Dog Age

How many years can a dog live? Nobody can predict a dog's age or how long it can live. We do know that small dogs in general live more years than big dogs. In addition, female dogs tend to live more than male dogs, and dogs that live outside live less than dogs that are at home with us. These are just generalizations. There exists the possibility that dogs can live above or below their average mortality. Veterinarians believe that dogs live longer nowadays due to the knowledge their owners hold about them and the advances in veterinarian science.

What is my dog's age? I'm sure you're familiar with the old belief that for every year a dog lives, it is equivalent to 7 human years. Nowadays, this comparison is no longer considered valid. At any given moment, your dog can find himself in a determinant phase of development that is only applicable to him, and does not correspond to any aging statistics or charts. If we observe dogs at canine expositions, we can notice enormous differences in vitality among them.

When will my dog be of old age?
Similar to human beings, white hairs are a symptom of growing old in dogs, but there are several dogs that develop white hairs when they are still relatively young. The first white hairs appear by the whiskers, and then it spreads throughout the whole nose. Particularly on dogs that have brown, red or golden hair, the color of their heads can turn white. In general, the skin of most dogs loses elasticity and becomes greasier. The eyes become more opaque and the dog can lose his hearing, but his sense of smell tends not to diminish. Since the dog is an animal guided by smell, having his hearing or vision malfunction does not matter as much to him. 

The dog will probably jump less on the sofa, not play as much with the ball and avoid going up the stairs unless it's necessary. In addition, he will stretch more often and it will cost him more to wake up. Since the dog will not do as much exercise as he did before, his meals should be reduced or he will gain unnecessary weight. The denture of your dog might start having problems—some teeth might be loose. His nails will grow longer, but not be as strong. In terms of reflexes, they will most likely become slower. It might be hard to notice these differences in your dog, but it is important to always be alert in order to take the right precautions.

Studies have shown that dogs between the age of nine and twelve tend to suffer from heart problems. The liver and the pancreas might cause several problems, and the incidence of diabetes increases in dogs older than eight years. A dog's immune system will become weaker and it will increase the risk of tumors. 

Several of these changes might not be as visible on certain dogs because all dogs age differently. Owners cannot predict what type of illnesses their dogs might get, but they can help them live their old age with dignity, care, respect and friendship. Old Dog, Perfect Dog