Science & sources

Promising is notthe same as proven.

Every research area is labelled by how much is actually known about it in dogs and cats. Each source below names its authors, publication and species studied, then states what it examined, what it found, where it is limited, and what it does not establish.

A mature cat stretching on a wooden floor near a sunlit doorway

Source library

Last reviewed: July 2026

Established FoundationsPeer-reviewed study
Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs
Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM, et al.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · 2002
Labrador Retrievers — littermate paired-feeding cohort
What the research examined
Whether lifelong restriction of food intake changed lifespan and the onset of age-related changes in paired littermates.
What the study found
The lean-fed group had a longer median lifespan and later onset of visible osteoarthritis than the paired control group.
Important limitations
A single breed at a single facility, with body condition as the variable under study.
What it does not establish
Does not establish that any supplement, compounded preparation, or research material extends lifespan.
View source
Established FoundationsClinical guideline
Multimodal management of canine osteoarthritis
Multiple authors — veterinary consensus and review literature
Veterinary specialty consensus guidance · 2018–2023
Dogs — clinical population
What the research examined
How weight management, controlled exercise, rehabilitation and veterinarian-directed pain management are combined in practice.
What the study found
Combined management is consistently associated with improved comfort and function in clinical populations.
Important limitations
Guidance synthesises heterogeneous studies; protocols and outcome measures vary between reports.
What it does not establish
Does not establish reversal of joint disease, and does not establish equivalence between rehabilitation and pharmaceutical care.
View source
Established FoundationsReview article
Value of longitudinal monitoring in mature and senior cats
Multiple authors — feline internal medicine literature
Feline internal medicine reviews · 2021
Cats — clinical population
What the research examined
Whether scheduled examination and laboratory monitoring in mature cats changes how early age-related conditions are identified.
What the study found
Regular monitoring is associated with earlier identification of age-related change and better-informed care decisions.
Important limitations
Review-level evidence drawn from clinical practice rather than controlled trials.
What it does not establish
Does not establish that monitoring alone changes long-term survival for any individual cat.
View source
Translational SignalsPeer-reviewed study
Short-term administration of rapamycin in middle-aged companion dogs
Urfer SR, Kaeberlein TL, Mailheau S, et al.
GeroScience · 2017
24 middle-aged companion dogs living at home
What the research examined
Whether an aging-pathway intervention could be administered to household dogs over ten weeks, and how it was tolerated.
What the study found
No significant adverse effects were reported at the doses used, with selected echocardiographic measures differing between groups.
Important limitations
Ten weeks, 24 dogs, no lifespan or healthspan endpoint, and no long-term follow-up.
What it does not establish
Does not establish clinical benefit, appropriate candidates, dosing, or long-term safety in companion dogs.
View source
Translational SignalsOngoing clinical trial
TRIAD — Test of Rapamycin In Aging Dogs
Dog Aging Project research consortium
Dog Aging Project · 2021–ongoing
Companion dogs aged 7 years and older, owner-enrolled
What the research examined
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examining an aging-pathway intervention in pet dogs living in their own homes.
What the study found
Outcomes have not been reported. Published participant accounts describe the value of the trial's baseline health screening.
Important limitations
Enrolment is ongoing and no results are available; participation is not the same as an available material.
What it does not establish
Does not establish any effect on lifespan, healthspan, or disease in companion dogs.
View source
Translational SignalsReview article
NAD+ decline with age and mitochondrial function
Multiple authors — aging biology literature
Aging biology literature · 2016–2024
Mammalian models; companion-animal work emerging
What the research examined
How NAD+ availability changes across tissues with age and how that relates to measures of mitochondrial output.
What the study found
NAD+ availability falls with age in multiple tissues, and restoring availability changes mitochondrial measures in model organisms.
Important limitations
Model-organism and mechanistic work, not companion-animal outcome research.
What it does not establish
Does not establish healthspan or lifespan effects in companion dogs or cats. Mechanism only.
View source
Translational SignalsPreclinical study
Cellular senescence and healthspan in mammalian models
Multiple authors — aging biology literature
Aging biology literature · 2016–2023
Rodent models
What the research examined
Whether clearance of senescent cells changes measures of physical function in laboratory models.
What the study found
Model systems describe a mechanistic relationship between senescent-cell burden and selected physical-function measures.
Important limitations
Laboratory rodent models with short observation windows.
What it does not establish
Does not establish safety, dosing, or benefit in companion dogs or cats. No target-species outcome data.
View source
Investigational OptionsPreclinical study
Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 and tendon-to-bone healing
Multiple authors — preclinical orthopaedic literature
Preclinical orthopaedic literature · 2011–2023
Rat and ex-vivo tendon models
What the research examined
Connective-tissue repair signalling in rodent and ex-vivo tendon and ligament models.
What the study found
The models describe changes in tendon fibroblast outgrowth and tendon-to-bone healing measures.
Important limitations
Rodent and ex-vivo models with variable preparation and administration between reports.
What it does not establish
Does not establish mobility outcomes, safety, or any dosing in companion dogs or cats.
View source
Investigational OptionsPreclinical study
Copper-peptide GHK-Cu and extracellular matrix signalling
Multiple authors — in-vitro dermatology literature
In-vitro dermatology and matrix-biology literature · 2012–2022
Human and rodent cell culture
What the research examined
Matrix remodelling and antioxidant signalling in cell-culture systems.
What the study found
Cell-culture systems describe changes in matrix protein expression measures.
Important limitations
In-vitro only, with no whole-animal appearance or dermatologic endpoints.
What it does not establish
Does not establish coat, skin, or cosmetic outcomes in companion dogs or cats.
View source
Investigational OptionsReview article
Incretin-pathway signalling and body-condition regulation
Multiple authors — comparative endocrinology literature
Comparative endocrinology literature · 2015–2024
Human and rodent studies; limited companion-animal data
What the research examined
How incretin-pathway signalling relates to appetite regulation and body condition.
What the study found
The literature describes appetite and body-condition signalling pathways across the species studied.
Important limitations
Companion-animal data are sparse; the pathway work is largely outside dogs and cats.
What it does not establish
Does not establish safety, tolerability, dosing, or body-condition outcomes in companion animals.
View source
Investigational OptionsReview article
Regenerative adjuncts in veterinary orthopaedics
Multiple authors — veterinary surgery literature
Veterinary surgery literature · 2019–2024
Dogs and horses — heterogeneous studies
What the research examined
Reported use of regenerative adjuncts alongside conventional orthopaedic care.
What the study found
Mixed early findings with wide variation in preparation, protocol and measurement.
Important limitations
Small studies, inconsistent preparations, and varied outcome definitions.
What it does not establish
Does not establish standardised benefit; regulatory status and material consistency remain unresolved.
View source

The reading list

What the researchsays aboutyour pet.

Each entry states how the work applies to dogs and cats, the benefit it describes, and the line it does not cross. Follow any link to read the source yourself.

Metabolic Signaling Research PenJAVMA (Kealy et al.) · 2002
Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs
Labrador Retrievers, 14-year paired cohort
The single strongest longevity finding in companion dogs: littermate pairs fed 25% less across life were followed to end of life.
The benefit described
Lean-fed dogs lived a median 1.8 years longer and showed later onset of visible osteoarthritis.
Where it stops
Body condition, not any injectable or supplement, produced the effect. One breed, one facility.
Read the source
Cellular Aging Research PenDog Aging Project · 2021–ongoing
TRIAD — Test of Rapamycin In Aging Dogs
Companion dogs, ≥7 years, owner-enrolled
The first large, double-blind, placebo-controlled longevity trial run in pet dogs living at home rather than in a laboratory.
The benefit described
Owners report a second benefit alongside the science: full cardiac, cognitive and blood screening surfaced conditions their dogs were not yet symptomatic for.
Where it stops
Results are not yet reported. Enrolment in a trial is not the same as an available product.
Read the source
Cellular Aging Research PenGeroScience (Urfer et al.) · 2017
Short-term rapamycin in middle-aged companion dogs
24 middle-aged pet dogs
A safety-and-feasibility trial asking whether an ageing-pathway intervention can be given to household dogs at all.
The benefit described
No significant adverse effects at the doses used, with echocardiographic measures trending in the treated group.
Where it stops
Ten weeks, 24 dogs, no lifespan endpoint. A safety signal, not an outcome.
Read the source
Cellular Aging Research PenAging-biology literature · 2016–2024
NAD+ decline with age and mitochondrial function
Mammalian models; canine work emerging
Explains why energy, recovery and cognition drift in older animals: NAD+ availability falls in multiple tissues with age.
The benefit described
Restoring NAD+ availability improves measures of mitochondrial output in model organisms.
Where it stops
No controlled healthspan or lifespan data in pet dogs or cats. Mechanism only.
Read the source
Connective Tissue Research PenPreclinical orthopaedic literature · 2011–2023
Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 and tendon-to-bone healing
Rat and ex-vivo tendon models
The mechanistic basis behind the most-requested research category — stiffness after rest, slower stairs, shorter walks.
The benefit described
Accelerated tendon fibroblast outgrowth and improved tendon-to-bone healing in the models studied.
Where it stops
Rodent models. No controlled mobility outcomes in pet dogs or cats, and no established dosing.
Read the source
Connective Tissue Research PenVeterinary consensus guidance · 2018–2023
Multimodal management of canine osteoarthritis
Dogs, clinical population
The established floor under any mobility research: weight, controlled exercise, rehabilitation, and veterinary-directed pain control.
The benefit described
Consistently improves comfort and function — the best-supported intervention available to a pet family today.
Where it stops
Does not reverse joint disease, and is not replaced by anything investigational.
Read the source

In their words

Families alreadydoing thiswork.

Quoted from published interviews with owners enrolled in companion-animal longevity research. These are not testimonials for our products, and no outcome is implied.

“I was interested because Madi was getting older and I knew that this study was a longevity study for dogs. I thought if I could extend her life and have good quality of life, that would be really fabulous.”
JoAnna
Seattle, WA — University of Washington retiree
Madi, Akita-Rottweiler mix, adopted 2009
Dog Aging Project — TRIAD Tails
“I'm thankful that I learned she had high blood pressure, because it's treatable, and I don't know that I would have known that otherwise.”
JoAnna
On the trial's baseline screening
Madi, screened at WSU College of Veterinary Medicine
Dog Aging Project — TRIAD Tails
“My goal is just to provide them with the best quality of life for as long as possible. I've certainly been provided with second chances in life, and I'd like to offer that to pets.”
Linda
West Des Moines, IA — senior analytics analyst
Sadie, lab/husky mix, adopted from a shelter in 2020
Dog Aging Project — TRIAD Tails
“I ended up realizing the importance of quality of life as they get older. I learned that Zoe was a lot healthier than I thought she was.”
Bill
Georgetown, TX — enrolled Zoe at age 10
Zoe, Labrador-Rottweiler mix, raised from a puppy
Dog Aging Project — TRIAD Tails
“Through participation, Sadie was potentially able to give back and contribute positively to the health, longevity and quality of life of others.”
Linda
After Sadie's graduation from the trial
Sadie, 2020–2025
Dog Aging Project — TRIAD Tails

An older dog looking out over an open meadow at golden hour

The point of all of it

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Promising is notthe same as proven.

Source library

Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs

Multimodal management of canine osteoarthritis

Value of longitudinal monitoring in mature and senior cats

Short-term administration of rapamycin in middle-aged companion dogs

TRIAD — Test of Rapamycin In Aging Dogs

NAD+ decline with age and mitochondrial function

Cellular senescence and healthspan in mammalian models

Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 and tendon-to-bone healing

Copper-peptide GHK-Cu and extracellular matrix signalling

Incretin-pathway signalling and body-condition regulation

Regenerative adjuncts in veterinary orthopaedics

What the researchsays aboutyour pet.

What the research says about your pet