Dogs, known for their loyal companionship and wagging tails, have been mingling with humans for thousands of years. According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, 2018 was the Year of the Dog, and now we have just entered the Year of the Pig. As humans reflect on their past and present existence and make resolutions for the forthcoming year, let us take a moment to ponder effectively how our furry friends have returned around the sun, and their age in human years.
Time Flies in Dog Years
Dogs age much more quickly than humans, and the inaccurate multiplication of dog age by seven compared to a human can no longer be valid. The old method is believed to have originated because dogs generally live to about ten years old. Statistically, it is no longer true today. The seven years figure fails to acknowledge that not all dogs mature at the same time as humans. Dogs have their period of accelerated development during their first year of life, but after that, they age more gradually, with a considerable fluctuation in the aging process. Using the American Veterinary Medical Association chart released in 2020, the following table shows how dog age aligns with human age:
| Dog's Age (in years) | Small-Medium Breed | Large Breed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | 14 |
| 2 | 24 | 22 |
| 3 | 28 | 31 |
| 4 | 32 | 38 |
| 5 | 36 | 44 |
| 6 | 40 | 50 |
| 7 | 44 | 56 |
| 8 | 48 | 64 |
| 9 | 52 | 72 |
| 10 | 56 | 80 |
| 11 | 60 | 88 |
| 12 | 64 | 96 |
Facilitating Aging Gracefully
The aging process is almost inexorable for all living creatures, including dogs. Cellular damages accumulate in senior dogs, and they become more susceptible to illnesses and diseases. To maximize the aging process's gracefulness, certain lifestyle adjustments need to be made to dogs' lives. The following few tips will help your furry friend aging adequately:
- Provide Healthy Diet and Exercise: Proper nutrition, exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and restricting treats to less than 10% of the dog's daily food intake can ensure dogs remain healthy and fit.
- Routine Veterinary Checkup and Vaccinations: Identifying any health ailments and ensuring dogs receive their annual shots can save them greater suffering and ailments.
- Oral Hygiene: Brushing teeth regularly and rounding off dental checkups is vital to preventing gum ailments and more severe diseases, which could eventually lead to organ failure.
- Gentle Massages and Stretching: Healthy or ailing, old or young, massages, and stretches are vital to keeping your furry friend's muscle and bone structure healthy.
Celebrating Your Furry Friends
Social animals that dogs are, first and foremost, know their destiny is to be human's best friend. Dogs provide unconditional love, loyalty, and helpfulness to humans. This Year of the Dog, let us take a moment to remember that their age doesn't dull their faithful spirit. Dogs own unique characters and traits that make them so lovable to humans. Celebrate the furry friend in your life by throwing a birthday party or taking it out to a special spot this year. Like humans, 'aging gracefully' is a process of living life to the fullest at every stage of life.
版权声明：本文内容由互联网用户自发贡献，该文观点仅代表作者本人。本站仅提供信息存储空间服务，不拥有所有权，不承担相关法律责任。如发现本站有涉嫌抄袭侵权/违法违规的内容， 请发送邮件至3237157959@qq.com 举报，一经查实，本站将立刻删除。