People are giving their dogs peptides to boost their longevity

Michael Morelli, a personal trainer in Florida, has a peptide regimen for his pit terrier Choo Choo. Edward Linsmier for BI Dog lovers are giving their pets peptides — an unproven treatment that gym bros swear by for gains. Leaders of this trend believe peptides can help their dogs heal from injury and live longer. There is no clear evidence that peptides are safe or effective for dogs, and there is no agreed-upon dosage. In August, Ryan Samluk's beloved Australian-German Shepherd mix, Finley, suffered a devastating sprain. The 11-year-old dog had long lived with hereditary joint issues. Now, she could barely limp around the yard. "I knew the vet visit would cost thousands of dollars I didn't have," Samluk, a 29-year-old project manager for a construction company in Dallas, told Business Insider. Unwilling to watch his dog suffer, yet unable to afford costly diagnostics plus regular arthritis shots at $200 per dose, Samluk turned to the internet. For about $160, he bought his old girl a month's worth of peptide treatments, the unregulated shots that are taking hold in the fitness and longevity world. Samluk had seen friends get shredded on retatrutide, a peptide for weight loss, and had heard similar success stories with BPC-157, a peptide for treating injuries or recovering from intense gym sessions. He tried them for himself and felt good. Why couldn't this same low-cost DIY shot strategy work for furry Finley? Finley, Samluk's 11-year-old Australian-German Shepherd mix. Courtesy of Ryan Samluk Samluk is one of a growing number of pet owners who hope to help their dogs feel better and age more slowly by administering peptides, often for well under $100. Scientists and veterinarians are watching cautiously, concerned that we don't really know about the long-term effects of peptides on dogs, and apprehensive about a theoretical possibility that BPC-157 could promote tumor growth. Peptides are a broad class of molecular compounds that help our bodies run. They include drugs like Ozempic and the natural hormone insulin. Pet owners are especially interested in the subset of peptide therapies marketed as hacks for wound healing and curbing arthritis-related inflammation, though the evidence is shaky and the potential risks are high. Business Insider has spoken to pet owners pioneering the fringes of restorative peptide therapy for their animals. The trend cuts across income brackets, from pet parents who spare no expense in lavishing their pets with elaborate wellness routines to those who want the best for their animals but may struggle to afford conventional treatments. The trend has some animal experts asking: Where are the guardrails for these drugs, and these dogs? The 'most measured dog alive' is on peptides Samluk's decision to spring for pet peptides was driven by success stories he saw online. He was particularly impressed by Choo Choo, a 14-year-old pit terrier who seemed to regain puppy-like energy and mobility after being put on the "Wolverine stack" of BPC-157 and TB-500, peptides that proponents say can aid recovery and tissue repair. 14-year-old Choo Choo takes BPC-157 and TB-500 as well as testosterone therapy. Edward Linsmier for BI Choo's owner, Michael Morelli, is a Florida-based personal trainer obsessed with human performance and metrics like body composition and VO2 max. Morelli takes BPC-157 and TB-500 himself, crediting them with helping resolve a shoulder injury, as well as epitalon and pinealon, which he likes for supporting sleep. He's fascinated by longevity influencers like Bryan Johnson, a tech entrepreneur who has spent millions fine-tuning his health routine with the goal of aging in reverse, and who recently launched his own peptide label. Morelli calls Choo the most measured and optimized dog in the world — a nod to Johnson, who dubbed himself "the most measured man in human history." Morelli started giving Choo a low dose of BPC-157 and TB-500 about a year ago when he noticed he was slowing down, struggling to jump, and cutting his daily walks short. Choo's current wellness regimen involves working with two different vets who make house calls, and a laundry list of diagnostics and treatments, including heavy metal testing, physical therapy, red light therapy, probiotics, and testosterone replacement therapy, a practice some vets increasingly endorse for dog anxiety and mobility. Morelli sees Choo as the Bryan Johnson of dogs. Edward Linsmier for BI Morelli's other dog, an American pit bull terrier named Bubba, had recently died after a similar decline, and he dreaded grieving again. "He has become like another kid to us," Morelli said. "I don't want to go through this again. It just made sense for me to experiment." The ethics of experimenting on man's best friend Experimental pet therapies are tricky because, unlike a human patient, Choo can't consent to try an unproven treatment. "My dog isn't going to look at me after a BPC-157 shot and say, 'Thank you, Dad, that feels