Seen At 11: Stop Time In Its Tracks – New Drug Could Add Years To Your Dog's Life

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- For many dog owners watching a pet age can be heart-wrenching.

Now, as CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reports, there may be a way to stop time in its tracks.

Zoe is the Birch family's beloved lab. She's still pretty spry, but has slowed considerably and shows distinct signs of old age.

"She takes an anti-inflammatory each day, and the equivalent of a doggie ibuprofen," Liz Birch explained.

Now, there's a drug called rapamycin that's offering the exciting possibility of adding years to a dog's life.

"My lab has seen pretty remarkable effects in terms of increasing lifespan and improving health during aging," Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, co-director, dog aging project, explained.

Dr. Kaeberlin is overseeing the study of rapamycin and its effect on dogs.

"We didn't see any significant side effects in the dogs that were getting the drugs, so that's great," he said.

Rapamycin is used primarily as an anti-rejection drug for kidney transplants in humans. In large doses there can be serious side effects, but in lower doses it's showing promise as a drug that could suppress disease and extend life in animals, and potentially people too.

Momo is 13 and has been on rapamycin for 6 months.

"He should be at the end of his life," owner Paola Anderson said.

Anderson said he had been quite lethargic before taking rapamycin. Now, she said he plays like a puppy again.

"If we can slow the process down and get 2 to 3 more years of life from our dogs with a good quality of life, that would be really something," Richard Goldstein said.

Goldstein is the chief medical officer at New York's Animal Medical Center.

"The question is -- is it preventing cancer, and that's why they're living longer or is it somehow reversing aging and they're being younger for longer?" he said.

The Birch family said it's something they might consider.

"Depending on what the side effects were I would try that," Liz said.

Others like Jennifer Petrisko said they are still cautious.

"Who doesn't want to spend more time with the animal they love, but I think it would depend upon the quality of life for my animal," she said.

Studies focusing on rapamycin are preliminary, but promising. It can be prescribed by veterinarians, but is not recommended until there's more information available.