The average life span of dogs is about 11 years, with some variation based on size and breed. Last year, the Dog Aging Project received a $7 million dollar grant to see if rapamycin for dogs will slow aging and result in extended canine lifespans.
What is Rapamycin?
Rapamycin is a compound that has been found to have a number of important medical uses, including as an anti-fungal agent, an immunosuppressive drug that prevents rejection in organ transplant recipients, and an anti-cancer drug. It’s already been found to improve cardiac function in dogs—and now it’s being investigated for its ability to extend an animal’s normal lifespan.
Use of Rapamycin for Dogs
Many parts of a dog’s body decline as they age. They lose lean muscle mass, have decreases in heart and immune system function, and can experience cognitive dysfunction. Their risk of developing cancer increases. These changes also happen in mice (and humans!).
Low-dose rapamycin therapy was found to reduce the incidence of cancer in mice. Improvements in both cognitive and muscle function were also observed. Declines in heart and immune function were reversed. Low-dose rapamycin therapy also improved the state of several age-related conditions in mice. Recent studies have shown that administering low doses of rapamycin to mice extends their lifespan by 25%.
A study published in 2017 found that low-dose rapamycin therapy improved cardiac function in dogs. Owners of the dogs involved in the study also noted positive behavioral changes, but this requires more study to determine if these effects were due to rapamycin. If the drug works in dogs in a similar fashion as it does in mice—and the indications so far suggest that it will—rapamycin may turn out to be the next big anti-aging drug for dogs.
We live in an exciting age of medical research and advancements. While the fountain of youth may be mythical, rapamycin has some exciting prospects in the field of anti-aging. And the benefits may exist for both us and our dogs!
Researchers with the Dog Aging Project are examining how a dog’s genetics, environment, and lifestyle influence how dogs age. They are currently recruiting dogs from all over the United States to participate in a community science studies—some of which can be done from the comfort of your own home.
Further, dogs who are enrolled in the Dog Aging Project may be eligible to participate in the Dog Aging Project’s Trial of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD). The Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (WSUVTH) is a participating partner in this study, which is designed to determine whether rapamycin increases the lifespan of companion dogs. A secondary purpose is to determine whether rapamycin improves various measures of health in aging dogs.
If they pass the screening exam, dogs will then be randomly assigned to receive either rapamycin or a placebo for one year. Enrolled dogs will need to return to the WSUVTH in Pullman, Washington, every six months for a three-year period. At each return visit, physical exam, blood pressure, sample collection, ECG, and echocardiogram will be repeated. After that, owners must be willing to take their dogs to their primary care veterinarian once per year for an additional two years of study follow-up.
We will be looking forward with great interest to the results of these studies. Rapamycin seems to have many benefits to offer our dogs—and any increase of our time with them would be extremely welcome.
One of my dogs has been in the Dog Aging Project since it began. I was all set to see if I could get him into the rapamycin study till I saw it would require a 17-hour trip to Pullman, Washington, every six months. So near, yet so far! If only I were a few years younger!
As Mumma to a dog who participated in TRIAD, it makes me very proud whenever I see an article like this that Dennis did his bit to maybe extend the lives of all those who come after him.
Considering the potential side effects of this drug I wouldn’t give it without specific need like an organ transplant (which I wouldn’t want to see in any of my animals). Also, why give an immune suppressant in todays world without good reason?
I think the best anti-aging method is to feed, treat, and exercise right, and to avoid excessive medications like those insane vaccinations which are mandated 1 or 3-yearly in almost every state (clearly, for the benefit of pharma and not our animals. I say clearly because it has been known that rabies vaccines last for years if not a life-time; and titers can tell you as well if the animal still has Antibodies).
Our 15 year old dog (with a history of rabies vaccines in his youth and later a positive rabies titer) was killed via the last rabies vaccine that was forced onto us. The veterinarian and his owners (Vetcor) couldn’t care less, even though this vet injected our dog while he himself determined a heart murmur just minutes before injecting our animal. He just didn’t want to do a new titer as I requested although he drew blood for blood analysis which was ready the next day and showed some but not quite alarming abnormalities in heart and kidney health. We never received the advice we went to the clinic for, namely on how to speed recovery of our pup, who was nicely recovering from 2 problems but was still unwell at the time of the vet visit. Within ten days after the injection, our dog started his more than 2 months long struggle with at least 4 symptoms that clearly were caused by the rabies vaccine.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know yet that even the major rabies vaccine manufacturers which I checked out repeat clearly that their injectables are only meant for healthy animals. This vet couldn’t have cared less. Or did he not know? Either way, he should long ago have officially put down his white coat and taken off his ‘Veterinarian Oath’ certificate on the wall.
Imagine this immune suppressant drug in an unhealthy animal that doesn’t show symptoms yet, or an older animal where the immune system is already suppressed, or animals that are regularly injected with toxins like the rabies vaccine… I do not want to be the care taker of such animals.
Thinking about the medical abuse we allow on our animals (and even children, our elderly, etc.), could bring me to tears when I look at these unknowing, helpless victims of insanity and greed and their unaware caretakers.
My 100 pound dog, Cowboy, is a member of TRIAD and the Dog Aging Project. He is currently taking a low dose of rapamycin (no side effects), survived his cancer surgery for over a year now, and hopefully will live to be 12 this spring. I want to correct a misconception that you have to drive to Pullman, Washington – there are about six centers in the country that you can take your dog to for their 6 month visits, including ones in Texas and Colorado (CSU). They receive very good care from Dog Aging and their affiliates. I encourage anyone who is interested to participate and help young and future pets.
Are you saying your dog received a prescription of rapamycin after his year of getting either rapamycin or placebo?
Glad you corrected the misconception that Pullman, WA, is the only study site; sites are located all over the country, and anyone who’s interested can visit the TRIAD website to see those locations.
I am very concerned regarding the side effects of the drug. I believe that these should have been published so that the public is aware.