It used to be thought that 1 dog’s year equalled 7 human years. It is now known that this is not terribly accurate as dogs and cats age at different rates compared to humans. Research has shown that the first year of a pet’s life is roughly equivalent to about 15 years for a human and 2 pet years are equal to about 23 human years. After that, each year for a pet is equivalent to four years. Confused? The table below can help you work out your pet’s age.
1 year = 15 people years
2 years = 23 people years
3 years = 27 people years
4 years = 31 people years
5 years = 35 people years
6 years = 39 people years
8 years = 47 people years
10 years = 56 people years
12 years = 65 people years
14 years = 75 people years
16 years = 86 people years
18 years = 98 people years
A dog’s average life span is about 12 years. Cat’s perhaps live a little longer on average. Breed can also make a difference. Some giant breeds will only live about 8-10 years, whereas others commonly live to 15 years old or more.
As an animal ages many of the normal organ functions gradually begin to decline, just as in humans. The eyes, ears, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys may start to function less optimally, possibly leading to significant medical problems. It is more difficult for older animals to fight infections and problems such as arthritis frequently set in. It is ideal for senior pet owners to catch problems early and seek veterinary advice.
We wish that our beloved pets could live forever and we dread the day they leave us. The main thing to remember is to love them and enjoy them every precious day that they spend with us.
Information supplied by Antech Diagnostics and Endeavour Hills Veterinary Hospital.
This article was written by Natasha Rodionov.