The MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™: set to shape the future of pet health

New scientific insights from the landmark MARS PETCARE BIOBANK™ study have been revealed in a new publication by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, in collaboration with Mars Veterinary Health’s VCA, Banfield, and BluePearl hospital networks. The paper analyzed demographic and health data of the first 2,000 dogs enrolled.

For health discoveries to be truly meaningful, research must start with a group that accurately reflects the population. This analysis offers a compelling first look at the insights emerging from what will be the largest, most comprehensive real-world study into pet health.

Key findings from the first 2,000 dogs

• The enrolled dogs represent a broad cross-section of the U.S. dog population, with 52% male and 48% female, and nearly half identified as mixed breed.
• Labrador and Golden Retrievers were the most popular purebreds reported, coming in at 2.7% and 2.4% of the study population respectively.
• The median age at enrollment was 3 years, with dogs ranging from 6 months to 10 years old.
• Comprehensive blood tests combined with clinical examinations were used to confirm that participants were healthy at enrolment, though a small percentage had blood results which were outside of the normal reference ranges
   

Why is this important for the future of pet science?

As the Biobank study population continues to grow, increased regional coverage and ongoing data collection will enable researchers to identify genetic, environmental, dietary, and metabolic factors that influence healthy aging and disease risk. By collecting and analyzing biological samples and health data, we're creating a resource that will fuel scientific breakthroughs in pet health for years to come. 
Dr Janet Patterson-Kane, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, Global Veterinary Science Partner, Mars Science & Diagnostics comments:

“This paper is significant because it demonstrates the power of our approach. Analyzing the data from our first 2,000 participants has provided a crucial baseline and we are only just beginning to scratch the surface of what we can learn from the pets enrolled. The insights that will be generated over the next decade have the potential to be truly transformative for veterinary science."

The future of pet health has begun

Over time, this ambitious project will uncover critical insights into how we can detect diseases like cancer and kidney disease earlier, shifting the focus from treatment to proactive, preventive care, and further helping our purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.