Do you know how old your pet is in cat or dog years? Most of us want to prolong the lives of our furry companions as long as possible. However, determining the ‘real’ age of a pet is really important, as it helps veterinarians provide specific care for each stage of our pets’ lives.
Myths about your age
On the other hand, there is an old myth that one human year corresponds to seven years for cats and dogs. And while there is some logic behind this, it is not entirely true. Some people have appreciated that a medium-sized dog with veterinary care can live about one-seventh as long as its human owner. In this way, seven dog years were born for every human year.
However, keep in mind that not all dogs are medium in size, so this rule is an oversimplification from the beginning. In addition, dogs and cats age differently not only from people, but also from each other based on the characteristics and size of each breed. Thus, larger dogs tend to have a shorter life than small ones. Therefore, there is a significant difference between the life expectancy of a Chihuahua and a Great Dane.
New methodologies
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, current veterinarians divide dogs into six different stages: puppy, young, adult, mature, elderly, and geriatric. These life stages provide a more practical way to think about the age of pets. In fact, if we look at it, human health recommendations are also based on developmental stages rather than exact age in years.
Thus, it could be said that the breed of each animal, its size, weight and diet are the most important factors in determining the life expectancy of each pet.
Similarly, cats are also divided into six categories: kittens, young, adult, mature, senior, and geriatric. And since most healthy cats are roughly the same size, there is less variability in their age at each stage of life.
Finding out how old your pet is (whether it’s a dog or a cat) allows your vet to determine its life stage. And that’s important, as it provides information on what medical care the pet might need to extend not only its life, but also its quality of life.
