System atlas
Dogs age faster than we do, which makes them both fragile and legible: a decade of change fits inside a few measurement cycles. Each system below has its own markers, its own decline curve, and its own set of levers.
A step-by-step walk through all eleven: key markers, then recommended actions.
Heart, vessels, perfusion
Canine hearts age along breed-specific curves. Early valve and rhythm change is measurable years before a dog slows down.
What we measure
What we manage
Airway, lungs, gas exchange
Airway geometry drives how well a dog cools, sleeps and exercises. Small structural gains pay back across the whole lifespan.
What we measure
What we manage
Bone, joint, muscle, gait
Lean mass is the single most protective asset a dog carries into old age. Joints follow the loads you give them.
What we measure
What we manage
Brain, cord, cognition
Canine cognitive decline is trackable with validated scales. Enrichment and sleep quality change its slope.
What we measure
What we manage
Thyroid, adrenal, metabolic
Thyroid and adrenal drift is common, quiet and correctable. Metabolic set point governs almost every other system.
What we measure
What we manage
Gut, liver, microbiome
The gut is the largest immune surface a dog has. Microbiome diversity tracks with resilience and inflammation load.
What we measure
What we manage
Kidney, bladder, filtration
Renal reserve is lost silently. SDMA moves before creatinine, which is why we test long before symptoms appear.
What we measure
What we manage
Defence, surveillance, inflammation
Roughly half of dogs over ten face a cancer diagnosis. Surveillance is the difference between early and late.
What we measure
What we manage
Skin, coat, nails, pads
Skin is the visible readout of everything internal. Barrier health also decides how comfortable a dog's days feel.
What we measure
What we manage
Gonadal and hormonal health
Timing and method of sterilisation measurably shift orthopaedic and oncologic risk. It is a longevity decision, not a routine one.
What we measure
What we manage
Sight, hearing, scent, balance
Dogs navigate the world by nose and ear. Protecting those channels protects confidence, mobility and cognition together.
What we measure
What we manage