Want to extend Fido’s dog years? Soon there could be a pill for that.
University of Washington pathologist Matt Kaeberlein is testing an anti-aging drug called rapamycin, which could add up to three years to a canine’s lifetime.
The tablet is typically prescribed as a suppressant for people undergoing organ transplants. When given to mice at low doses, it’s been shown to reduce inflammation, fight cancer cells and increase life span by about 10 percent.
Kaeberlein says the pill, which he began testing on 25 middle-aged pooches last August, could produce the same response in dogs.
“Just based on our 10-week trial, we’ve already found that our control group saw improved cardiac function,” he tells The Post. (Needless to say, the world is very excited about the prospect of keeping beloved Rover around as long as possible.)
The second phase of the study, which will test rapamycin in canines over a period of two years, is set to launch in the next six months.
“We will absolutely learn important lessons on how to improve [their] longevity,” Kaeberlein says. “But, also important: If we can give ourselves two to three more years with our pets, that will improve the quality of our lives.”