Dog Years, Human Years, How Old IS My Dog?
Trying to figure out your dog’s age?
We all know the equation – Take how many “human” years old your dog is multiplied by 7 to figure out that your dog is X age.
If you’ve ever owned a dog, you know all too well that dogs age much faster than us. The average lifespan of our furry friends is 8-12 years, depending on breed and size. The average lifespan of a human is about 70-80 years. What a difference!
And I think we can all agree that a dog’s life just simply isn’t long enough.
But is this the BEST and most ACCURATE way to calculate a dog’s age?
Veterinarians have been disputing this calculation for years, but now, a new scientific study has concluded that this calculation simply is not accurate.
The New Way to Calculate Your Dog’s Age
Geneticists have been studying dog DNA to help understand the aging process in our canine friends. As it turns out, a dog’s DNA has the same chemical marker of aging as humans. This chemical marker in dogs and humans turns genes on and off at a steady rate as aging occurs. By comparing this chemical marker to humans of roughly the same age as the dogs studied, scientists have concluded that dogs age most quickly in their first five years, then slow down after that.
The comparison of this data on aging allowed scientists to develop an equation that calculates a dog’s age more accurately. If you want to give it a try, click here.
It has to be said- there are some limitations to this new calculation. The study only looked at labrador retrievers aged 4 weeks to 16 years. The size and breed of a dog may cause aging to happen slightly faster or slower. As we already know, large breed dogs don’t tend to live quite as long as their smaller counterparts. One thing is certain. This new calculation does line up with how veterinarians see disease processes happen in senior pups.
How A Vet Assesses Age In A Dog
While an equation can be a great way to more precisely calculate your dog’s age, what happens when you don’t know exactly how old your new pup is when you bring him home- like if you adopted him from a shelter?
A veterinarian can help identify a dog’s rough age by using several different methods of observation and examination of your dog.
Body Shape
A vet will first look at the shape of your furry friend’s body. As a dog ages, he tends to develop fat pads at the end of his spine and has some mild muscle wasting. A dog advanced in years won’t be able to fool a trained eye from noticing these details.
Eye Clarity
Cloudiness in the eyes can indicate advanced age in pups. We aren’t talking about cataracts here, but an actual clouding of the lens of the eye. Cloudiness is commonly present in senior pups.
Coat Color
Looking at how white or grey a dog is in the face can indicate age. Just as we turn grey when we get up in years, our pups can have the same thing happen, as well as a little hair loss on the face. This is not always a surefire way to predict age, as some breeds have naturally whiter or greyer faces, but it can be a pretty good indicator if your dog is getting up there in years.
Teeth
Tooth examination is the most definitive indicator of age. All dogs have adult teeth by 6 months of age. A vet will assess the shape, wear, and tartar build-up on the teeth. As dogs get older, tartar accumulation builds up, and the teeth become more rounded and dull.
It Doesn’t Matter His Age. Your Dog Is Never Here Long Enough.
While none of these methods is foolproof, it can give us an idea of how old our pup is. While it can be fun to know just how old your dog is in human years, it also heightens the awareness that his time with you is numbered and that he may leave your side sooner than you’d like.
Be sure to take care of your pup no matter his age by getting him exercise, a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and yearly check-ups with your local vet. This is the least we can do for them for all the love and affection they provide to us.
Did you try out the age calculator? How old is your dog in human years?
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