Chances are, when trying to figure out how old your dog is in “human years,” you’ve multiplied his literal age by 7 to get your answer. (For instance, a 5-year-old pup would be 35.) While this is a widely accepted method, as it turns out, it’s not that accurate.
According to Petful, Veterinarians have come up with a new scale that accounts for your companion’s quick maturation (for instance, dogs and cats can reproduce within their first year of age), as well as the slow down of aging in their adult to senior years. What’s more, there is a different scale for dogs and cats because they age a little bit differently.
Age Scale For Dogs:
Of course, any “one-size-fits-all” scale won’t be completely accurate because dog’s lifespans vary substantially depending on size and breed.
“Larger breeds such as Newfoundlands mature faster but tend to have shorter life spans. Medium and small dogs reach senior status much later in life, around seven years of age for medium-sized dogs and 10 years of age for toy breeds,” says Petful.
However, this new method gives owners a basic idea of how their pups are aging. Take a look:
1. For the first two years of age, add 12 “human years.”
2. For every year age 3 and up, add 4 “human years.”
Age Scale For Cats:
This scale is slightly different because cats mature more in their kittenhood years than dogs. Also note that indoor cats have a longer life expectancy than many dog breeds, living around 15 years (outdoor cats are projected to live around 10).
Check out the cat aging scale:
1. From years 0-1, cats age about 15 “human years.”
2. From years 1-2, they age about 9 more “human years.”
3. For every year age 3 and up, add 4 “human years.”
After calculating your pet’s age, do you think these scales are relatively accurate?
(All information was sourced from this article by Petful.)
