Longevity for Pets. What Really Works?

Longevity refers to living a longer, healthier life. In recent years there has been a great deal of research into healthy aging in humans, but for many of us, healthy aging in our pets is nearly as important. We are only now starting to see a concerted effort to determine what factors effect aging in our pets and what we can do to modify them. Just as in human medicine, there is a lot of hype around what promotes longevity in pets, and it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction. It is important for pet owners to know what steps they can take now that will help their pets age well and live a long and healthy life.

1. Exercise
Making sure your dog gets enough exercise may be one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways you can improve their quality of life. In humans, we know that exercise is crucial for healthy aging. Consistent aerobic exercise, even of moderate intensity, has been shown to slow physical and cognitive decline, improve mood, boost immunity, and reduce mortality. Strength training has also been shown to have positive effects on aging; preventing muscle and bone loss, while improving balance and flexibility. Aging dogs struggle with many of the same problems as aging humans, including obesity, osteoarthritis, cognitive impairment, and bone and muscle loss. While there are fewer studies evaluating the effects of exercise in aging dogs, there is no evidence to suggest its effects would be anything but positive. One study, for example, found that dogs with higher activity levels during the day had a lower risk of developing cognitive issues, while another study found that exercise decreased pain and improved mobility in dogs with hip arthritis. So, taking a walk with your dog is likely one of the best things you can do for them, and for yourself.

If scientific literature is scarce on the benefits of exercise in dogs, it is virtually silent on its benefits in cats. However, like dogs, aging cats suffer from many of the same diseases as aging humans including osteoarthritis, obesity, Type-2 diabetes mellitus, and cognitive decline. Therefore, it isn’t hard to extrapolate that what promotes healthy aging in humans might do the same in cats. That said, implementing an exercise program for a cat would likely prove challenging. Pet owners can take steps, however, to keep their cats active and engaged. For example, cats kept strictly indoors can benefit from toys that keep them active, while interactive feeding devices that allow cats to mimic hunting behaviors stimulate cognition and limit food intake. Cats that spend at least part of their time outside likely get more exercise; however, this creates other problems. For example, one study estimated that in the U.S. alone free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.4–3.7 billion birds and 6.9–20.7 billion mammals annually. Cats are also at risk of being killed by other predators, such as coyotes, owls, and free ranging dogs, as well as by cars. Therefore, cat owners need to weigh the risks and benefits of allowing their cat time outside. In terms of exercise, cats present more challenges for owners than dogs but keeping them active will give cats the best chance of living long and healthy lives.

2. Preventive Care
Preventive healthcare is also a relatively easy and cost-effective way to promote healthy aging in pets. For example, the evidence overwhelmingly supports routine vaccinations to protect pets against common infectious diseases. The core vaccine schedule for dogs should include vaccines against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo, and Rabies viruses. Other vaccinations should be considered depending on the individual dog’s risk factors. For example, dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, particularly around cattle, are at an increased risk of Leptospirosis, while those that frequent dog parks or boarding kennels are more likely to be exposed to Canine Influenza and Bordetella. The core vaccines for cats protect against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia, all of which cause serious respiratory infections and viral diarrhea, and Rabies. Even if a cat is strictly indoors, they should be vaccinated because some viruses can be transmitted on contaminated items of clothing or footwear. In addition, it is not uncommon for strictly indoor cats to escape into the great outdoors.  While multiple immunizations are needed for puppies and kittens, once a pet is an adult most vaccines need only be administered every one to three years, making them cost effective. Veterinarians are the best source of guidance for which vaccines are most appropriate for particular pets.

Routine prophylaxis against common parasites is also important to keep both pets and humans safe and healthy. For example, every year over a million dogs in the U.S. are diagnosed with heartworm disease which is caused by a small thread-like worm, Dirofilaria immitis. Dogs become infected when bitten by mosquitoes that carry the larval stages of the worm. If left untreated, heartworms, which as the name implies live within the cardiac chambers, can cause severe cardiopulmonary disease including heart failure and death. While the adult worms can be killed, the treatment is expensive and occasionally causes severe adverse reactions. Cats can also be infected with heartworms, though the prevalence is much lower than it is in dogs. Nevertheless, in cats infections with even one worm can cause severe pulmonary disease and the drugs used to kill adult worms cannot be used safely. Fortunately, we have a plethora of safe, effective, and relatively inexpensive products that prevent the development of heartworm disease by killing the larval stages of the worm introduced by mosquitoes. While heartworm prophylaxis is recommended for all dogs and cats in the U.S., it is essential in parts of the country where heartworm infections are common. (Figure 1)

Dogs and cats also suffer from gastrointestinal parasites, some of which, including roundworms (Toxocara canis) and hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum), can infect humans as well. These parasites can cause diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and death, with puppies and kittens being particularly vulnerable. Yearly fecal screenings to detect the presence of the parasites are recommended and there are highly efficacious, safe and affordable therapeutic options available for their treatment and control.

Dental disease is very common in cats and dogs. It is caused by the buildup of bacterial derived plaque and tartar, which causes inflammation of the gums. Common signs include bad breath, reluctance to eat, and bleeding gums. If left untreated, severe periodontitis, along with bone and tooth loss as well as secondary systemic infections can occur. For reasons not entirely understood, small dogs are more prone to developing dental disease than larger dogs. Specially formulated diets and treats that are designed to reduce plaque and tarter accumulation are available for both dogs and cats, as are toothbrushes and toothpaste, though brushing a pet’s teeth can be challenging. If dental disease is not prevented, pets may require professional cleaning by a veterinarian, which is expensive and includes the risk of general anesthesia.
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3. Diet
There is a massive amount of information on pet foods on the internet, and it can be difficult for pet owners to determine facts from fiction when trying to select a diet for their pet. A simple place to start is to make sure that the diet is labeled as “complete and balanced.” In order to have this label, the diet must meet one of the Dog or Cat Food Nutrient Profiles established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) or pass a feeding trial using AAFCO procedures. After that, however, things can get complicated. Canned or dry kibble diets are convenient and affordable, but they are highly processed and many use meat byproducts, which are clean, non-rendered, nutrient-rich organ meats, such as livers, kidneys, hearts, and lungs. Though some pet owners may find their use unappealing, they are safe and nutritious and have the added benefit of decreasing the environmental impact of feeding pets. Fresh diets, which are gently cooked to kill bacteria, have recently become popular. They are expensive, because they use human-grade proteins and must be shipped frozen, but there is some evidence that they have positive metabolic effects.  While owners may like the idea of feeding their pet the same quality protein that they consume, the use of human-grade protein sources and shipping increases the carbon footprint of these diets. Other options include raw diets, which also use human-grade proteins but carry the risk of contamination with pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella, as well as less processed, freeze-dried diets. Some owners prefer to make their own diets for their pets. This can be time consuming, and owners should follow recipes that have been demonstrated to provide complete nutrition.

In addition to the quality and source of the protein being controversial, the use of cereal grains has also been contentious. Grain-free diets have been marketed as healthier, out of the belief that dogs should be fed an all-meat diet. Unlike wolves, however, dogs have genetic adaptations, likely inadvertently selected for during the domestication process, that allow them to fully digest cereal grains, like corn and wheat. Therefore, diets containing moderate amounts of grain do not cause digestive issues in most normal, healthy dogs and as such can be a safe and nutritious component of a balanced diet for dogs. In contrast, cats are obligate carnivores and require a diet higher in protein than dogs in order to thrive. Feline diets that have the AAFCO seal meet or exceed these requirements for healthy cats. All and all, choosing the right diet for a pet can seem a daunting task, owners should realize that most healthy dogs and cats will thrive on any of the commercially available diets. When in doubt, or if the pet has a health condition requiring a specialized diet, pet owners should consult a veterinarian who can help determine which diet best fits their pet’s needs at a price they can afford.

Unfortunately, there is no magic formula that will make our pets live longer. However, we do know that giving them plenty of exercise, good nutrition, both of which help them maintain a normal weight, while preventing parasitic infections and immunizing them against important viral and bacterial pathogens improve the likelihood that they will live long and healthy lives. And don’t forget lots of hugs and pats!

– Cindy Cole, DVM, PhD, DACVCP



First Five
First Five is our curated list of articles, studies, and publications.

1/ Elephant Whiskers
A new study found that the whiskers of elephants are uniquely designed to amplify signals, which explains the exquisite sensitivity of the elephant’s trunk. The researchers used multiple analytical methods including micro–computed tomography imaging, electron microscopy, mechanical testing, and finite element analysis to characterize the structure and properties of the whiskers. They found that at the base of the trunk, the whiskers were thick, circular, porous, and stiff, but as they moved toward end of the trunk, they became thin, ovular, dense, and soft. The whiskers at the end of the trunk were much more sensitive to stimuli than those at the base. While many mammals have whiskers, the structure of the elephant whisker is unique.

‍2/ No more wild horses
The endangered Przewalski’s horse had long been referred to as the last truly wild horse breed. However, a genetic analysis comparing their genomes with those of modern and ancient horses yielded surprising results. Przewalski’s horses are feral, not wild. A wild breed is one that has never been domesticated, whereas feral animals are descendants of domesticated breeds that later returned to the wild. It is likely that the world lost truly wild horses hundreds, if not thousands of years ago.

3/ Food for thought
A new study shows that feeding dogs can have a larger negative effect on the environment than the food their owners eat. When feeding a dog weighing 44lbs, roughly the size of a typical Border Collie, 40% of the dog foods tested had a higher climate impact than a human vegan diet, and 10% exceeded emissions associated with a high-meat human diet. Dry foods marketed as “grain-free” tended to have a higher carbon footprint than non-grain-free options and those using large amounts of human-grade meat increased emissions, while the use of nutritious, low-demand meats had a lower climate impact.

4/ No cats wanted
As of January 1, 2026 it is illegal to feed feral cats on the Big Island of Hawaii. The move was taken by the county in an effort to decrease the feral cat population on the island, which threatens endangered native species like the nene, also known as the Hawaiian goose. Cats threaten native species by directly, by killing them, and spreading the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, a disease that has killed not only geese but also endangered Hawaiian monk seals and other native birds.

5/ Domesticated cats may be less vocal
In domesticated cats there are two forms of the gene that codes for the androgen receptor, referred to as a short-type and long-type allele, the latter which is much more common in the species. The results of a new study  found that male cats with short-type alleles showed higher “directed calls/vocalizations” scores, whereas females with short-type alleles showed higher “stranger-directed aggression” scores, than their respective counterparts with long-type alleles. Researchers postulate that the long-type allele associated with less vocal communication and less aggression was selected for during the domestication process as these animals would be seen as more suitable for cohabitation with humans.

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