How do dogs age? The average life expectancy of a human has risen dramatically over the last hundred years, and so have the life expectancies of most dogs. This is largely the result of better food, vaccines and preventative care, and more effective medical treatment. However, it does mean that there are more elderly pets out there!
Well, some dogs never do (in their heads at least!). It does vary quite a lot – generally, small breeds like terriers or Chihuahuas live longer (average 13 years but often into their mid or late teens); and large breeds like Great Danes are lucky to reach 8.
Of course, it’s not just breed – different individuals will age at different rates, some being quite “old” by 5 or 6, and others still sprightly at 12! As a rough rule of thumb, though, we’d say that dogs need some additional care once they’re older than either 7 years, or 60% of their expected lifespan.
And just like older humans, older dogs have specific care requirements and are more prone to certain diseases and conditions.
The most important changes are that their bodies tend to become less efficient, and their metabolism slows down. This goes hand-in-hand with the effects of years of cumulative “wear-and-tear” changes on the cells of the body, which gradually accumulate genetic damage over the years. In fact, there is good evidence to suggest that “aging” is a genetic process – as the cells get older, the “telomeres” (a long length of DNA on the end of each chromosome) become progressively shorter, resulting in alterations to cell activity.
However, remember that old age isn’t a “disease” – just a change, An old dog may be just as healthy as a young one, it just means that certain diseases are more likely, and they tend to bounce back more slowly from illness or injury.
Yes, there certainly are. These tend to be either degenerative diseases, where cells have died and not been replaced, or wear-and-tear diseases, where a lifetime of damage starts to stack up. The most common are:
Like any dog – it depends on what their needs as an individual are. In general, however, it’s important to make sure they get:
If you have any concerns about your dog’s health or how dogs age, make an appointment with your vet to get them checked.
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