Pet Longevity Research

Creatine Supplementation in Aging Dogs: A Narrative Review of Bioavailability, Efficacy, Safety, and Longevity Applications

Most dogs fed commercial diets are functionally creatine-deficient due to the near-complete destruction of dietary creatine during high-heat pet food manufacturing — a critical and underappreciated nutritional gap with real consequences for muscle, brain, and heart health as dogs age. Emerging research demonstrates that creatine supplementation in dogs improves high-intensity athletic performance, combats age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), protects against cognitive decline, and supports cardiac bioenergetics, making it one of the most compelling multi-target longevity interventions available to proactive pet owners today. This review synthesizes the current evidence, identifies guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) as the most stable and bioavailable delivery form for creatine in commercial diets, and provides practical, veterinarian-informed dosing guidance for senior, athletic, and at-risk dogs.