Short Wave Helping Dogs and Their Pawrents Live Healthier, Longer
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Jun 9, 2025 
Audrey Ruppel, a veterinarian and data analyst at Virginia Tech, discusses the groundbreaking Dog Aging Project, a massive study tracking the health and longevity of over 50,000 dogs. She shares fascinating insights about how lifestyle impacts canine lifespan and hints at future medical breakthroughs that could enhance both dogs' and humans' health. Audrey explores the intriguing connection between dog size and lifespan, as well as the potential of repurposing rapamycin to revolutionize canine health.
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Large-Scale Dog Health Study
- The Dog Aging Project enrolls over 50,000 dogs to study health and lifespan.
- This large data helps fill knowledge gaps on dog health trends and lifespan.
Dogs As Human Health Models
- Dogs and humans share similar genetics and environments, making dogs ideal for health studies.
- Studying dog health can reveal insights about human health and aging.
Accurate Dog Breed Identification
- Dog owners accurately identify their dogs' breeds, validated by genetic testing.
- Dog breed appearance is a reliable method for breed identification compared to other pets like cats.