Without a doubt, dogs bring joy and life everywhere they go. The attachment generated by pets is good for many people, and the relationship between them and us humans is one of the most beautiful that exists. However, we must always be prepared to say goodbye to them, due to the short time they have to live, when compared to us.
However, there is a project that aims to analyze the behavior of the medicine rapamycin in the body of dogs in order to find a solution to increase their life expectancy.
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Dogs can live longer and healthier
Through the project called the Dog Aging Project, scientists study how genetic and external factors influence the process of canine aging. The main objective of the project is to make dogs develop better health and, consequently, live longer.
How long does a dog live?
The life expectancy of a dog varies according to its size, the smaller ones tend to live longer, and the larger ones, a little less.
Large dogs live, on average, between 7 and 10 years, while medium-sized dogs can reach up to 13 years, and small dogs can reach more than 18 years.
It is important to remember that this is not a rule, as it is an average, and it is possible that some dogs exceed these expectations.
Rapamycin and increased life expectancy in dogs
Usually prescribed for patients who have undergone some type of transplant, the drug rapamycin has the main objective of reducing the chances of rejection of a new organ. However, researchers noted that rapamycin can go much further and is capable of bringing benefits to dogs.
Starting with mice, fleas and some types of worms: when exposed to the drug, they showed encouraging results. When rapamycin was applied to them, their lifespan increased. With this, scientists began to analyze whether it also worked with dogs and, currently, the behavior of rapamycin is being monitored in about 85 dogs. However, it is necessary to be calm, because there is still nothing conclusive.
Forecasts
As the studies are still under development – which requires a lot of caution –, the forecast is that in 5 years the results will start to appear. That is, most likely, in 2028, we will have a concrete answer on the role of rapamycin in combating aging.
