The Dog Aging Project

In this web exclusive, Kate Creevy, of Texas A&M University, and the chief veterinary officer of the Dog Aging Project, talks about the long-term longitudinal study of healthy aging in dogs, including a clinical trial of the drug rapamycin to test its effects on cognitive function, muscle strength, activity levels, and heart health, in the hopes of maximizing a dog's "health span."

[@tjmichael8773]

I recently adopted a 8 yr old medical rescue foster. she has been with me since June. I adore her.

[@eileenlester4342]

Bless you 💜

[@patsylvest]

Good for you, TJ. And I'm sure she adores you too.

[@ibeatmycatandmydog9322]

I’d do anything in the world to give my service dog a longer healthier life

[@jodysheridan604]

Mine will be 16 in June '22 and it breaks my heart to bring a new dog in while she's still with me. I'm without a service dog while I do for her what she's done for me her entire life, I miss so already. May yours be with you as long as possible.

[@ibeatmycatandmydog9322]

@@jodysheridan604 bless you, she’ll live through you when she’s gone treasure your time together I hope everything turns out well

[@RWhite1900]

Then get Rapamycin for them it’s proven to extend their life at least by five years plus you’re crazy for not using it already you can get it online don’t wait for the study the studies only happening because the results are proven

[@Geroscientist]

Addressing the underlying aging process has so much potential to keep our pets healthier for longer. The Dog Aging Project's longitudinal trial will also tell us a lot about what environmental factors might be important for keeping pet dogs healthy. This research needs so much more support and funding!

[@Bluesbabesrv]

As a owner, I dislike that word, of 5 Siberian Huskies over time, we usually loose them around 15 years old. Two were from cancer. Our present fur baby is 13 years old and we worry, mostly unnecessarily, she is in good health other than arthritis setting in. We become emotional just thinking we will probably loose her in another 2 years or so. It would be wonderful if we could have a longer time with all of our canine children.

[@sharonh2991]

We lost our German Shepherd in January, 2021. She was almost 13. We usually fed her meat (cooked) and vegetables, rather than dry dog food. It was expensive but we feel her diet contributed to her long life. The other thing that we think helped was that she went with us EVERYWHERE. There literally wasn’t a place we went without her. If she couldn’t go into the restaurant she’d stay in the car but she was out of the house. When she could go into the restaurant my husband would order her a meal from the menu, steak, burger (no bun), etc. We took her on vacations (a little extra work finding hotels that would take dogs but well worth it). Our doggy had experiences most dogs don’t get to have, and she was a happy pooch. We miss her so much.

[@michelesfo7799]

We have 3 boxers. The two boys are nearing 11 years old. Daily walks, lots of sleep and an abundance of love.

[@jjn6914]

So happy to get an update on The Dog Aging Project! I hope real treatment breakthroughs happen in the next few years. I tried to enroll my then-13 year old dog, but noticed I missed the submission deadline by several months after coming across a tweet where Dr. David Sinclair mentioned this study. I put my senior furry son on a regimen based on Dr. Sinclair's findings, which included daily low dsage of NMN, turmeric, and resveratrol 2 years before his passing at age 17 years and 2 months.

[@ebybeehoney]

Quality over quantity. I truly believe that. Especially after four dogs and my ancient ancient cat.

[@suzanne296]

I agree with you.

[@rapamycinnews]

Great to see the coverage of this program and rapamycin. It is the future.

[@jasminearmstrong2855]

In our experience, our beloved mutt, Rufus, lived the longest and was the healthiest. He was part Sheba-Inu, and some sort of terrier. He lived to 18.5 years! Only the last year of his life did he experience senility. He was our family WonderDog.

[@iwillroam]

I just think of going through life with my dogs and cats, and it makes me feel better, so YES to this

[@human_kittenz]

I just wish the vet weren't so expensive 😔

[@absatwell8163]

Me too. Pet insurance is fairly inexpensive though. My dogs are both 13 as well as the cat. I’m going to get a goldfish after this.

[@k.s.k.7721]

As do all of us with pets. But having worked for 2 vets, I understand their costs to give care are similar to those of a human physician, as well as their educational path and associated costs there. I love it when I have a good medical team for my animals, and understand the problem from both ends.

[@foxdogwest6614]

While I applaud any study of dogs aging, I need to see more about this study to see if they are doing ANYTHING regarding the commercial diet and its affects on the increased disease rate on our pets! What we feed our dogs is killing them or making them very sick! Testing a drug is fine but only addresses "senility" or cognitive function! Who else is studying aging in dogs? You all need to review and read Dr. K Becker's book, Forever Dog! Check out how their diet can impact their health and well being! PLEASE

[@lewisjohnson4207]

They are, 350 dogs are in this part of the study but there are thousands in the project as a hole, my dog is, we fill out surveys on everything from amount of exercise and sleep to the exact diet.

[@cathylester3297]

I’m so thrilled that my 8 yo Weimaraner boy is able to participate as a pack member. Dogs are never with us long enough, so if Monroe and I make even the smallest contribution to dog longevity increasing, we can give everyone a chance to share more time with their dog!

[@conniewolf7300]

Where can I get some of that stuff?? I ain't gettin any younger myself!😂

[@melodydavidson3915]

Thank you for the work this project team is doing on dog aging! There’s so much to learn to enhance our dog friends quality of life. We lost our little guy last year at age 14. At 7, we learned he had a brain tumor. Fortunately, we were able to include him in a trial that also had human implications. Amazingly, the tumor was shrunk in half & he had several more high quality years beating all odds.

[@LourdesGzz]

i will never recover from the loss of my 15 years and a half year old Belgian Malinois, i wish we could be together for eternity, he's the best being I've ever known. It's been 16 months since I'd to let go, there's nothing that can bit cancer and aging.

[@throesturthrainsson7616]

My dog has cancer. Has not been able to relax well for weeks. Now on day 2 on Rapamycin and she is relaxing and sleeping much better. Early stages but I hope this continues.

[@na-ok7gv]

Good info. Thank you.

[@solomonstello]

I'll feed this to my dog when I get one.

[@ilovegoodsax]

What about cats????? 🐈 🐾❤

[@catlover34fl]

Yes! That's what I want to know too!!

[@rdy4trvl]

When do you expect to publish results of the project?

[@MarvelisloveMarvelislife]

I would die for my dog to live for even a day longer

[@RikodiusRex]

My dog is a rapper, he's definitely got some kind of rapper in him. My dogs got bars.

[@kaushikmalepati2495]

You're just delaying the inevitable part of LIFE ! honestly it amazes me how people are so ego driven. Dogs are not humans property. They are a gift of nature.

[@eileenlester4342]

💜💜💜💜💜

[@xxrosesmallxx7926]

How do we get this drug for my dog. My dog (Princess) is a very old dog she is 20 years old. she is at that age where she is having a hard time going up & down the stairs. She tries to run up the stairs but she will fall because she is having a hard time going up the stairs, she can no longer jump on the bed so we pick her up and put her on the bed. I would love to get this drug for my princess so maybe she can go up the stairs and run around outside a little better. So please give me the information on how I could receive this for my princess.

[@k.s.k.7721]

It's in clinical trials only, and as it's a double-blind study, neither owners or vets know which dogs are receiving it or a placebo.

[@susancorgi]

Just don’t feed them human food and that alone will expand like 3-4 years i believe, my dog heath is still very good and he is 18 yr old now. he never touched human food. he is choosy about food lucky for him

[@FollowTheJohn]

The next thing we will hear is this will cure Covid!

[@barryfix]

SELIGILINE