Scientists theorize that pet dogs may hold the key to understanding anti-ageing.

For years, scientists have been trying to understand aging while also trying to counteract this natural phenomenon through the use of different processes and even drugs.

Now, scientists have turned to dogs to test these anti-ageing drugs. Researchers are focusing on large canines such as Golden Retrievers, Labradors and German Shepherds.

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The reason for using dogs is primarily to test "rapamycin."

Rapamycin, also called sirolimus, is an anti-rejection drug developed for patients that have just undergone kidney transplants. Rapamycin recently tested positive in extending the lives of mice by 10 percent.

Since the discovery of rapamycin's effects in 2009, scientists have focused on testing the drug on humans. Seeing the results will take time as scientists will need time to set it up, gain ethical approval and produce results.

Dr. Matt Kaeberlein of the University of Washington in Seattle said using dogs is a good thing. One reason why is that dogs experience some of the same environmental influences at their owners do.

"We are doing this research to try to help dogs but we are well aware that what we learn could point the way to using rapamycin on humans," Kaeberlein said. "So anything we learn about other factors that influence the drug's usefulness is going to be important."

The testing on dogs will also provide data on dosage and other parameters that will be important when the trials turn to humans.

In addition, scientists noted that when animals get older, their cellular processes declines in efficiency. Rapamycin can give autophagy a boost and restore its functions. Kaeberlein likens it to cleaning out the trash from our cells.

Scientists will begin their trials by adding rapamycin to dog food. 

TagsDogs, Anti-aging, rapamycin