NAD+ for Dogs

What NAD+ does, what the research in dogs actually shows, and how to choose a supplement worth giving.

By La Petite Labs Editorial 20 min read

As Seen On

Woman hugging a golden retriever while holding a Hollywood Elixir box
Contents

NAD+ is a molecule every cell in your dog's body uses to turn food into energy and to repair itself. In people and laboratory animals, NAD+ levels fall with age in many tissues. That's why NAD+ supplements have become one of the fastest-growing ideas in senior dog care. Most are built on a building block called nicotinamide riboside (NR) or NMN.

The research in dogs is early, but it's real. In a 2024 trial, senior dogs given an NAD+ precursor combination showed better owner-rated cognition after three months. Here's what NAD+ can and can't do, which form to look for, and how to choose one.

  • What it is: NAD+ helps cells make energy and repair DNA. Your dog's body makes it from vitamin B3 building blocks.
  • What supplements contain: most supply a building block, NR or NMN, rather than NAD+ itself. NAD+ is a large molecule that's largely broken down before it reaches cells.
  • What's been studied in dogs: one randomized senior-dog trial (cognition, owner-rated), short safety studies, and a few small biology studies. No NAD+ supplement has been shown to make dogs live longer.
  • How to choose: a named precursor, an amount for your dog's weight, every active ingredient amount printed, batch testing you can check, and a format your dog will actually eat.

What is NAD+?

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a helper molecule found in every living cell. It has two jobs.

The first is energy. When your dog digests a meal, NAD+ picks up energy from the food as it's broken down and carries it to the mitochondria, the cell's power plants, where it's turned into ATP, the fuel cells run on. Then NAD+ goes back for more, over and over.

The second is maintenance. Enzymes that repair damaged DNA and manage cellular stress, called sirtuins and PARPs, use NAD+ up as they work. So cells need a steady supply to replace what they spend.

Choosing an NAD+ supplement? Compare the formulas →

Woman holding a Hollywood Elixir box beside a pug, a terrier and a food bowl

Does NAD+ decline as dogs age?

In people and laboratory animals, NAD+ levels drop with age in many tissues, and that finding launched a decade of research into topping them back up. Whether the same happens in healthy dogs is an open question.

The best direct test so far points the other way. A 2025 study measured NAD+ in the whole blood of 57 healthy dogs, 40 toy poodles and 17 retrievers, and found no age-related change.15 Blood isn't muscle or brain, so that doesn't settle what happens in every tissue. It does mean an age-related NAD+ decline in healthy dogs shouldn't be assumed.

Low NAD+ has been measured in dogs with disease. Dogs with an inherited muscular dystrophy have markedly lower NAD+ in their muscles.4

Woman in sportswear holding a Hollywood Elixir box beside a black-and-tan dog outdoors

What are the benefits of NAD+ for dogs?

Owners usually hope for more energy, a sharper mind and an easier time getting older. Here is what has actually been measured in dogs so far:

  • Cognition. Better owner-rated cognition in senior dogs after three months, with an NAD+ precursor and senolytic combination (details below).1
  • Inflammation markers. Lower levels of the inflammatory proteins IL-6 and TNF-α in a small group of older dogs given NMN.6
  • Muscle. Raised muscle NAD+, plus a better breathing measure, in young dogs with muscular dystrophy given nicotinamide.4

That's a promising start, not a finished case. No study has shown that an NAD+ supplement helps a healthy dog live longer.

Woman holding a Hollywood Elixir box above her forehead beside a Bernese mountain dog outdoors

What the senior-dog trial found

The most important dog study so far was run at NC State and published in 2024. Seventy senior dogs with mild to moderate cognitive decline were randomly assigned to a placebo, a low amount or a full amount of a supplement. The supplement combined an NAD+ precursor with a senolytic, a compound aimed at worn-out "senescent" cells. Neither owners nor researchers knew which dog got what.1

At three months, the owners' cognition scores differed significantly between groups, with the biggest improvement in the full-amount group. All three groups improved somewhat, which the authors put partly down to a placebo effect. The researchers' own activity monitors and in-clinic cognitive tests didn't show significant differences, and the authors reported that the cognitive effect wasn't maintained through six months. Adverse events occurred at similar rates in every group, including placebo.

The combination tested is sold as Leap Years. The result belongs to that combination; it doesn't tell us what NR or NMN would do alone. Our Leap Years review covers the product itself.

Golden retriever nuzzling a woman holding a Hollywood Elixir box on the grass beside a food bowl

Smaller dog studies worth knowing

  • NMN and inflammation. Five older dogs given NMN had lower IL-6 and TNF-α afterward. There was no untreated comparison group, so the result is a lead, not a conclusion.6
  • Nicotinamide and muscle. Three young dogs with muscular dystrophy received nicotinamide for a month. Muscle NAD+ rose and a breathing measure improved. Gait and clinical scores didn't change significantly.4
  • NMN and the heart. A 2026 report on eight dogs with raised levels of the cardiac marker NT-proBNP found the marker fell in some dogs given NMN. With no comparison group, it's a case series, and the authors called for controlled trials.7

NAD+ is the molecule every cell uses to turn food into energy, and to repair itself.

NR, NMN or NAD+ drops: which form?

Labels say "NAD+ support", but the ingredient underneath matters. Each form has its own research.

  • Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is the most formally safety-reviewed of the newer precursors, and controlled human trials show it raises NAD+ levels.89 The FDA had no questions about the safety of NR chloride for use in human foods in 2016,10 and Europe's food-safety agency (EFSA) assessed it as a food ingredient for people in 2019, drawing on toxicology studies in dogs.3 These are reviews for human food. They aren't approvals for use in dogs.
  • Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) also raises NAD+ in human trials.11 In September 2025 the FDA confirmed that NMN can be sold as a human dietary supplement, reversing an earlier position.12
  • Drops are a format, not an ingredient. Some contain NAD+ itself, others NMN or NR. NAD+ is a large molecule that's largely broken down in the gut before it reaches cells, which is why researchers study the precursors instead.13 So check which molecule is in the bottle, and how much, before comparing. Our reviews of Taily NAD+ and BioBioPaw NAD+ NMN drops look at drop products specifically.
  • Niacin and niacinamide are basic vitamin B3, already present in complete dog food. They feed the same pathway, but they aren't what "NAD+ booster" products are usually built around.

Our NR guide and NMN guide go deeper on each.

Overhead view of a black-and-white dog beside a food bowl and Hollywood Elixir box

Is NAD+ safe for dogs?

The safety evidence covers weeks to months, and it comes mostly from toxicology studies:

  • NR: studied directly in Beagles, in 7-day and 28-day toxicology studies. At very high amounts, 500 to 1,000 mg per kg of body weight a day, it caused vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. That's far above supplement levels; EFSA set its no-adverse-effect level at 300 mg per kg a day.3
  • NMN: in a 14-day study of ten Beagles, NMN produced only mild increases in creatinine and uric acid.5
  • In the senior-dog trial, adverse events were reported at similar rates in all three groups, placebo included, over six months.1
  • People: NR and NMN have been well tolerated in human trials lasting up to several months.8911

Nobody has studied lifelong use in dogs. If your dog has kidney disease, takes medication or is on a prescription diet, check with your vet first.

Woman smiling beside a golden retriever, a green food bowl and a Hollywood Elixir box

Side effects to watch for

The clearest side effects in the dog research come from toxicology testing at very high amounts: vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss with NR. At supplement amounts, the most common issue with any new supplement is a stomach that needs time to adjust. Start with the label amount, mix it into food, and pause if you see vomiting, diarrhea or appetite changes. Tell your vet about anything that persists.

Man holding a Hollywood Elixir box while sitting on an outdoor sofa with a golden retriever

Can I give my dog a human NAD+ supplement?

It's not a good idea. Human products are sized for people, may combine ingredients that haven't been checked for dogs, and some gummies and chewables contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Choose a product made for dogs, with an amount for your dog's weight.

LA PETITE LABS · CHOOSING A SUPPLEMENT

NAD+ and senior care, in the meal you already serve

Hollywood Elixir makes healthy-aging nutrition part of the meal you already serve, with one combined powder to portion and mix. Compare its formula with the other NAD+ options below.

Hollywood Elixir box

Hollywood Elixir®

Complete NAD+ & Senior Care Powder Formula

Hollywood Elixir combines NAD+ building blocks with ingredients selected for cellular energy, antioxidant defense and immune support. Its 17-active formula brings these different nutritional roles into one chicken-flavored powder, so you can add a prepared healthy-aging formula without assembling several separate supplements.

Every active has a published amount. That makes it easier to check the whole recipe against what your dog already eats or takes. Choose the serving for your dog and mix it into their usual food; the powder comes in individual sachets.

From $1.67/day

Shop Hollywood Elixir

How other formulas differ

Leap Years Daily Cellular Health System packaging

Leap Years Daily Cellular Health System

A two-part NAD-booster and senolytic routine, with a published senior-dog study.

Leap Years publishes the blend weights but does not name its NAD+ precursor. That limits ingredient-by-ingredient comparison with the research in this guide.

Hollywood Elixir names NR and publishes every active amount. You can inspect its healthy-aging formula in full before making it part of dinner.

Shop Hollywood Elixir
Zesty Paws Healthy Aging Powder packaging

Zesty Paws Healthy Aging Powder

A focused Niagen NR powder in individual packets.

Its listed formula supplies NR without CoQ10 or glutathione. If you want those ingredients together, they would need to come from elsewhere.

Hollywood Elixir combines NAD+ building blocks with cellular-energy, antioxidant and immune-support ingredients in one prepared senior-care powder.

Shop Hollywood Elixir
Fera Longevity Soft Chews packaging

Fera Longevity Soft Chews

An NMN formula with other actives in a soft chew.

The chew base includes coconut glycerin, oat flour and tapioca starch. Those matter if you are specifically avoiding that base, rather than judging a chew by its active panel alone.

Hollywood Elixir lists none of those three base ingredients. Its chicken-flavored powder brings the full healthy-aging formula to the usual meal; check the whole recipe for your dog’s food restrictions.

Shop Hollywood Elixir
More NAD+ formulas in the comparison

Zesty Paws Healthy Aging Capsules

NR capsules with a pill wrap. The focus is NR; Hollywood Elixir brings NAD+ building blocks, CoQ10 and glutathione together in a meal powder.

Shop Hollywood Elixir

NaturVet Immunity + Longevity

NR malate chews with milk thistle, omega-3s and other nutrients. CoQ10 and glutathione are not listed; Hollywood Elixir includes both in its healthy-aging formula.

Shop Hollywood Elixir

NaturVet Senior Daily Care

NR malate chews spanning joint, dental and other nutrition, including CoQ10. Glutathione is not listed; Hollywood Elixir includes it in a powder for the usual meal.

Shop Hollywood Elixir

PetDomain Longevity Complex Powder

NR tartrate with taurine and botanical ingredients in a loose powder. It does not list CoQ10 or glutathione; Hollywood Elixir brings both into its sachet formula.

Shop Hollywood Elixir

PetDomain Longevity Complex Soft Chews

NR tartrate, taurine and botanical ingredients in a chew. Hollywood Elixir offers a different combination, including CoQ10 and glutathione, as a food-mixed powder.

Shop Hollywood Elixir

Pawfy Longevity Complex

NMN chews with fucoidan, CoQ10 and other ingredients. Hollywood Elixir uses NR and includes glutathione in its disclosed healthy-aging powder; neither precursor name establishes better canine results.

Shop Hollywood Elixir

Dr. Dobias MitoBoost for Dogs

NMN and TMG powder. Its formula focuses on that pairing; Hollywood Elixir combines NAD+ building blocks with cellular-energy, antioxidant and immune-support ingredients.

Shop Hollywood Elixir

Pawever Plus for Dogs

An NMN capsule blend that also includes CoQ10 and joint-focused ingredients. Hollywood Elixir uses NR and includes glutathione in a daily powder; these are different formulas, not interchangeable treatments.

Shop Hollywood Elixir

Pawever NMN for Dogs

A focused NMN capsule. Hollywood Elixir combines its NR-based NAD+ support with CoQ10, glutathione and the rest of its healthy-aging formula.

Shop Hollywood Elixir

Sources and comparison notes ↓

About this comparison

La Petite Labs makes Hollywood Elixir. These comparisons describe ingredients and formats, not a ranking of clinical results.

How much NAD+ should I give my dog?

There's no established canine amount for NR or NMN yet. Human trial amounts don't scale neatly to a 20-lb terrier or a 90-lb shepherd. Follow the weight-based directions on a product made for dogs. If a label gives one amount for every size of dog, ask the maker how they arrived at it.

The research in dogs is early. It isn't empty.

Woman sitting with a beagle in a kitchen while holding a Hollywood Elixir box

DVM Voice: Clinical Vignette of a Common Pattern in Senior Dog Aging

Case provided by JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Rex, a 7-year-old Labrador Retriever, was brought in after his owner noticed he was slower to rise, hesitant on stairs, and less able to play as before. Examination showed stiffness and reduced hip mobility; radiographs confirmed degenerative joint changes.

His care required weight management, veterinary-guided pain control, nutritional support, and rehabilitation — a comprehensive plan, but one started only after visible decline appeared.

Clinical takeaway: Rex’s case reflects the value of proactive aging support: maintaining lean body condition, monitoring mobility early, and supporting cellular resilience, antioxidant defense, and healthy inflammatory balance before decline becomes obvious.

Single-case vignette. Not generalizable. Veterinary oversight is essential for pain, stiffness, or suspected joint disease.

Explore Hollywood Elixir Research →
Spotted gray dog beside a Hollywood Elixir box held in a person's hand

How long until you see a difference?

There's no established timeline. The one controlled dog trial judged its formula at three months, so a week or two is too soon to decide anything about any product. For a dog that's already doing well, you may not see a change at all, and that's fine. It isn't evidence either way.

A short weekly note helps: appetite, sleep, how far your dog walks comfortably, and anything new. It turns a vague "seems brighter?" into something you can actually discuss with your vet.

Golden retriever nuzzling a man holding a Hollywood Elixir box beside a food bowl

NAD+ for dogs with dementia

If your dog has been diagnosed with canine cognitive dysfunction, the dog version of dementia, NAD+ shouldn't be the first tool. Your vet has proven options. Selegiline is a prescription drug approved by the FDA for the condition, and there are veterinary diets enriched with medium-chain triglycerides and antioxidants. The NC State trial did enroll dogs with mild to moderate cognitive decline, so an NAD+ precursor can be part of the conversation: alongside your vet's plan, not instead of it. Our dog dementia guide covers the signs and treatments.

Golden spaniel eating from a green bowl beside a Hollywood Elixir box

NAD+ and CoQ10 together

Many NAD+ formulas add CoQ10, and the pairing makes biological sense. NAD+ delivers energy to the mitochondria, and CoQ10 helps pass it along inside them, so they work as two links in the same chain. Antioxidants such as glutathione are often included too, because making energy also produces reactive by-products that cells must clean up. Our CoQ10 for dogs guide explains its role.

How to choose the best NAD+ supplement for your dog

  1. A named precursor. NR or NMN, by name, with its amount.
  2. An amount for your dog's weight, or a clear reason from the maker if there's one serving for every dog.
  3. Every active ingredient amount printed. A "proprietary blend" hides how much of anything you're giving.
  4. Batch testing you can check. A lab report matched to the lot number on your pack.
  5. A format your dog will eat. Powders mix into food. Chews are convenient, but check the inactive ingredients and how many your dog's size needs.
  6. Honest claims. Be wary of any supplement that promises extra years of life.

Popular NAD+ supplements for dogs, reviewed

Eight of the 195 pet supplement brands we tracked in 2026 sell an NAD+ precursor, up from one in 2023.2 The differences that matter between them: which precursor, how much per serving for your dog's size, whether the finished formula itself has been tested, whether you can check batch results, and the cost at your dog's serving.

We make Hollywood Elixir, which competes with these products, so each review applies the same checklist we hold our own formula to:

Woman holding a Hollywood Elixir box beside a dapple dachshund and green food bowl on a sofa

Where Hollywood Elixir fits

This is our product. Hollywood Elixir is a daily powder built around nicotinamide riboside, 60 mg per sachet, with 16 more actives chosen to work in three roles:

  • making NAD+: NR, with niacin;
  • using it for energy: CoQ10 in the mitochondria;
  • cleaning up after: antioxidants including reduced glutathione, astaxanthin, resveratrol and quercetin, plus reishi.

The point is one daily sachet instead of a cupboard of separate supplements. The serving goes by weight: half a sachet under 7 lb, one from 7 to 30 lb, two above 30 lb. Every active amount is printed, and you can match your batch to its lab report through our COA lookup. It hasn't been tested as a finished formula in a dog trial; we're planning our own studies, starting with senior dogs. View the full formula, serving and batch results.

Woman cuddling a brown-and-white spaniel while holding a Hollywood Elixir box

What matters more than any supplement

The biggest levers for a long, healthy dog life aren't in a jar. In a lifelong study of 48 Labradors, dogs fed 25% less than their littermates from puppyhood stayed leaner and lived a median of 1.8 years longer.14 Daily movement, mental enrichment, dental care and twice-yearly senior check-ups all do work no supplement can. NAD+ support sits on top of those foundations. It doesn't replace any of them.

When to talk to your vet first

Ask before starting if your dog has a medical condition, takes medication or already gets several supplements. Bring the label. And if your dog is slowing down, sleeping more or seems confused, get that checked on its own terms. Those changes have many possible causes, and a supplement shouldn't paper over one.

A named precursor, an amount for your dog's weight, every active ingredient printed: that's the short list.

Educational content only. This material is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your dog’s specific needs. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Glossary

NAD+: a helper molecule cells use to make energy and repair DNA.

Precursor: a building block the body turns into NAD+, such as NR or NMN.

Mitochondria: the parts of a cell that turn food into usable energy.

Senolytic: a compound aimed at worn-out "senescent" cells.

ATP: the fuel molecule cells run on.

Related Reading

Aging & Senior Dog Guidance
• Dog Age Calculator
• Dog Lifespan by Breed
• Dog Dementia
• Lethargy in Dogs
• My Dog Won't Eat
• Dog Pacing At Night
• Dog Licking Paws
• Can Dogs Dehydrate

Healthy Aging Support
• NAD+ for Dogs
• NMN for Dogs
• Antioxidants Supplements for Dogs
• Best Senior Dog Supplements & Vitamins
• Rapamycin for Dogs

References

Numbered references identify the sources used for specific claims. Read the study design, species and evidence boundaries alongside each finding.

  1. Simon KE et al. *Scientific Reports* (2024). Senolytic and NAD+ precursor combination in senior dogs.
  2. La Petite Labs Research, Pet Supplement Statistics (2026).
  3. EFSA (2019). Safety of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a novel food.
  4. Cardoso D et al. *Skeletal Muscle* (2023). NAD+ in a dog model of muscular dystrophy.
  5. You Y et al. *Frontiers in Pharmacology* (2020). Subacute toxicity study of NMN.
  6. Zeng M et al. *Aging Cell* (2024). Domestic dogs as a model for anti-inflammatory investigation.
  7. Jiang Z et al. *J Adv Vet Anim Res* (2026). NMN and canine NT-proBNP.
  8. Martens CR et al. *Nature Communications* (2018).
  9. Conze D et al. *Scientific Reports* (2019).
  10. FDA, GRAS Notice GRN 000635 (2016).
  11. Yi L et al. *GeroScience* (2023).
  12. NutraIngredients (2025). FDA declares NMN lawful in dietary supplements.
  13. NPR (2026). NAD+ pills and infusions: what's the evidence?
  14. Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM et al. *JAVMA* (2002). Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs.
  15. Ozaki S, Honme Y, Higashi S et al. *Scientific Reports* (2025). Plasma protein increase as a chronological aging factor in healthy toy poodles.
Sources behind this comparison

La Petite Labs makes Hollywood Elixir. Manufacturer information supports the ingredients and formats described here. Research about an ingredient is not a trial of the finished formula.

  1. Hollywood Elixir®: manufacturer formula and directions
  2. Leap Years: ingredients and administration FAQ
  3. Zesty Paws Healthy Aging Powder: manufacturer formula and directions
  4. Zesty Paws Healthy Aging Capsules: manufacturer formula and directions
  5. NaturVet Immunity + Longevity: manufacturer formula and directions
  6. NaturVet Senior Daily Care: manufacturer formula and directions
  7. Fera Longevity Soft Chews: manufacturer formula and directions
  8. PetDomain Longevity Complex Powder: manufacturer formula and directions
  9. PetDomain Longevity Complex Soft Chews: manufacturer formula and directions
  10. Pawfy Longevity Complex: manufacturer formula and directions
  11. Dr. Dobias MitoBoost for Dogs: manufacturer formula and directions
  12. Pawever Plus for Dogs: manufacturer formula and directions
  13. Pawever NMN for Dogs: manufacturer formula and directions
  14. Simon et al.: senior-dog cognition trial (2024)

FAQ

Is NAD+ good for dogs?

NAD+ is essential to every cell, and supplements that supply its building blocks are a promising area of senior-dog care. A 2024 trial found better owner-rated cognition in senior dogs after three months with an NAD+ precursor combination, an effect that wasn't maintained at six months. Long-term benefits, including lifespan, haven't been shown.

Is NAD+ safe for dogs long term?

Short-term evidence is reassuring but limited. In Beagle toxicology studies, nicotinamide riboside caused problems only at amounts far above supplement levels, and a 14-day NMN study found only mild blood-marker changes. Long-term use in dogs hasn't been studied, so check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or takes medication.

What are the side effects of NAD+ for dogs?

At very high test amounts, nicotinamide riboside caused vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss in Beagles. At supplement amounts, mild stomach upset is the most likely issue with any new supplement, so start at the label amount, mix it with food, and stop if problems persist.

Is NR or NMN better for dogs?

There's no head-to-head trial in dogs. NR has formal safety reviews for human food use from the FDA and EFSA, and NMN also raises NAD+ in human trials. Neither review covers use in dogs. Choose a product that names its precursor and its amount.

Do NAD+ drops work for dogs?

Drops are a format, so it depends on what's inside. NAD+ itself is a large molecule that's mostly broken down before it reaches cells, which is why most research uses precursors like NR and NMN instead. Check exactly which ingredient a drop product contains, and how much.

How much NR or NMN should my dog have?

There's no established canine amount yet. Follow the weight-based directions on a supplement made for dogs, and if a product gives one amount for every size of dog, ask the maker why.

At what age should my dog start NAD+?

There's no proven starting age. Most owners consider it in a dog's senior years, often from about age seven, or earlier for large breeds, which age faster. Talk it through with your vet at a senior check-up.

Can cats take NAD+?

Cats handle vitamin B3 differently from dogs, so they need a cat-specific amount. See our NAD+ for cats guide.

Dalmatian looking toward a Hollywood Elixir box held in a person's hand

Discover LPL-01: How This Fits Into a Larger Canine Longevity System

Aging in dogs is not driven by a single pathway. It’s the result of interacting biological systems—energy metabolism, oxidative stress, immune signaling, and structural integrity—changing over time.

This article explores one piece of that puzzle. If you want to understand how these pieces connect—and what actually moves the needle—you need to zoom out.

Start with the underlying science:

Keep exploring

What would you like to understand next?

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