - and both focused exclusively on Great Dane puppies

It is very odd, and even objectionable, that the AAFCO would examine 2 studies that only included great Dane puppies, and then apply their conclusions to dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds

Lowering the vitamin D levels banned many forms of dog food that including salmon or cod - a move that may have pushed more dog owners toward “fresh pet food”

The article points out that the AAFCO may need to update its vitamin D recommendations in the future as the science behind dietary formulations for dogs improves

Why is It a Cornerstone Study?

We will include the link to the AAFCO’s updated 2016 dog food guidelines here, but this article succinctly and reasonably explains why the AAFCO’s decision to lower vitamin D levels is questionable at best.

It does a good job pointing out the slightly bemused feeling a dog owner may get when realizing that the vitamin D guidelines were set based on studies that only included Great Dane puppies.

For anyone with mature or senior dogs, this fact should raise some alarm bells, and have you reconsidering whether there are simple nutritional precautions you can take to help prevent disease in your dog.

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Increased Vitamin D: Only Pros, No Cons

Researchers Observed That Increasing Vitamin D Had No Adverse Effects on Dogs

5 Bullet Breakdown

After organizing 5 groups of 8 dogs, each group received different concentrations of vitamin D:
- 795, 3,087, 5510, 7314, and 9992.5 IU/kg of dry food

The 5 groups were then observed over the next 6 months

Researchers noted no adverse health effects in the dogs, even those that have nearly 3x the concentration of vitamin D the AAFCO recommends

Hypercalcemia (too much calcium), hyperphosphatemia (too much phosphate), and suppression of PTH (parathyroid hormone) were not observed in the study - these are the fears generally cited when discussing increased vitamin D intake in dogs

Researchers point out the AAFCO set vitamin D recommendations based on studies that only included Great Dane puppies, suggesting AAFCO recommendations for vitamin D are not optimal for adult dogs of different sizes and breeds - especially senior dogs. They conclude that a “large number of dogs may benefit from increased Vitamin D”

Why is It a Cornerstone Study?

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee partnered with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to run this study. It is good to note that Hill’s Pet Nutrition sells dog food, but they are known for being one of the only brands certified by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). Hill’s is arguably the best dog food brand when it comes to backing up their formulations with empirical data and rigorous scientific testing. This is not an endorsement of Hill’s pet food - simply a statement of fact that their research can likely be trusted and considered credible.

Beyond that, the study gave a group of dogs 3 times the AAFCO limit for vitamin D, and saw no adverse effects at all. Zero. DoggyD’s opinion is that, based on this finding and other studies, dogs getting fed up to 10,000 IU/kg of dry food have the best chance to lower their risk of chronic disease and cancer. So, it is good to have a study that, after 6 months, saw no significant adverse effects with dogs having vitamin D supplementation up to 10,000 IU/kg dry dog food.

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How We Help

DoggyD LLC is the most trusted supplement company for dogs. Vitamin D helps dogs with many health conditions, often when traditional treatments do not work, such as eczema, infection, and mood. It also acts as a preventative agent against many chronic illnesses and forms of cancer.

Why Choose DoggyD

An Ounce of Prevention = a pound of cure

It was formulated by Dr. John Cannell.

DoggyD has the most efficacious, bioavailable dosing of vitamin D in every drop

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Key Studies

The Empirical Evidence Powering DoggyD's Mission

FAQs on Vitamin D Research in Dogs

75% of Dogs Suffer From Vitamin D Deficiency

5 Bullet Breakdown

Why is It a Cornerstone Study?

How We Help

Why Choose DoggyD

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