Many of us think of our furry friends as members of our family. It's one of the driving forces behind a massive research project on aging in dogs.
Researchers hope the data they are collecting now could one day help dogs live longer and healthier lives.
The study has two primary goals: figure out the most important genetic and environmental factors that influence healthy aging in dogs, and carry out a clinical trial to test whether rapamycin, a drug often used for immunosuppression-related purposes, can slow the biological aging process and increase healthy lifespan in dogs.
Dr. Matt Kaeberlein is a professor of pathology at the University of Washington and one of the project leaders for the Dog Aging Project. He joined New Day NW to talk more about the study.
Segment Producer Rebecca Perry. Watch New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.