Scientists from the USA have created a drug that can prolong the life of large breeds of dogs (4 photos)
It is currently undergoing clinical trials and is approaching approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 
The average lifespan of dogs is between 10 and 13 years, with larger breeds aging faster and having an even shorter lifespan. Some veterinarians believe this is due to selective breeding, which can increase the animal's size and speed up the dog's development. 
Currently, there are no such drugs, but scientists are doing everything possible to change this. However, several more steps must be completed before the drug is fully approved and brought to market. The aging model study of 451 dogs is currently coming to an end. 
"There are approximately 25 million large breed dogs in the United States alone, and we can help them live longer and improve their quality of life," Loyal CEO and founder Celine Haliois said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
The company claims that the drug can slow down the aging process in dogs weighing more than 18 kg. It works by interacting with a hormone called IGF-1, which speeds up the aging process. According to a company representative, the drug is designed to prevent age-related diseases in dogs without waiting for symptoms to appear. The drug is administered by injection every three to six months, but the company is also working on a daily pill. 
Veterinarians are cautiously optimistic. “It sounds too good to be true,” said Dr. Jeffrey Krasnoff, a veterinarian at Brookville Veterinary Hospital on Long Island, about the experimental drug.
