Rethinking Aging: A New Frontier in Veterinary Medicine

Sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition

Longevity research could reshape the way we think about patient aging, disease prevention, and lifelong health. Get the details on how and hear other key takeaways from this talk with Dr. Nicole Ehrhart at the 2025 Hill’s Global Symposium.

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Transcript

Longevity science isn’t just a topic for human medicine—it's rapidly becoming a promising frontier in veterinary health as well. In her session at the 2025 Hill’s Global Symposium, veterinary surgeon Dr. Nicole Ehrhart explored how advances in our understanding of aging may transform the way we approach chronic disease in both pets and people.

The challenge is clear. Older adults now outnumber young children, and by the year 2050, nearly a quarter of the population will be over 65 years of age. Although “lifespan” has steadily increased, “healthspan”—or the years lived free from disease—has not kept pace. Aging remains the strongest risk factor for the conditions we treat every day, driven by a lifelong accumulation of cellular damage that limits the body’s ability to repair and defend itself.

But the central question Dr. Ehrhart raised was this: Is aging itself modifiable?

Evidence suggests it may be. Lifestyle factors such as exercise, sleep, stress reduction, and caloric restriction have been shown to influence longevity. In the Life Span study, dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived nearly 15% longer, with disease onset delayed by more than 2 years. And emerging work with model organisms such as yeast, worms, flies, and mice has identified core, conserved pathways that drive aging at the cellular level.

This is where dogs become uniquely valuable. Unlike in humans, in dogs, we can pinpoint when “divergence”—or the beginning of accelerated aging—likely occurs, especially in large-breed dogs. Their predictable longevity transitions and shared environment with humans make them an exceptional translational bridge for testing interventions aimed at extending health span.

Several gerotherapeutic strategies are already entering veterinary research. The STAY Study is evaluating an intervention targeting nutrient-sensing pathways in senior dogs. Low-dose rapamycin is being explored by the Dog Aging Project for its broad effects on aging biology. And IGF-1–targeted approaches, particularly relevant in large and giant breeds, are moving toward clinical trials.

The takeaway from Dr. Ehrhart's session is both exciting and practical: aging is not simply an inevitable march toward disease. It is a biological process with identifiable mechanisms—and potentially modifiable points of intervention. As veterinarians, we may soon play a direct role in extending not just how long our patients live but how well they live across their entire lifespan.

Be sure to check out the full virtual session to explore how longevity science is evolving and what it may mean for the future of veterinary practice.