Medication could extend average dog’s life, research suggests

US scientists are to begin trialling a drug called rapamycin, which they believe could extend the average lifespan of a dog by up to a third.

The scientists plan to test the drug, called rapamycin, on larger breed dogs after previous experiments in mice found the drug can extend lifespan by up to 30%.

Matt Kaeberlein, a professor at the University of Washington involved in the project, told The Daily Telegraph: “We don’t know if those effects will be similar in absolute or relative magnitude in dogs, but I think it’s possible.”

The project, called Triad (test of rapamycin in aging dogs), forms part of the larger Dog Aging Project that will investigate the different aspects of dog lifespan.

Kaeberlein added: “Our study is powered to be able to detect lifespan extension 9% or greater.”