It is entirely possible to have a way of knowing the age of the dog, even when they are no longer puppies. Perhaps, this is one of the main doubts among people who like animals and often adopt a friend without having much information about it.
In dogs, age is very different than in humans. Some say that each year of an adult is equivalent to 7 years of a furry, however, some experts claim that this calculation method is not correct.
The fact is that in dogs, other factors are taken into account to determine the lifespan of a dog. The breed and size of man’s best friend are crucial to having an accurate calculation.
In general, small dogs live longer than larger ones, as the degeneration of their organs happens later.
The smallest live around 16 years, while the largest are already considered elderly between 9 and 12 years. To understand better, dogs that weigh up to 10 kg are small, those between 11 and 20 kg are medium, those between 21 and 40 kg are large, above that, they are in the giant category.
The best way to make this correct calculation is with the help of the veterinarian, he will know how to take all the factors into account to know exactly how long your puppy will live approximately.
Below, you will see how to detect the signs that reveal the age of the dog. Keep reading.
5 tips on how to know the age of the dog
Some details on the dog must be evaluated to find out its canine age, generally, people who adopt the furry one or who find it on the street without any other record tend to use these techniques to know a little more about the dog in question.
According to veterinarians, the following signs need to be evaluated:
1- Puppies have fewer teeth than an adult dog
An adult dog has an average of 42 teeth, whereas a puppy has approximately 28 teeth. It’s already a good tip to know if the dog is young or in adulthood.
Of course, the number of teeth in dogs can vary greatly according to breed.
Dogs, like humans, are born without teeth. But in dogs, teeth start to come in after 3 weeks, that is, much faster than in babies.
At 4 months of age, these first teeth fall out and are replaced by definitive ones that are rounder, usually this happens up to 7 months.
In short, up to 8 weeks of life, puppies have 28 teeth and they are very sharp.
From the age of 7 months, puppies already have 42 well-rounded permanent teeth.
2- Pay attention to the color of your teeth
How to know the age of the dog is relatively simple, above we saw the “number of teeth” between the puppy and the adult dog. Now, it’s essential to evaluate their coloring along with other characteristics to get a brief idea of their age.
As soon as the permanent teeth are born , at 7 months, they are rounded and very “WHITE”.
However, over the years, these characteristics change a lot, see:
- Dogs from 1 to 2 years old – They have very firm teeth, however, the back teeth may have a slightly yellowish color.
- Dogs from 3 to 5 years old – At this stage, all the back and front teeth can be yellowish and also wear out.
- Dogs 5 to 10 years old – Teeth are very yellow and worn. Some dogs show signs of diseases such as cavities, red and swollen gums.
- Dogs 10 to 15 years old – Teeth well worn and with a lot of tartar that can be easily perceived with the naked eye. Also, some teeth may have fallen out.
Therefore, the “number of teeth” and “coloring” are two important factors to calculate the dog’s age.
3- Pay attention to the coat
Some physical signs are quite apparent in elderly dogs, as in humans with regard to hair, the coat changes color and the skin also loses elasticity.
The hair of elderly dogs turns gray or white especially in the muzzle and face region, later it spreads over the head and body.
4- Evaluate the dog’s eyes and muscle tone
The eyes also change over time, in older dogs they become more opaque, they look lifeless, quite different from young dogs that are brighter and without tears or any other type of secretion. Some senior dogs can develop cataracts.
Another important point is the development of muscles when he moves. If it is very slow and has difficulty walking and performing simple movements, it is quite possible that it is an elderly dog, as most dogs gain weight over time or they may be excessively thin, without muscles.
Younger dogs have more muscle tone because they move, run and walk more easily.
The difference is quite visible and can be easily noticed.
5- Clinical evaluation
Obviously, the best way to know the age of the dog is to take him to the veterinarian. The professional specializes in animals and may have a more accurate guess as to what the furry’s real lifespan would be.
In addition to using the assessment method mentioned above, he will also do “physical analysis and examinations” to get a better measure of:
- Bones
- Together
- Muscles
- Internal organs
That way, you’ll know if the dog has any illnesses and other signs of aging.
Dog care at every stage of life
The information on how to know the dog’s age is not out of simple curiosity, but it is necessary to understand how to take care of that puppy.
Puppies must be protected against diseases such as worms, parasites, hepatitis, various viruses and canine rabies, for this, it is important that the tutor keeps the vaccination booklet for pets strictly up to date.
As soon as he completes 30 days of life, he must be taken to the veterinarian, where examinations will be carried out for evaluation, where he will especially determine the exact moment of these vaccines.
In addition, other feeding details can be passed on, as from 2 months of age, they can already eat food and stop ingesting only milk.
From then on, all you have to do is take care of your puppy with love and affection, provide food and water, do daily activities, play a lot and take him to the vet once a year to monitor his health.
But, what about as time goes by?
Inevitably, time does not stand still, both human beings and animals suffer from changes in their bodies and appearance.
In dogs, it is noticed immediately when he is elderly, in addition, he requires special care. Check out:
- He is always very tired and sleepy;
- Does not have the vitality to play and practice physical activity;
- Urinary diseases are quite common;
- sagging and sagging skin;
- Yellow, worn and decayed teeth;
- Changes in weight, some breeds tend to put on more weight than others;
- Appearance of tumors and degenerative diseases;
- An elderly dog is more affectionate, serene and peaceful;
Older dogs tend to get sicker easily, each breed has a different heredity, some may have an incidence of more cancer, others of kidney failure, arthritis, osteoarthritis, cataracts, among others.
Therefore, they are more dependent on their tutors to change their diet, lifestyle and make the appropriate treatment.
Senior dogs need attention, they should be walked constantly to encourage physical activity. Visits to the vet should be done at least once a year or in a shorter time, it will depend on each case.
Senior dogs also cannot eat just anything, they need a special feed that contains all the important nutrients to meet their daily needs.
Now that you already have an idea of how to know the age of the dog and also the care for each phase, take good care of your best friend. He deserves!
