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New Drug Offers Dog Fountain of Youth

Longevity drugs for our canine companions are around the corner. Could they extend the life of your dog?

By: Dr. Carol Osborne, D.V.M.

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Americans love dogs! In fact, in a recent survey, 90% of dog owners said they would be willing to spend or do anything to extend their โ€œbest friendโ€™sโ€ life a little longer.

Extending your dogโ€™s lifespan is truly becoming a reality. Longevity products and anti-aging supplements are no longer just for peopleโ€”dog supplements and medicine are also now mainstream medicine. One such drug, LOY-001, just hit the fast track, receiving extended conditional approval by the FDA. Currently, clinical trials are ongoingโ€”and the results look promising.

Although they have yet to formally prove that the drug lengthens a dogโ€™s lifespan, it appears to curb certain metabolic changes associated with canine aging. As of right now, the drug is available as an injection given at three to six-month intervals. Loyal, the developer of LOY-001, is formulating a tablet version of the medication as well. They hope to be able to market their life extension drug directly to pet owners by early 2026.

As the dog longevity pipeline expands, a team of academic researchers atย The Dog Aging Projectย is running canine clinical trials on a drug calledย Rapamycin,ย which has successfully extended the lives of mice.ย 

Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine is recruiting U.S. dogs aged seven and up weighing at least forty pounds, to take part in clinical trials using eitherย Rapamycinย or a placebo. If your dog meets the criteria,ย all costs are covered.ย 

Eligibility screening is extensive and starts with a physical exam, bloodwork, a urinalysis,ย and a fecal test. Phase 2 documents the dog’s blood pressure, and if acceptable, a cardiac ultrasound and an EKG to assess heart function.ย 

Finally, theย remaining canine candidates have a cheek swab taken to determine their DNA composition. Dog owners must fill out information related to their pupโ€™s lifestyle, including food, treats, medications, and exercise.

The trial involves giving dogs a tabletโ€”eitherย Rapamycinย or a placeboโ€”by mouth once a week for one year. No one knows which tablet is which, not even the veterinarians, until the trial is over. Consequently,ย your dog has a 50/50 chance of receivingย Rapamycin.

The trial lasts for three years, and cliniciansย continue to monitor the dogs for an additional two years after the initial one-year treatment. Additionally, each dog receives an activity monitor to wear at home to assess daily levels of exercise and sleep.ย Pet parents submit their caninesโ€™ information and medical records directly via Tuftโ€™s onlineย portal.

While scientists continue to investigate new longevity drugs, there are measures dog owners can institute today to offer their โ€œbest friendsโ€ a better path to aging. Holistic dog longevity research validates the fact that our canine friends can enjoy longer, happier, and healthier years by making a few simple changes in their diet and lifestyle. For example, aย  study published in The Lancet in 2011 demonstrated that exercising just 15 minutes a day for 12 years extends the human lifespan by three years. Since dogs age about seven times faster than we do, imagine the longevity benefits of enjoying a walk with your pooch when it comes to your best friendโ€™s longevity. ย 

elderly man with his dog

Photo: Barsik/bigstock.com

A new study recently published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine showed that keeping your canine lean can extend their life by 18 to 24 months and delay the onset of chronic diseases, including arthritis.

Good nutrition is the foundation of good health. The saying โ€œyou are whatย you eatโ€ doesnโ€™t just apply to people. Dogs age about seven times fasterย than people do, and what you feed your dog plays a major role in their aging process.

Feeding a homemade, natural, organicย diet that minimizesย red meat and provides antioxidant-richย food sources, includingย berries, lean protein, and multicoloured fresh vegetablesย is the foundation of good nutrition.

Providing yourย dog with a balanced, comprehensive,ย vitamin mineral supplementย also helps to ensure your dog is receiving all the essential nutrients needed to achieve andย maintain optimal health, wellness, and longevity.

This article originally appeared in the award-winningย Modern Dogย magazine.ย Subscribe today!

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By: Dr. Carol Osborne, D.V.M.
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