At what age do dogs actually start to age: vets explain
Scientists have discovered that dogs age earlier than previously thought.
Dogs are considered elderly not after 10 years, but after seven years of life, and old - after 12.5 years.
The results of the study were presented in the Journal of Small Animal Practice .
After studying data from veterinary clinics, scientists discovered that the majority of dogs classified as senior were over 7.25 years old.
The average age of dogs classified by veterinarians as “old” was 12.5 years.
Small breeds, it turned out, aged later. The average age of elderly Jack Russell Terriers was 14.1 years.
However, in large dogs, old age occurred between 10.5 and 13.6 years.
Also, for mixed-breed dogs, veterinarians determined 13.2 years as the threshold of old age.
The researchers also found that most dogs were overweight or underweight and had limited mobility.
Dogs also often suffer from dental diseases, skin diseases and digestive problems.
