How much rapamycin for a dog or cat?
Enter your pet’s weight to see the once-weekly dose used in longevity research and the program strength it maps to. It is a reference from the published trials — confirm your pet’s exact dose with your own veterinarian before starting.
Enter a weight to see the reference dose.
Where these numbers come from
For dogs, the NIH-funded Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD) uses 0.15 mg/kg by mouth, once weekly, in healthy aging dogs — studied mainly between 20 and 55 kg. The once-weekly schedule is deliberate: it spares mTORC2 and the metabolic and immune effects that come with dosing more often.
No companion-cat longevity trial has published a dose yet, so the feline figure is the band Rapavie’s feline strengths are built around (about 0.3 mg/kg once weekly), shown as a program strength rather than a cited trial dose.
Why your vet sets the final dose
Body weight gives a starting point, not the answer. Baseline bloodwork, other medicines and your pet’s history all move the dose. Rapamycin can raise triglycerides and, less often, cause loose stools, low appetite or mouth soreness, so ask your veterinarian to review your pet first and plan the monitoring.
Monitoring on rapamycin
- · Baseline bloodwork before starting — including triglycerides and cholesterol
- · Repeat biochemistry every 3–6 months
- · Give the coated tablet whole, so the coating stays intact
- · Report diarrhoea, low appetite or lethargy to your vet early
Dosage questions
How much rapamycin for a dog by weight?+
In longevity research the TRIAD protocol uses 0.15 mg/kg once weekly, so a 20 kg dog is around 3 mg and a 30 kg dog around 4.5 mg a week. This is the research dose, not a prescription — your own veterinarian should confirm the exact dose for your dog.
How much rapamycin for a cat?+
Rapavie’s feline program works from about 0.3 mg/kg once weekly, which maps to the 0.4, 1.2 and 2.4 mg strengths by body weight. Check the right strength for your cat with your veterinarian before starting.
Is rapamycin given once weekly or three times a week?+
Current longevity research (TRIAD) uses once-weekly dosing to limit metabolic and immune effects; earlier pilot studies used three times weekly. Your veterinarian sets the schedule for your pet.
Can I dose my pet from an online calculator alone?+
No. Rapamycin is a prescription medicine, and the calculator only shows the published research dose for reference. Have your own veterinarian review your pet and confirm the dose before starting.
What monitoring does rapamycin need?+
Baseline bloodwork before starting — including triglycerides and cholesterol — then repeat biochemistry every three to six months. Rapamycin can raise triglycerides, so this monitoring matters even at low doses.
References
- Coleman AE, Creevy KE, Anderson R, et al. Test of Rapamycin in Aging Dogs (TRIAD): study design. GeroScience (2025).
- Ryave J, Coleman AE. Rapamycin as a potential intervention to promote longevity. J Vet Sci (2025).
- Urfer SR, Kaeberlein TL, Mailheau S, et al. Short-term rapamycin in healthy middle-aged dogs. GeroScience (2017).
- Egan J, Chu L, Kaeberlein M, et al. Severe hypertriglyceridemia with long-term low-dose rapamycin in a Labrador. Front Vet Sci (2023).
- Larson JC, Allstadt SD, Fan TM, et al. Pharmacokinetics of oral low-dose rapamycin in healthy dogs. Am J Vet Res (2014).
For information only; it does not replace veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for your pet.