Is your dog as young as it feels?
Recent studies suggest determining your dog’s age is not as easy as 7 “dog years” for each year. Scientifically, measuring the changes in a dog’s and all mammal’s DNA is more accurate. Research indicates all mammals have very similar stages in physiology from birth to toddler, puberty, middle age, old age and eventually death. Something we don’t like to consider in our furry friends but their lifespan is shorter in years than ours. Of course this depend on the method of measuring their age.
However, research has been performed to determine if your pup goes through the same changes as we do. Scientists are looking into DNA, specifically how methylation (the combination of carbon and hydrogen) attaches to a DNA molecule by comparing blood samples. The amount of methylation increases with age in humans and indicates age. This method is also found to indicate age in other mammals, including dogs.
The Study
A new study analyzed blood samples taken from about 100 dogs from 8 weeks to 16 years old. Comparing the methylation levels in an existing study involving over 300 humans from ages 1 to just over 100. The comparison showed “ruffly” (pardon me I couldn’t resist) the same amount of methylation in humans and dogs. A young dog has similar levels to a young human and old humans matched old dogs.
Specifically an 8 week old pup corresponded to a 9 month old human. About the age when both start growing teeth. The study involved mostly Labrador retrievers, their lifespan is typically 12 years comparing them to the 70 year average lifespan of humans. The rub is from adolescence to maturity the age comparison is more approximate and dogs in this stage of life aged more rapidly than humans. The dogs in the mature age group had an increased level of methylation compared to their human counterparts. However the older dog’s aging rates matched up with older human’s methylation.
Completing the study on a single breed, other breeds age differently according to researchers. This chart depicts your Labrador’s age compared to a human. As you see below it’s not as simple as the 1 to 7 year ratio that was previously accepted. In any case your friend will still loves you and expects you to keep them healthy and safe.
Results
Life Period | Dogs | Humans |
Juvenile: infancy to before puberty | 2-6 months | 1-12 years |
Adolescent: puberty to completion of growth | 6 mos. to 2 years | 12-25 years |
Mature: growth completed to senior | 2-7 years | 25-50 years |
Senior: mature to end of expected life | 12 years | 70 years |