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How Old is Your Dog?

How old is your dogEveryone who owns a dog is bound to have heard that one year for your best friend equals seven human years. The problem is that the maths is not that simple.

When we celebrate our pets’ birthdays it’s worth remembering that dogs mature more rapidly than we do in their early years, which means the first year of your dog’s life is actually equal to around 15 human years, but that this rate of aging changes over time.

On top of this, the size and the breed of your pet also plays an important role. The rule of thumb is that smaller dogs generally live longer than their larger counterparts, but they may also mature more quickly in the early years of their lives.

If you have a huge pup he or she may well age more slowly in the beginning, but then be approaching middle by the age of five years. Whereas, the smaller toy breeds tend not to become “seniors” until they are aged around 10 years. Medium sized dogs are somewhere in the middle on both counts.

The Clues To Tell How Old is Your Dog

Dog age chartIf you’ve ever adopted a puppy or an older dog and are not sure of his or her history, it’s highly likely you don’t know how old the animal is. However, even without a date of birth, there are ways you may be able to guess the age.

Teeth are a good way of establishing a rough idea of age. The guidelines vary from dog to dog, and also depend on any dental care the dog may have received but a broadly accurate guide based on practice indicates that:

  • By eight weeks, all the baby teeth should be in.
  • By seven months, all the permanent teeth should be in and appear white and clean.
  • By one – two years, the teeth are becoming duller and the back teeth may even be showing some yellowing.
  • By three-five years, all the teeth may be showing signs of tartar build-up and some may be worn.
  • By five -10 years, there are likely to be more signs of wear and possibly disease.
  • By 10-15 years, the teeth will be worn, and it’s highly likely there will be signs of heavy tartar build-up and some teeth may be missing.

Vets can guess how old is your dog based on a complete physical examination or tests that allow the study of joints, bones, muscles, and a dog’s internal organs. The more senior a dog is specific signs of aging may be showing including:

  • Cloudy eyes
  • Grey hair, which begins around the muzzle and then spreads to other facial areas as well as other parts of the dog’s body and head.
  • Loose skin
  • Stiff legs

Some Health Care Tips When You Know How Old Is Your Dog

Like us as our dogs age, their health problems tend to progress more rapidly. Some of the common illnesses associated with aging dogs include osteoarthritis and periodontal disease, as well as diabetes and cancer. Some actions that can be applied to help dogs age gracefully include:

  1. Scheduling well-checks with your veterinarian.

Being proactive and working ahead makes life a lot easier than waiting for something to come up. Your veterinarian should be able to discuss what to look out for and you should arrange to see the vet twice a year with your older dog.

  1. Monitor your dog’s weight.

A dog’s weight increasingly impacts a dog’s health as they age. Any dramatic weight changes in either direction can be an early warning of illness.

  1. Start administering a mobility supplement

As dogs age, they become stiffer and less mobile. To alleviate any pain and stiffness for your dog start administering an advanced joint support supplement on a regular basis. Supplements like the Advanced Joint Support from The Petcare Factory has a blend of natural ingredients, including Chondroitin, Glucosamine,  Green-Lipped Mussels, along with Curcumin and Hyaluronic Acid that helps support a dog’s hips and joints throughout their lives.

  1. Keep playing with your dog

When you notice there may be less interest in playing, and an increased keenness for sleep, change the pattern by encouraging your dog to accompany you on walks, play fetch and tug-of-war in the garden and endeavour to draw out the playful instincts your dog had as a puppy.

Our dogs are wonderfully beautiful and fulfilling but sadly don’t live long enough. But this must not be accepted. We all need to do our part to give them the best lives they can while we’re lucky to have them with us.

At Cats, Dogs & Peace of Mind, we are devoted to keeping the dogs we look after as active and happy as we can. To find out more, get in touch.

 

 

19th June 2019 6:01 pm roger@abstractassociates.co.uk No Comments

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  • Reviews

    Cats, Dogs & Peace of Mind
    Cats, Dogs & Peace of Mind
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    Andrew Young
    Andrew Young
    21:23 19 Feb 18
    CDPOM/ Celebrate Pets are a great bunch of people. They have been looking after our cat for just about every period away from home for the last five years, from single days to a couple of weeks. They are really great with him and no extra seems too large for them from watering the plants to putting the bins out. We always get a text from them so that we know visits have started and comprehensive reports on what he's been like when we're away. Cannot recommend highly enough, completely reliable and they love our cat. What more could you want?
    Helia Lotzfeldt
    Helia Lotzfeldt
    20:14 15 Feb 18
    As a customer for over 7 years and a regular traveller, I have been delighted with the service provided in looking after my home and pets. Easy and simple booking and payment process, prompt responses, and never a problem to arrange care for my cats even at very short notice. I have complete confidence in leaving my home and pets in their hands. They keep me updated while I'm away and even put a pint of milk in the fridge if I'm away for more than a few days.
    Barbara Bobrowicz
    Barbara Bobrowicz
    15:07 24 Feb 18
    We are so pleased we found CDPOM as our cat, Lucy, was so distressed in the cattery. We have been using their services for several years now and have always found them extremely reliable and we are always confident that Lucy is in safe hands. From their reports, she seems to enjoy their visits and always looks well and happy when we return home. In addition, they always ensure that the house is left secure and how we left it. We would highly recommend them.
    Chris Williams
    Chris Williams
    09:28 18 Mar 18
    Louise and all the team at CDPOM have been amazing. I have used them for many years to look after my dog and the team obviously love the animals. They have helped me out at short notice and also kept Molly for longer when I've been delayed. Louise also house sits which give me peace of mind that someone is around when I'm away and less stressful on Molly. Thanks again and cant recommend highly enough.
    Nicolas Grand
    Nicolas Grand
    16:43 03 Apr 18
    So reliable, I would highly recommend Louise and her Cat visiting service. Going away can be quite stressful with cats, as they don't like the disruption of being moved elsewhere, or having strangers in the house. After trying a few things, I realised home visits is really the best way. It was hard to find a reliable service at first, after a few issues in the past, so CDPOM was a godsend. Louise has been looking after my cats for over 10 years, and she has removed the stress out of travelling, as I know my cat will be in good hands with her. Thanks Louise!
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