Determining the seniority of your pet often correlate with breed and weight. For many years, the calculation that one pet year is equivalent to seven human years has been around. However, reality is not so straightforward. Understanding your pet's age is crucial for managing their health, diet, and overall care. Numerous factors contribute to aging, such as breed and living conditions, whether they are an indoor or outdoor pet.
Does size and breed matter?
Yes. Smaller breed dogs tend to outlive larger breeds. Larger breeds generally live 8-10 years, while smaller breeds may reach 12-15 years of age or more. Medium sized dogs being somewhere in the middle.
Cats age differently from humans. The first two years of a cat's life are equivalent to approximately 24 years. After that each cat year roughly corresponds to about four human years.
Pet Owners Have an Influence
As in humans, the more overweight you are, the higher the chances of acquiring health conditions such as diabetes, trouble getting around, thus difficulty to lose weight, breathing problems, heart issues and joint pain. Regrettably, the more overweight a pet is, the shorter their lifespan tends to be. It is essential to maintain strict diet for them and not offering unhealthy table scraps...even if it is just a "small piece".
What is the Senior Age?
Due to the multiple factors (breed and weight) involved in this question, veterinarians consider cats and dogs of all sizes breeds as 'young seniors' at the ages of 5-7 years of life. At and after the age of 8, they are considered as seniors.
Understanding whether your pet is approaching senior status or has already entered golden years, it's crucial for pet owners to give additional attention at home. We have a follow-up read to inform you what you should be monitoring as an owner of a senior pet.
If you are uncertain about whether your pet has an adequate quality of life, please utilize All Pets Go To Heaven's assessment tool to in hopes to help answer your questions.
Consider All Pets Go To Heaven who provide at home euthanasias within Dallas, TX and its neighboring cities.