Table 5 Information relative to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the variables considered in the dogs enrolled in the study

Informed consent from the owner

Granted

Not granted

Breed

Mixed breed

Pure breed

Health and Wellness

Healthy life-style in close contact with the owners

Less than 2 h of exercise each day

Not required for Puppy

Diet and Feeding Management

Commercial standard pet food specific for each stage of life Regular meal time each day

Immunonutrient supplementation (especially zinc ions)

Irregular feeding routine

Over- or under-feeding

Competitive eating

Nutritional Assessment^a

Junior, Adult, Mature, Senior: BCS 4 or 5 out of 9

Puppy in poor body conditions

Vaccinations

Regularly performed “vaccination plan” ^b (certified only by an electronic medical record)

Any dogs with vaccination status not in line with inclusion criteria

Data not certified by an electronic medical record

Test performed after 3 weeks post-vaccination

Therapies, Trauma, Stressors or Imaging Diagnostic Techniques

After 2 months from:

Data not certified by an electronic medical record Immunomodulant or immunosuppressive therapies

Medications, surgeries, trauma and stressors

medications, surgeries, trauma and stressors

X-rays exposure or computed tomography (CT)

Sex

Entire female or male

Female: pregnant, in estrus, any pathological status of the reproductive tract

Male: cryptorchidism, any pathological status of the reproductive tract

Parasites

Endo/ecto-parasites free

Presence of endo/ecto-parasites or therapies in the last 3 weeks

Periodontal Diseases^c

Stages 1, 2, 3

Stage 4 and/or other inflammatory/ulcerative diseases

Arthritis

Joints had to be free from any pathological status

Acute and chronic pathological conditions