Everyone talks about calculating ages in dog years, but what does it really mean?
The folks at betterpet.com have created a better age calculator so dog owners can find out more about their pooches at any point in life.
“Unfortunately, many pet owners don’t always know how old their dog actually is and how they should be caring for their furry friend,” Dr. Leslie Brooks explains. “If pet parents know their dog’s exact stage of life, they can make better decisions about their diet, nutrition, exercise, and health.”
That’s why her team built this resource and made it free and available to everyone.
It updates the old 7:1 ratio, which according to the new dog age calculator, is flawed.
“As it turns out, figuring your dog’s age is more complex than multiplying by seven,” it explains. “That old rule of thumb that one dog year equals seven human years is based on the notion that dogs live about 10 years and humans live to about 70.”
“Our calculator is different from others because you can select the size, breed, and age of your dog in our calculator and get a result that not only tells you their age but also describes the lifespan, height, and weight of that particular breed,” Dr. Brooks says.
The Charlotte, NC-based veterinarian says this calculator allows users to enter their dog’s age and convert it to human years. It also offers expert insights about average life expectancy, weight and height.
And, it does this for over 100 dog breeds.
Everything from the Airedale Terrier to the Yorkshire Terrier is on the list. And, if you have a mixed-breed, or Heinz 57 pup, the calculator can still help assess your dog based on size.
Life expectancy is linked to small, medium, or large-sized dogs. For example, dogs under 40 pounds aren’t as likely to get things like hip dysplasia, which can limit their mobility and lead to obesity and other health problems. That’s partly why small dogs tend to live longer than larger breeds.
Whether you have a puppy, adult or senior dog, the tool is designed to give more pet owners a better understanding of their dog’s true age and what they need to live a longer and healthier life.
