Your Dog Might Be Older Than You Think, According to a New Study
Jul 23, 2020
Author(s): Graeme Carey
Source: University of California San Diego School of Medicine
Published: 24/07/2020
Source URL: Click Here
How old really is your dog?
How do you calculate your dog’s age in human years? Multiply by seven, right? Your three-year-old pooch would therefore be a responsible 21-year-old, perhaps getting ready to graduate university. Not quite, says a new study published in Cell Systems, which debunks the popular 1:7 rule of thumb.
By analyzing the changing patterns of methyl groups in 104 Labrador retrievers ranging in age from 0.1 to 16 years old, researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have developed a new formula for translating dog years into human years.
They found that, while all mammals go through the same physiological stages—early development, puberty, aging, and death—dogs age much faster than humans earlier on in life, before slowing down once reaching maturity.
Based on their observations, a one-year-old dog would be comparable to a 30-year-old human, while a four-year-old dog would already be well into its middle-aged years at 52. The rate of aging decreases considerably after this point, so that a 12-year-old dog would only be about 70.
Why does it matter?
You might be asking yourself, why does it even matter what my dog’s genetic age is? A four-year-old dog is still a four-year-old dog, is it not?
For starters, this new formula could help in the evaluation of anti-aging products. As the researchers explain, “Such translation may provide a compelling tool in the quest to understand aging and identify interventions for maximizing healthy lifespan.”
It could also prove useful for veterinarians, many of whom still rely on the 1:7 ratio to determine the proper treatment for a dog given its age.
How to care for an aging dog
As dogs get older, their mobility and energy decreases, their eyesight and hearing weakens, and they become more prone to illness and disease. It’s important to notice the signs of aging early on so that you can provide the necessary care to keep them healthy and active for as long as possible.
Here are a few tips to help your dog age gracefully:
- Schedule regular appointments with your vet
- Feed your dog a diet that is appropriate for its age/health situation
- Manage your dog’s weight with regular exercise and most importantly portion control
- Maintain oral health
- Strengthen their diet with fatty acids or supplements, such as DHA, EPA, glucosamine, and chondroitin (CBD has also been shown to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis)
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