We won't ask you to take our word for it. Here is the published research behind each ingredient, most of it in dogs, the rest in the companion mammals closest to them. Read it yourself.
NAD+ is the coenzyme cells use to turn food into energy, and it falls steadily with age. NR is the precursor form best characterized for safely raising NAD+ in mammals, chosen over NMN for stability in a powder format. In a controlled trial in senior dogs, a regimen built on an NAD+ precursor improved owner-assessed cognition over 90 days.
Therapeutic potential of NAD-boosting molecules, Rajman et al., Cell Metabolism, 2018 · NAD+ precursor and cognition in senior dogs, Scientific Reports, 2024
Taurine status is directly tied to the canine heart. Low taurine is a known driver of canine dilated cardiomyopathy, documented in Backus et al. (2003) and reinforced by the 2018 FDA investigation into diet-associated DCM. In a multicenter study of golden retrievers with taurine-deficient DCM, nearly every dog improved once taurine was supplemented alongside a diet change. It is the strongest canine-specific evidence on the list.
Taurine deficiency and DCM in golden retrievers, Kaplan et al., PLOS ONE, 2018
Undenatured type II collagen works through gut-associated lymphoid tissue: a small daily dose teaches the immune system to stop attacking joint cartilage, rather than patching it directly. In a head-to-head trial in arthritic dogs, UC-II at 40 mg/day outperformed a glucosamine + chondroitin combination on multiple mobility measures. The primary evidence is in dogs with existing joint disease; daily use as a maintenance habit in healthy dogs is a logical extrapolation, not independently proven.
UC-II versus glucosamine + chondroitin in arthritic dogs, Gupta et al., Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 2012 · Efficacy and safety of UC-II in arthritic dogs, Deparle et al., Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2005
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and the primary fuel source for the cells that line the intestine. It pairs mechanistically with the probiotic: B. animalis feeds the microbiome, L-glutamine feeds the gut wall itself. The mechanistic case for glutamine in gut barrier function and epithelial cell maintenance is well established (Newsholme et al., 2003) and supported in cell-line work showing glutamine maintains barrier integrity.
Glutamine and barrier function in epithelial cells, Journal of Nutrition
Bifidobacterium animalis is the probiotic strain with the most companion-animal research behind it. In a placebo-controlled trial, dogs given B. animalis strain AHC7 resolved acute diarrhea faster, about 3.9 days versus 6.6, and needed fewer antibiotics. Later work showed the strain calms gut inflammatory signaling. Supports stool quality, immune modulation, and the short-chain fatty acids that feed colon cells directly.
Clinical benefits of B. animalis AHC7 in dogs, Kelley et al., Veterinary Therapeutics, 2009 · AHC7 and gut immune signaling, BMC Immunology, 2010
Not a dosed active. Dogs lead with their nose, and a clean, low-sodium bone broth is what gets them to finish the drink so the actives are actually consumed. We make no health claim for it beyond that, which is the honest framing.
Included for palatability, not as a therapeutic ingredient.
A note on honesty: much of this research studies these ingredients in dogs with a specific condition, or in closely related mammals. staye is a daily wellness drink for healthy adult dogs, not a treatment for any disease, and we do not claim it treats, cures, or prevents one. We chose each ingredient because the weight of the evidence points the right way. UC-II is sourced from chicken cartilage, so dogs with a known chicken allergy should sit this formula out. If your dog has a medical condition or takes a daily medication, talk to your vet before starting.