In this article, Dr. Mark explains some ways to help your dog live longer, including peptides, pills, calorie restriction, exercise and dental care. Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and should not replace advice from your dog’s veterinarian.
Can I Help My Dog Live Longer?
Many people ask me, ‘How can I help my dog live longer? Can I do something to help my dog live to 20?’
We all want our dogs to live longer and enjoy that time with a good quality of life. About 80 percent of a dog’s lifespan is determined by things that we can do at home. The other 20 percent is genetics.
We know quite a few things that will increase the length of life, and there are several ongoing studies on lifespan in dogs.
Some of the things we can do are nutritional. Therefore, researchers are studying the antioxidant peptides available in milk and fish to slow damage to cells.
Some of them are studying peptides that cause the production of more growth hormones that can keep a senior dog’s bones dense and prevent the muscles from wasting away.
Others are studying a drug that can improve the health of the heart and may help dogs live longer in that way. (1)
Dogs are living longer than ever. Many of us are asking whether we should be giving our dogs one of these pills or a peptide.
What Pills Are Available to Help My Dog Live Longer?
Unfortunately, many people think that this is a place to take advantage of dog owners, and there are many products that claim to help dogs live longer that do not do much.
The supplements sold at this time to help dogs live longer have no proven benefits in aging. This includes those that claim they will help your dog live longer for only $54 a month.
Introducing Rapamycin
The pill that might work and is currently on the market for humans and cats is not labeled for dogs. It is rapamycin, which is available for cats with a type of heart disease. It is also sold for humans, but not for increasing lifespan.
A study by the Dog Aging Project is comparing the benefits of rapamycin to a placebo, but results are not yet available.
It has been shown to work in mice and has been shown to help the hearts of middle-aged dogs. Furthermore, it may restore the stem cells and impact many parts of the body.
The dose of rapamycin being used by the Dog Aging Project is 0.15 mg per kilogram once a week, but the main researcher is worried that this dose might be too low.
This dose was chosen since it improved markers of the heart but is too low to cause any side effects.
All dog owners are hoping this will help our dogs live longer, but results may not be available for several years.
Introducing Loy-002
The other pill available has been called Loy-002 by the company that is developing it. They are hoping it will delay cellular aging with their daily pill, as it may fix metabolic dysfunction.
One problem with Loy-002 is that it is owned by a company that is trying to make a profit from it. They are not making a lot of the information available.
Unlike the Dog Aging Project, which lets everyone know their doses and everything else about rapamycin, this company does not even release the formula of the drug they are giving dogs.
Rapamycin is expensive and will be out of the reach of some dog owners.
Rumors are that the Loy pill will cost about $100 a month, but the company has not discussed the price of their pill. If it does work, it is probably going to be even more expensive than rapamycin.
Are Injectable Peptides a Better Alternative?
Since the cost of both of those pills may put them out of touch for a lot of dog owners, there are a few peptides that may be a better and more affordable alternative.
Some of the peptides are being studied because they boost the immune system. Plus, even if they do not extend a dog’s life, they may help him or her avoid getting sick.
Others focus on a specific thing like helping a ruptured cruciate ligament heal up faster, like BPC-157. Or, stimulating the release of growth hormone, like ipamorelin.
Those that are most likely to help with longevity help the mitochondria function better. As a result, the cells may have more energy, reduced oxidative damage, and clean up old damaged cells so that newer cells can proliferate.
Those most likely to help include:
- MOTS-c: This peptide was derived from the mitochondria. Since it is the peptide that regulates their metabolism, it has been nicknamed the exercise peptide. A dog will still need to be walked for many reasons, but this may be like taking your dog through agility classes. Mitochondria produce the energy needed to run all the cells, so if there are more of them and they are more efficient, all of a dog’s organs could function more efficiently. Ultimately, a dog may stay in shape until old age as a result.
- Elamipretide: Another mitochondrial peptide, this one provides energy to the cell and prevents more oxidative damage. A lot of aging changes are from oxidation, so this may help many cells from getting too old.
- Thymosin Alpha-1: This peptide helps T-cells function better so that they can go after the cells in a dog’s body that are showing problems with aging.
- GHK-Cu: The topical form of this peptide is already available for humans since it helps the skin regrow and reduces skin aging with an antioxidant. Most of us are not worried if our dogs look like seniors. But in dogs, the injectable form may reduce aging in tissue and organs throughout the body.
Unfortunately, more studies need to be done before these drugs can be used in dogs.
There are some other peptides available, like some forms of collagen. These help deal with some of the most important health issues that affect the canine lifespan.
Arthritis is the most common cause of euthanasia in senior dogs, and collagen is one of the best treatments available. So, this peptide has the potential to improve millions of lives.
At this time, however, there is not an injectable peptide that we can give a dog to live longer.
What Should You Do if You Want Your Dog to Live Longer?
Although both the aging pills and peptides have potential in helping your dog live a healthier life, none of these compounds are available to use.
Even if they were proven to help, there is no point in buying pills or peptides if the things that extend a dog’s lifespan are not already done.
We already know that there are options available that most dog owners do not take advantage of.
Twenty years of age is not out of the question for a healthy dog.
The four things all dog owners can do, starting today, are not going to cost much but can have a significant effect on a dog’s lifespan. They include:
- calorie restriction
- exercise
- whole food
- dental care
Calorie Restriction
The first thing you can do if your dog is still in good health is calorie restriction.
Studies have already proven that providing dogs with a 25 percent calorie restriction significantly increases lifespan. (2)
Researchers have figured out which hormone is responsible for this, but it has a very short life in the body, and as of this time, they have not been able to develop a pill to mimic calorie restriction.
My dogs do not suffer from being lean, but 25 percent is a lot, and most of us do not want our dogs to be hungry all of the time.
Even if you are not willing to limit your dog’s food that much, however, providing only enough calories to stay lean is going to prevent your dog from suffering from the inflammation associated with obesity.
Obesity in dogs is one of the causes of arthritis, and arthritis is the main reason dogs are euthanized when they become seniors.
Keeping your dog lean will add years to his or her life.
Exercise
The second thing you can do to keep your dog healthy is to make sure he is active.
No, just a walk around the block is not enough for most dogs.
Some breeds will need long walks, agility sports, swimming, or other activities.
Whole Food
The third thing you should do is feed whole food.
There are numerous health problems associated with dry processed dog food, including increased rates of cancer. (3)
Cancer is also one of the main reasons older dogs are euthanized.
Although dog food companies are not interested in funding studies that will prove how bad their foods are, there was a retrospective study from Europe that showed increased lifespan for dogs fed whole food.
Dental Care
The fourth step is in a health area that we are sure has an effect on lifespan: dental care.
Brushing the teeth daily is ideal, but if you are not able to do so, at least provide the dental chews that clean some of the tartar. Not milk bones made up of wheat.
When the tartar builds up into calculus, bacteria grow underneath the gum line, and every time a dog chews, those bacteria get released into the bloodstream.
They lead to heart and kidney disease and diseases of the liver and lungs.
I recommend VEGGIEDENT FR3SH C.E.T Tartar Control Chews because they are accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council for plaque and tartar control, are easy for most dogs to chew, and are a lot better for dental health than wheat-based biscuits that do not really clean the teeth.
All dogs will benefit from having an oral examination by a veterinarian prior to starting dental care, and some may need to have their teeth cleaned and calculus removed for the brushing to be effective.
Keeping the dog from developing dental disease is the best way to extend his life.
Can My Dog Really Live to 20?
Keeping your dog with your family for 20 years is possible with the steps I listed above.
If you have any questions, be sure to send them to our team at YourPetsAtHome.com, and we will be glad to help.
References
- Lim JR, Yoon JH, Han HJ. Anti-aging strategies for dogs: current insights and future directions. Journal of Veterinary Science. 2025 Sep 16;26(Suppl 1):S199–219. doi:10.4142/jvs.25202. PMCID: PMC12520853.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12520853/ - Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM, Mantz SL, Biery DN, Greeley EH, Lust G, Segre M, Smith GK, Stowe HD. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2002 May 1;220(9):1315–1320. doi:10.2460/javma.2002.220.1315. PMID: 11991408.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11991408/ - Hiney K, Sypniewski L, Rudra P, Pezeshki A, McFarlane D. Clinical health markers in dogs fed raw meat-based or commercial extruded kibble diets. Journal of Animal Science. 2021 Jun 1;99(6):skab133. doi:10.1093/jas/skab133. PMID: 33939804; PMCID: PMC8174467.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8174467/
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