Millions of dogs and cats adopted during COVID-19 are turning six or seven this year. Veterinary science says that is precisely when quiet biological ageing begins — and when early action matters most.
According to new scientific research presented at the Royal Canin Veterinary Symposium 2026, it was revealed that there is a disconnect in how owners understand their pet's aging.
For dogs and cats adopted during the pandemic, there is a good chance they are approaching their seventh birthday. That milestone may feel like cause for celebration — and it is — but veterinary researchers say it is also something more: A biological turning point that owners have a narrow window to act on, often before their pet shows any sign of slowing down.
According to the ASPCA and ManyPets analysis in 2021, approximately 23 million American households brought home a new pet during the COVID-19 pandemic, representing nearly one in five American households. That generation of animals is now entering what veterinary science increasingly recognises as a critical midlife stage — roughly ages six to seven — when cellular aging begins in earnest, well ahead of visible symptoms. The global study commissioned by pet food company Royal Canin suggests that most owners are not yet thinking about it.
• Pandemic pets adopted in 2019 to 2020 are now reaching ages six to seven, a life stage veterinary researchers identify as the start of measurable biological aging in dogs and cats.
• A Royal Canin-commissioned survey of 19,012 pet owners across 18 countries found that 44 percent only begin thinking about aging once health problems already appear.
• Independent peer-reviewed research published in GeroScience found that dietary interventions can measurably lower a dog's biological age, with effects detectable at midlife.
• Rising veterinary costs and declining clinic visit rates mean many pets are already receiving less preventive care than experts recommend.
• Practical steps — scheduling a wellness check, discussing baseline bloodwork, and monitoring for subtle changes in energy or mobility — require no specialist and can be taken now.
The Quiet Biology Behind a Birthday Celebration
The Royal Canin study, conducted by research firm Censuswide among 19,012 dog and cat owners across 18 countries in March 2026, finds that pet owners are emotionally invested in their animals in measurable ways. Three-quarters of those surveyed buy gifts for their pet's birthday; nearly a third report spending more on a pet's birthday gift than on a child's. Yet that same emotional connection does not always translate into health-focused action.
"Simple steps can make a meaningful difference, including maintaining regular veterinary check-ups, proactively discussing healthy ageing with your vet, and paying attention to subtle changes in behaviour, mobility or energy levels." — Dr. Tanya Schoeman, Veterinary Specialist Physician and Royal Canin Feline Health Specialist
Over a third of owners surveyed — 38 percent — believe nothing can be done about pet aging. More than half say they avoid thinking or talking about the subject because it feels too sad. And 44 percent report that they only begin considering aging-related care once health problems have already surfaced. Veterinary experts say that by that point, a meaningful opportunity has already passed.
"We now understand that our pet's ageing begins much earlier than many of us expect, often during midlife when cats and dogs still seem healthy and full of energy," said Dr. Tanya Schoeman, a veterinary specialist and Royal Canin feline health specialist. "By starting conversations and health checks earlier and paying attention to small changes, we can help support not just longer lives, but healthier and better quality of life for our pets as they grow older."
What Science Says About Helping Dogs and Cats Live Longer
The claim that midlife is a pivotal window is not unique to a pet food company's marketing department. A peer-reviewed study published in GeroScience in 2024, affiliated with Nestlé Purina research, found that quantifying biological age around a dog's midlife may lead to a more individualised approach to health monitoring, and that dietary interventions can measurably lower biological age — with those effects detectable precisely at midlife. The research suggests the window is real, and that what happens during it has downstream consequences.
Scientific findings presented at the Royal Canin Veterinary Symposium 2026 describe the concept of "healthspan" — the portion of an animal's life spent free from age-related chronic illness and disability. Supporting pets during midlife through nutrition, weight management, exercise, and early monitoring, researchers argue, can extend that period in later years. The challenge is that midlife pets often look and behave as though nothing has changed, which makes early intervention easy to defer. Nearly a third of owners in the Royal Canin survey — 31 percent — said they delay action because their pet "seems fine."
The Affordability Gap: A Real Barrier for Millions of Owners
The science may be compelling, but acting on it is not cost-free, and the financial picture for many pet owners in 2025 and 2026 is complicated. According to a PetSmart Charities–Gallup survey in 2025, 52 percent of American pet owners report having skipped needed veterinary care in the past year. Fifteen percent did not bring their pet to a veterinarian due to financial barriers, and 81 percent of veterinarians reported that their clients were more price-sensitive than in the prior year.
That data point sits in uncomfortable tension with the recommendation to schedule earlier and more frequent wellness checks. According to Vetsource and Brakke Consulting analysis in 2025, veterinary prices rose faster than general inflation that year, and companion animal clinic visits fell by 3 percent — the third consecutive year of declining patient volume. For a significant share of the 95 million American households that own a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association's 2025 National Pet Owners Survey, the question is not whether to act but whether they can afford to.
Reading the Fine Print on a Pet Food Survey
Royal Canin is a division of Mars, Incorporated, one of the world's largest pet food and veterinary services conglomerates. The company commissioned this research and presented related findings at its own veterinary symposium. That context does not invalidate the underlying science, but it is worth noting when evaluating the survey's framing. Independent replication of its findings would add weight to the conclusions.
Practical Steps to Help Pets Live Longer
For dogs and cats adopted between 2019 and 2021, the most useful thing to do right now is schedule a wellness visit as baseline measurements taken when an animal is healthy are what allow a veterinarian to detect meaningful change later. Ask the veterinarian about bloodwork panels appropriate for a midlife animal, discuss weight trends, and flag any subtle shifts noticed in energy, mobility, or appetite.
The pandemic pet generation is aging on schedule. The veterinary science behind midlife as a preventive care window is genuinely supported by peer-reviewed evidence. A conversation today with a veterinarian, a baseline blood panel, and the willingness to pay attention is apt.