Sources & References
Last updated: June 2026
Transparency matters. The guides on MyAgingPet are built on published guidance from veterinary organizations, U.S. agencies that oversee animal health, and canine research institutions. Below are the authorities we return to most, each linked to its official homepage.
How we use these sources
When writing our guides, we:
- Read life-stage, wellness, and pain management guidance from veterinary bodies before writing
- Check government sources for pet food safety, animal medications, and guidance relevant to dogs
- Follow canine aging and longevity research to keep our advice current
- Prefer primary sources and link to them so you can read them yourself
- Revisit this list when an organization changes its guidance
Government and regulatory agencies
U.S. FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
Oversees animal drugs, medicated feeds, and pet food safety, which informs our guidance on supplements and medications
CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People
Guidance on keeping homes healthy with pets, including hygiene and disease prevention that matters around older dogs
Veterinary organizations
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Professional association for veterinarians, publishing animal health and welfare guidance we draw on
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
Sets canine life-stage and wellness care guidelines used by many veterinary practices
World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
Global body for small animal veterinarians with published guidelines on dog nutrition and wellness
Merck Veterinary Manual
Widely used veterinary reference covering canine conditions, pain, and mobility in clinical detail
Canine research and veterinary schools
How we cite these sources
These organizations are background and guidance references for our guides. We write to their published recommendations rather than attaching a formal citation to every sentence, so a guide is a synthesis, not a research paper.
None of these organizations endorse MyAgingPet or review our content. Before you change anything about your own dog's care, especially medication, a diet for a diagnosed condition, or a new or worsening symptom, confirm it with a veterinarian.
Questions about our sources?
If you want to know which source shaped a particular guide, or you think a reference here is outdated or incorrect, contact us and we will check it.
Contact Our Editorial Team