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What an old Seattle Rottweiler can teach about long life
Seattle PI ^

Posted on 04/22/2010 12:50:43 AM PDT by Chet 99

Can old dogs teach us new tricks? A Purdue University research veterinarian is counting on it.

Dr. David J. Waters completed a 23-day scientific tour in Seattle on Saturday when he visited the last of 15 pet Rottweilers his team at the Center for Exceptional Longevity Studies in Indiana have tracked and identified as the oldest in the country.

Seattle's canine centenarian is named Shelby. (Update: Owner Laura Rosinski has sent in a photo. It's at the bottom of this post.)

"I feel so very honored to have a chance to study these dogs so closely. They're truly exceptional," Dr. Waters said. "These dogs have something to teach us, and now we're ready to listen."

Waters, a cancer researcher for 25 years, has for the past three been studying Rottweilers older than 13 years old (the equivalent of of 100 human years and 30 percent older than average) to better understand how humans grow old.

Why dogs? Because they share many of the same environments and living conditions as humans. Why Rottweilers? Because like humans, they are prone to cancer.

The "Old Grey Muzzle" tour began March 11 in Pennsylvania and spanned 13 states, including Iowa, where a 14-year-old Rottweiler (109 in human years) lives just 200 miles from the oldest person in the United States -- 114-year-old Neva Morris. Update: Morris died at an Iowa nursing home today.

Waters' study of dogs is part of a shift in the field toward a study of healthy longevity, rather than just long life. Worms, flies and caged mice have long been the focus of animal aging studies. But they can only teach so much, Waters said.

(Excerpt) Read more at blog.seattlepi.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS:

Dr. David Waters poses with Two Lane, a 14-year-old Rottweiler in Riverside, Iowa. (Courtesy Dr. David Waters)


helby is 13 years, three and a half months old. One of the 15 oldest rottweilers in the country tracked by Dr. Waters, she lives in Seattle. (Photo courtesy of Laura Rosinski)

1 posted on 04/22/2010 12:50:43 AM PDT by Chet 99
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Bella, 14 years old

2 posted on 04/22/2010 12:52:06 AM PDT by Chet 99
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To: Chet 99

Who’s a good doggy.


3 posted on 04/22/2010 12:54:42 AM PDT by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN | NO "INDIVIDUAL MANDATE"!!!!!!!)
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To: Impy; All

My Daughter and her family have a 7 year old Rotty....what a sweetheart.

Tasha always greats me at the door with a butt wiggle and a smile and multiple licks.

She does.


4 posted on 04/22/2010 12:59:23 AM PDT by Halgr (Once a Marine, always a Marine - Semper Fi)
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To: Halgr

5 posted on 04/22/2010 1:01:13 AM PDT by Chet 99
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To: Chet 99

Precious......just precious


6 posted on 04/22/2010 1:03:06 AM PDT by Halgr (Once a Marine, always a Marine - Semper Fi)
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To: All

http://community.khsltv.com/blogs/kelli_blog/archive/2010/04/08/4324551.aspx

The debate over Pit Bulls

-snip-

Last month a Trinity County man was knocked down by 3 of his neighbor’s dogs after going next door to visit. Two of the dogs then attacked the man for 30 minutes. The man told investigators the 2 Pit Bulls attacked and bit him for 30 minutes while the Rottweiler did not bite him. The dogs chewed his leg all the way down to the bone, and doctors amputated the man’s foot. A hearing is scheduled this month on what to do with the dogs. The animal control officer says she’s going to ask a judge to have the Pit Bulls destroyed, but to save the Rottweiler because it was not involved in the attack.


7 posted on 04/22/2010 1:04:34 AM PDT by Chet 99
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To: Chet 99

the worst thing about dogs are their short lifespans


8 posted on 04/22/2010 3:25:25 AM PDT by Mac1
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To: Halgr

I have a 5 year old pit bull/black lab cross. He’s one of the world’s sweetest, friendliest dogs.


9 posted on 04/22/2010 6:41:06 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: Mac1
"the worst thing about dogs are their short lifespans"

When they die it often hurst worse than a human bereavement.

10 posted on 04/22/2010 6:42:54 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: Chet 99

Wow...that brought a tear...my girl was named Bella.


11 posted on 04/22/2010 6:44:42 AM PDT by Cuttnhorse ("It is terrible to contemplete how few politicians are hanged." - G.K. Chesterton, 1921)
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To: Chet 99

Angus, our male Rottie lived to 14...what a great pal he was.


12 posted on 04/22/2010 6:46:20 AM PDT by Cuttnhorse ("It is terrible to contemplete how few politicians are hanged." - G.K. Chesterton, 1921)
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To: libstripper

You are so right about that! Doesn’t matter what breed either. On April 1st of this year, had to euthanize my 13 year old Pug. I’m looking around at local shelters and rescue organizations for another companion animal.


13 posted on 04/22/2010 7:04:42 AM PDT by tob2 (I would rather have a nuclear power plant in my backyard than Gitmo detainees.)
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