POP on Thursday announced a 90-day canine health study that will enroll up to 100 dogs from across the United States, organizers said. The trial, scheduled to begin in August 2025 according to POP’s materials, is designed to test how gut-focused nutrition, genomic information and continuous activity tracking relate to immune markers and longer-term vitality in young adult dogs.

The study will run for 90 days and is open to dogs aged 1–6 years, according to POP’s materials. POP said it is partnering with diagnostics firms Innovative Pet Lab and Embark Veterinary to combine laboratory biomarker analysis, DNA testing and real-world behavior data in the prospective trial.

Under the collaboration, Innovative Pet Lab will provide gut-health screening kits for microbiome and biomarker analysis, while Embark Veterinary will supply DNA testing and analytic support, organizers said. POP described the effort as a data-driven attempt to link personalized nutrition interventions with biological measures and day-to-day activity tracking.

“Dogs can’t always tell us when something’s off—but their biology and behavior can,” said Alan Tsui, Co‑Founder of POP. “We’re combining cutting-edge diagnostics, personalized nutrition, and real-world data to give pet parents a clearer picture of their dog’s health—and contribute to a future where all dogs live longer, healthier lives.” The company listed Houston among the locations associated with the launch.

Study materials posted by POP indicate participants will follow individualized nutritional plans and submit regular biological samples over the 90-day window. Organizers emphasized that the trial will collect continuous activity data as well as intermittent lab measures, enabling researchers to observe how nutritional changes and genetic information interact with activity patterns and immune markers over time.

The study’s emphasis on personalized nutrition mirrors broader trends in the pet-food industry. Recent shifts favor fresh and minimally processed diets, tailored nutrition plans and functional ingredients targeted at specific health needs. Those trends are credited with reducing chronic conditions and supporting digestive health, a rationale POP said underpins its gut-focused approach.

POP also framed the trial within a public-health context: nearly 60% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese, a condition linked to higher rates of cancer, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. Organizers said that by integrating nutrition, activity monitoring and genetic data, the study aims to generate evidence on preventive care strategies that could help address those widespread issues.

To capture day-to-day physiology and behavior, the trial will rely on wearable activity tracking and behavior monitoring. Advances in noninvasive monitoring technologies — including wearable devices that use ballistocardiography (BCG) to continuously assess heart rate and respiratory rate — give researchers new tools to correlate changes in biomarkers with real-time measures of exertion, rest and recovery.

POP’s announcement and study landing page include details on enrollment, participant obligations and information about deposits or incentives. The partners said they will collect regular biological samples and continuous behavior data throughout the 90-day period and that the data will be used to generate actionable insights for pet owners and researchers.

The three-way research partnership pairs a pet-wellness company with diagnostic specialists to test an integrated model of preventive care for dogs. Organizers suggested the study could help refine personalized nutrition recommendations by showing how microbiome markers, genetic predispositions and daily activity interact in real-world settings.

Those interested in participating or learning more can review the announcement and the POP study page for full eligibility criteria and enrollment instructions.

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Original reporting: view the original article.