Can a drug give your pet more dog years?

Longevity drugs are intended for healthy dogs, which changes the risk-benefit analysis. “It’s one thing when a dog is dying and you give him late treatment,” says Bev Klingensmith, a Great Dane breeder in Iowa who also has a Great Dane and his own golden retriever. “Giving my young, healthy dog ​​a brand new medication seems a little scary.”

Even drugs that deliver on all their promises will raise ethical questions. “If animals live longer, do we have the resources and commitment to provide lives worth living?” Dr. Anne Quain, a veterinarian and an expert in veterinary ethics at the University of Sydney, said in an email. “What if we see more dogs outlive their owners?”

Reforming the breeding practices that have contributed to life-shortening health problems in many dogs and expanding access to basic veterinary care could be a better way to improve dogs’ lives, she added. “We can save a lot of ‘dog years’ by making sure as many dogs as possible have access to that care,” she said.

And as scientists gather more data on potential longevity medications, there are steps dog owners can take now to promote healthier aging, experts say, including keeping their dogs slim and providing plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.

Ms Halioua admitted to having a soft spot for older dogs. “They just want a nice bed to sleep on,” she said as her elderly Rottweiler, Della, took a nap. Della, who has lymphoma and dementia, is not taking LOY-001 because enrolling her in the company’s trials would pose a conflict of interest, Ms. Halioua said, but the dog seemed happy, she noted.

Ultimately, even if scientists can delay a pet owner’s heartbreak, it’s unlikely they can prevent it altogether. “These are absolutely not immortality drugs or radical life-extending drugs,” Ms. Halioua said in an email. She added: “Nothing we develop can make a dog live forever.”