If your dog could live as long as you do, is this something you’d want to happen? Dog moms and dog dads, if you are like me, the answer is a resounding “YES!” What if a new drug hit the market that might increase the dog life span as we know it?
Why dogs can’t live as long as we do remains a question that dog parents, at some point, ask themselves. I know the devastating loss all too well of the passing of a dog.
A 3-year study is underway at the University of Washington to determine if the life span of a dog might be extended by two years. The drug being tested, rapamycin, is used to treat human kidney transplant patients. The hope is that if a large dog’s life span might be increased by 2 years, perhaps a smaller dog could live 4 years longer.
The project is dubbed The Dog Aging Project and several dozen pet dogs including German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are being given the drug. Only time will tell the results.
How to Increase Your Dog’s Life Span
As we wait for the results of the Dog Aging Project, there are things you can do to increase the life span of your dog. We all know a healthy weight and quality diet with proper exercise of the physical and mental varieties are important in dogs and humans.
If Dr. Jean Dodds has her way, the way we administer the rabies vaccination and its frequency will have serious implications in the life span of dogs as we know it.
In the United States, dogs are legally required to be vaccinated against rabies every three years. In cringe every time that 3-year mark comes around because I am a dog mom who believes we are over-vaccinating our dogs. Once your dog has a cancerous growth at the site of vaccine injection, the way one views vaccines changes. With my dog at his 3-year interval, I am feeling the familiar twinge of disdain at the rabies vaccine.
In a report filed by Dogs Naturally magazine, the duration of immunity of rabies vaccination has been shown through the work of Ronald D Schultz PhD to be at least seven years (by serology), the laws assume that animals are not protected once the three year period (or one year in the case of one year rabies vaccinations) has expired.
A study by Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KSVDL) offers hope for pet parents. As a result, W Jean Dodds DVM, in her role as Chair of the Communications Committee of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, issued a statement and press release supporting KSVDL’s efforts to improve rabies testing.
By lessening the frequency of invasive injections required by law and learning the results of the KSVDL study along with Dr. Jean Dodds’ Rabies Challenge, dogs not only live healthier, but perhaps longer. We are watching this study and its affect on the administration of rabies vaccines with bated breath.
Does a Rabies Vaccine Have Potential to Harm?
We trust that when our dogs are vaccinated against rabies, we put our faith and trust in modern medicine, believe the vaccine is “safe” and that what we are doing is in the best interest of our beloved dogs. Roxanne Hawn thought this, too.
Hawn is a blogger of the Champion of My Heart dog blog. Her dog, Lily, suffered an adverse reaction to rabies vaccine. Hawn educates pet parents about what she learned and how to help your dog against adverse vaccine reactions.
Know the Facts vs Fictions
When it comes to raising a dog and living life with one or more, a dedicated dog parent, like yourself, will read countless things online and in books, magazines, and in conversations with friends.
There are many facts and many falsehoods when it comes to raising a dog and keeping him or her healthy.
We are honored to have been included in “11 Pet Experts Reveal Facts vs Fiction About Pets.”
The most important thing is that we do the best that we can. And when we know better, we do better.
In what ways are you helping to keep your dog living longer (and healthier)? Would you be willing to try the “life span extender” drug on your dog if studies prove it works?
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