In human years, your dog would be old enough to collect a pension. Yet he still insists on chasing pigeons like it’s his full-time job. And while he remains blissfully unaware, many owners feel a familiar spike of anxiety when the grey creeps around the muzzle, along with seasonal dread. How many Christmases do we have left together? Is this the right dog food? Can that dogfluencer really be trusted? What are the early signs of illness? 

The Brazilian canine longevity firm, PetMoreTime, has made these questions its mission. The company is using scientific research to extend the life of man’s best friend. Its chief scientist is Matt Kaeberlein, founder of the Dog Aging Project, a major study investigating ways to extend healthy lifespans in dogs. 

The Secrets of a Longer Dog Life

While PetMoreTime CEO Marcello Rachlyn says that there is a lot of noise in the field of longevity, PetMoreTime is interested in the real geroscience, both human and canine. «In the last 25 years, a lot of mechanistic pathways that regulate the aging process have been discovered and understood. Now we have the basis to really interfere in the aging process,» says Rachlyn. 

When studying centenarian families, scientists such as Nir Barzilai have discovered a clear, genetic pathway responsible for the privileged aging process, he says. 

The mTOR pathway gives the body instructions that regulate cell growth, metabolism and mitochondrial quality, and make chemical changes that influence the aging process, Rachlyn explains. These pathways are associated with fewer senescent cells, or what scientists call «zombie cells,» and increased activity of sirtuins, a family of signaling proteins that play a vital role in sustaining genome integrity, including mechanisms involved in epigenetic regulation and mitochondrial function. We can emulate these pathways with drugs, says Rachlyn. 

Drugs and Interventions That Can Add Years

One such drug is Rapamycin, a very popular longevity medication which is also making significant scientific headway in human longevity. Adult and senior dogs should start Rapamycin between ages 7 and 9, PetMoreTime says. The firm also sometimes uses SGLT2, a drug that was traditionally used for diabetes, which has proven to improve cardiovascular health, cognitive protection and reduce cancer risk in dogs. 

According to PetMoreTime, it is possible to extend a dog’s life up to 25% with the right interventions. PetMoreTime also offers dogs a 14-month program using specialized tests and an expert team of veterinarians with geriatric certificates. The firm then designs a bespoke exercise and nutritional program for every canine client. This includes a smart collar and dog biscuits that contain personalized formulas of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.

Supportive Supplements

For owners already looking to help their fur babies this festive period, PetMoreTime has given a list of nutraceuticals which they prescribe to canine patients. However, such supplements should only be used with veterinary guidance, clinical studies or specialized longevity programs.

Two natural potent senolytics (compounds that kill ‘zombie cells’) that the firm sometimes employs are quercetin and fisetin, which are found in fruits. The experts also provide omega-3 for cardiovascular health, brain and joint health, and glucosamine and chondroitin to support mobility.

However, as a good rule of thumb, movement, mental engagement, stress reduction and environmental enrichment benefit the longevity of every dog. Interestingly, the firm says that larger dogs should start longevity interventions earlier than smaller dogs. Rachelyn also emphasizes that dog owners should absolutely avoid noise and constant feeding to support their dog’s lifespans.

Insights Into Human Longevity

Ultimately, the firm hopes that the data it is gathering on canine longevity can be used to inform human longevity in the future. According to longevity scientists, dogs are the ideal candidate to gain insights into human longevity, due to our many shared biological pathways and environmental factors. In the meantime, this Christmas, owners might consider swapping ordinary treats for longevity biscuits—sometimes the best

gift we can give our dogs is the gift of time.