How Old is My Pet? Correctly Calculate Your Dog or Cat's Age!By Webvet |
Pets – Fri, Mar 2, 2012 11:22 AM EST
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By Gayle Hickman
Most people think that calculating the age of dogs and cats in "human years" is
quite simple: multiply their age by seven. For
example, a 4-year-old dog or cat would actually be 28 years old in human years.
But when you really begin weighing out the arithmetic, this method
doesn't add up. Say a 1-year-old dog is the equivalent of a 7-year-old
human -- get out of here! How many 7-year-old humans are sexually active
and capable of reproducing? Dogs and cats are much more likely to have
babies at 1 year old or even at 10 years old, than any person who is 7
or 70.
DOGS
Aging is much faster during a dog's first two years but varies among
breeds. Large breeds, while they mature quicker, tend to live shorter
lives. By the time they reach 5 they are considered "senior" dogs.
Medium-sized breeds take around seven years to reach the senior stage,
while small and toy breeds do not become seniors until around 10.
Related: Top 5 Ways to Improve Life for Your Senior Dog
Many veterinarians agree that a pretty good guess on the age of pets can
be made using the following formula. Although still simple, it is much
more accurate than the seven-year method.
Assume that a 1-year-old dog is equal to a 12-year-old human and a
2-year-old dog is equal to a 24-year old human. Then add four years for
every year after that. (Example: A 4-year-old dog would be 32 in human
years.)
Since this method takes into consideration the maturity rate at the
beginning of a dog's life and also the slowing of the aging process in
his later years, Martha Smith, director of veterinary services at
Boston's Animal Rescue League, feels that this is the more accurate
calculation formula. Here is a chart, for easy reference:
A dog's average lifespan is around 12 or 13 years, but again, this
varies widely by breed. The larger your dog is, the less time it will
live. Female dogs tend to live a little longer.
CATS
Now let's take a glimpse at a simple formula for calculating feline age in
human years.
Assume that a 1-year-old cat is equal to a 15-year-old human and a
2-year-old cat is equal to a 24-year-old human. Then add four years for
every year after that. (Example: A 4-year-old cat would be 32 in human
years.)
The following chart shows this formula of calculation:
Check out this and more great stuff from PetsAdviser.com and WebVet.com:
How Long are Cats Supposed to Sleep?
The Truth About Cats' Nine Lives
Dog TV: Programming for Your Pup
How to Safely Remove Fleas from Kittens
Michael Johnson
Founder/Owner
Second Chance Meows
A FeLV Sanctuary_______________________________________________
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