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QED

(2,730 posts)
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 12:07 PM Jul 2020

How Old Is Your Dog?

How old is your dog in human years? Scientists develop better method than 'multiply by 7'

If there's one myth that has persisted through the years without much evidence, it's this: multiply your dog's age by seven to calculate how old they are in "human years." In other words, the old adage says, a four-year-old dog is similar in physiological age to a 28-year-old person.


But a new study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine throws that out the window. Instead, they created a formula that more accurately compares the ages of humans and dogs. The formula is based on the changing patterns of methyl groups in dog and human genomes—how many of these chemical tags and where they're located—as they age. Since the two species don't age at the same rate over their lifespans, it turns out it's not a perfectly linear comparison, as the 1 years rule-of-thumb would suggest.

<snip>

Dogs are an interesting animal to study, Ideker said. Given how closely they live with us, perhaps more than any other animal, a dog's environmental and chemical exposures are very similar to humans, and they receive nearly the same levels of health care. It's also important that we better understand their aging process, he said, as veterinarians frequently use the old 1 years ratio to determine a dog's age and use that information to guide diagnostic and treatment decisions.

What emerged from the study is a graph that can be used to match up the age of your dog with the comparable human age. The comparison is not a 1 ratio over time. Especially when dogs are young, they age rapidly compared to humans. A one-year-old dog is similar to a 30-year-old human. A four-year-old dog is similar to a 52-year-old human. Then by seven years old, dog aging slows.

https://phys.org/news/2020-07-dog-human-years-scientists-method.html

Good graph at link. But....not all breeds will age the same. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger breeds.
13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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How Old Is Your Dog? (Original Post) QED Jul 2020 OP
The graph QED Jul 2020 #1
So my four year old Lab Ohiogal Jul 2020 #2
I chose to think that in dog years randr Jul 2020 #3
How old is Colbie? Don't rightly know. Hard to calculate for certain with rescues . . . Journeyman Jul 2020 #4
This is the best one I've found... Alacritous Crier Jul 2020 #5
This is better! QED Jul 2020 #6
You're welcome! Alacritous Crier Jul 2020 #7
I'd be 72 if I had a JRT at any age! QED Jul 2020 #8
Yeah... Alacritous Crier Jul 2020 #9
Beagles can be active too QED Jul 2020 #10
Yes, I know they're active... Alacritous Crier Jul 2020 #11
Our dog is 17 radical noodle Jul 2020 #12
Wow! QED Jul 2020 #13

Journeyman

(15,001 posts)
4. How old is Colbie? Don't rightly know. Hard to calculate for certain with rescues . . .
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 12:24 PM
Jul 2020

He's 13 to 15 years old now, maybe 16. Spent some time on the streets of Los Angeles so he's skittish at sudden moments and scared of loud noises, even now, more than a decade after he came to live with us.

But he's healthy, and well-cared for. And though near the end of his journey he enjoys the routines of each day. He's happy, near as any of us can tell.

Never understood the fascination of equating dogs lives to humans. Not all humans age the same, nor do all dogs. I'm 66 and walk 8 miles a day. My neighbor is 59 and can barely make it to the mailbox.

QED

(2,730 posts)
6. This is better!
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 02:44 PM
Jul 2020

My 7 year old doxie is 44 in human years and my 11 year old is 60 years.

Thank you for this.

QED

(2,730 posts)
8. I'd be 72 if I had a JRT at any age!
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 03:20 PM
Jul 2020

I had one as a foster once and he wore me out! His new owner was thrilled - he'd always had them but I have lazy doxies which suit me fine!

Alacritous Crier

(3,802 posts)
9. Yeah...
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 03:53 PM
Jul 2020

he's slowed down an awfully lot in the past two years. He was a spitfire most of his life. He sleeps about 16 hours a day now. His hearing is about gone and his vision seems to have deteriorated as well. He will still get fired up once in awhile and he loves barking at things out the window.

He's been a great dog but I think, after he passes on, we'll get something more sane for out next dog.

Maybe a beagle.

QED

(2,730 posts)
10. Beagles can be active too
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 04:05 PM
Jul 2020

But such good dogs! I had a corgi-beagle mix for a foster once. I loved that dog and almost failed (again) but we found her a great home. Nothing beats a corgi grin.

Alacritous Crier

(3,802 posts)
11. Yes, I know they're active...
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 04:09 PM
Jul 2020

but there is nothing like a Jack Russell. When they're young there is no stopping them.

Corgi is a great dog.

radical noodle

(7,990 posts)
12. Our dog is 17
Fri Jul 3, 2020, 02:00 AM
Jul 2020

but a mixed breed. I think she's part Golden, so that was the breed I picked and it came out to 124 in human years.

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