A hand holding a smartphone with the Canine Immunitycheck digital health tool

Immunitycheck: A Digital Health Tool to Assess and Support Your Dog’s Immune Health

Why Is the Immune System Important for Dogs?

Your dog’s immune system is foundational for their overall systemic health through managing inflammation, protecting the body from infections, and supporting with healthy digestion. However, there are certain pets who may be at a greater risk of a decline in immune function based on their age, pregnancy status, and overall health.1

How Does Immunitycheck Work?

Immunitycheck is designed for use with male and female dogs. By providing their age, sex, breed, neuter status, pregnancy status, and any known autoimmune and/or chronic diseases, conditions, disorders, and/or medications, Immunitycheck lets you know what potential immune status risk factors may impact your dog.

How was Immunitycheck Developed?

Immunitycheck was developed based on an extensive review of scientific and clinical literature to identify key risk factors associated with pet immune health. A team of Waltham veterinarians and scientists used veterinary medical records from over 4 million dogs to determine optimal growth, based on the life stages of canines.2,3 Global pet health bodies, including the WSAVA which establishes vaccination standards and AAFCO and FEDIAF which create nutritional guidelines and standards for pet foods, were reviewed to understand how pets’ immune health statuses change, and how their health can be supported through various life stages.4–6 The result of this research is a series of questions and recommendations that were developed to provide a one-time snapshot of your dog’s current immune health risk factors, as well as health recommendations based on the cohort your dog belongs to at their current life stage.

References:

  1. Cook, S., Gray, R. & Copeland, K. Effective methods for engaging with YOPI (Young, Old, Pregnant, Immunocompromised) on food safety matters. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 83, (2024).
  2. Salt, C., Saito, E. K., O’Flynn, C. & Allaway, D. Stratification of Companion Animal Life Stages from Electronic Medical Record Diagnosis Data. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 78, 579–586 (2023).
  3. Salt, C. et al. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. PLoS One 12, e0182064 (2017).
  4. AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). Selecting the Right Pet Food. https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/selecting-the-right-pet-food/ (2025).
  5. FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation). Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. https://europeanpetfood.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FEDIAF-Nutritional-Guidelines_2024.pdf (2024).
  6. Squires, R. A., Crawford, C., Marcondes, M. & Whitley, N. 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats – compiled by the Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). Journal of Small Animal Practice 65, 277–316 (2024).

Disclaimers:

Immunitycheck does not diagnose your dog with any immune conditions – only their veterinarian can diagnose and treat disease. It’s important to understand that our assessment focuses solely on highlighting potential immune status risk factors. It is not a substitute for a full physical exam.