A friend with some terrific medical insights recently told me about rapamycin. Per his recommendation I started my 14 year-old dog Wally on a regimen. I am eager to share my experiences here with you all on this information rich forum!
Wally is a dachshund/beagle mix and weighs about 20 lbs. He is active and fairly healthy, but shows his age in a number of ways. For example, he has some joint inflammation, looser skin, graying hair, skin tags, lipomas, and so on. He also experiences reverse sneezing, irritated ears and declining vision. His feet have a yeasty Frito smell and require extra cleaning and care. He whines more than when he was younger. Every once in a while he experiences some leg or back pain that slows him down. In general, he is in good condition despite his advanced age, but absolutely has room for improvement.
I want to document his health journey and share his improvements from taking rapamycin. I took photos and videos of Wally before taking any rapamycin, and will continue to document as time goes on. First I’ll include some photos of his current appearance, and later I’ll add more photos when I begin to see changes.
I will administer one 2mg pill of sirolimus every 3-4 days. Wally easily took his first dose on 12/20/2022 with some kibble and a bit of peanut butter. He showed no adverse effects following the dose. That night he slept soundly, even a few hours more than normal.
The next day, I perceived a small difference in his aroma—less yeasty. I’m hoping this already signals a reduction in the microbial activity causing the smell. Within two days, his fur is softer to the touch.
A few months ago, Wally began to experience frequent reverse sneezing episodes after our house flooded during Hurricane Ian. I think the trigger must have been irritants in the air, specifically mold. In our clean, temporary lodging he snorts/sneezes less, but still more than before the exposure. Two days after his first dose of rapamycin, he woke up with a reverse sneezing episode but this time was different. The sneeze sounded wetter, like there was more mucus and moisture, despite being in a dryer environment.
Behavioral changes are subtle but present. For example, he shows signs of improved sense of smell. When I let him outside, I saw him throw his nose up in the air and sniff more than usual. He bounced up a small flight of stairs more easily than before taking his first dose. Wally has never been a dog who drools, but I noticed a small amount of dripping saliva as he came back into the house. In general, he seems calmer and less irritated.
I’m excited to see how rapamycin helps Wally. He has decent energy levels but is definitely not a puppy. My hope is to see improvements in his appearance as well as demeanor.
So far I have not noticed any negative side effects. I look forward to documenting his progress and posting it here.
Some personal background: my husband and I are in our late 30s and live in the Naples, Florida area. We are both healthy and active. We plan to begin our own rapamycin regimen soon, but first we decided to prioritize our senior pup.
Helpful recommendations and constructive criticisms are welcome! I’m grateful for this forum and all its valuable insights. Stay tuned for future updates
