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Canine conditions such as temperature, change, hearing, and skin condition often degrade with Geriatric age, and medical conditions such as Cancer , Renal Failure , Arthritis and joint conditions, and other signs of old age may appear. The aging profile of dogs varies according to their adult size (often determined by their s such as Mastiff s, often only 7 to 8 years. The latter also mature slightly older than smaller breeds - giant breeds becoming adult around two years old compared to the norm of around 12 - 15 months for other breeds. AGING PROFILE for larger view, and for data sources.Data sources: Note that there is no one authoritative chart; this chart follows best information presently available. ]] See Also: Dog years A variety of calculators to convert "dog years" to human years have been proposed and can be found on the Internet . They can be summarized into three types:
No one formula for dog to human age conversion is scientifically agreed, although within fairly close limits they show great similarities. As a rough approximation, the human equivalent of a one-year-old dog is between about 10 and 15 years—a one-year-old dog or cat has generally reached its full growth and is sexually mature, although it might still be lanky and need to fill in a more mature musculature, similar to human teenagers. The second year is equivalent to about another 3 to 8 years in terms of physical and mental maturity, and each year thereafter is equivalent to only about 4 or 5 human years.Spadafori, Gina (1996). ''Dogs for Dummies''. IDG Books. ISBN 1-56884-861-7 Emotional maturity occurs, as with humans, over an extended period of time and in stages. As in other areas, development of giant breeds is slightly delayed compared to other breeds, and as with humans there is a difference between adulthood and full maturity (compare humans age 20 and age 40 for example). In all but large breeds, socio-sexual interest arises around 6-9 months, becoming emotionally adult around 15-18 months, and full maturity around 3-4 years, although as with humans learning and refinement continues thereafter. According to the UC Davis ''Book of Dogs'', small-breed dogs (such as small Terrier s) then become Geriatric at about 11 years; medium-breed dogs (such as larger Spaniel s) at 10 years; large-breed dogs (such as German Shepherd Dog s) at 8 years; and giant-breed dogs (such as Great Dane s) at 7 years.Siegal, Mordecai (Ed.; 1995). ''UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Book of the Dogs''; Chapter 5, "Geriatrics", by Aldrich, Janet. Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-270136-3. LIFE EXPECTANCY BY BREED Accidents aside, life expectancy usually varies within a range. For example, a Beagle (average life expectancy 13.3 years) usually lives to around 12 - 15 years, and a Scottish Terrier (average life expectancy 12 years) usually lives to around 10 - 16 years.http://estateplanningforpets.org/faq2.htm A random-bred dog (also known as a Mongrel ) has an average life expectancy of 13.2 years in the USA and much of Europe. Sorted by breed These data are from Michell (1999).''Longevity of British breeds of dog and its relationships with sex, size, cardiovascular variables and disease'', A.R. Michell, Veterinary Record vol 145 no 22 November 27 1999. PubMed listing The total sample size for his study was about 3,000 dogs, but the sample size for each breed varied widely. For most breeds, the sample size was low. For a more comprehensive compilation of results of longevity surveys, see the breed data tables at the Dog Longevity web site . Sorted by expectancy Factors affecting life expectancy Apart from breed, several factors influence life expectancy:
A major study of dog longevity, that considered both natural and other factors affecting life expectancy, concluded that: :"The mean age at death (all breeds, all causes) was 11 years one month, but in dogs dying of natural causes it was 12 years eight months. Only 8 per cent of dogs lived beyond 15, and 64 per cent of dogs died of disease or were euthanased as a result of disease. Nearly 16 per cent of deaths were attributed to cancer, twice as many as to heart disease. In neutered males the importance of cancer as a cause of death was similar to heart disease. [... The results also include breed differences in lifespan, susceptibility to cancer, road accidents and behavioural problems as a cause of euthanasia." EFFECTS OF AGING In general, dogs age in a manner similar to humans. Their bodies begin to develop problems which are less common at younger ages, they are more prone to serious or fatal conditions such as Cancer , Stroke , and the like, they become less mobile and may develop joint problems such as Arthritis , and in old age often become less physically active. Additionally, they become less able to handle change, including wide climatic or temperature variation, and may develop dietary or skin problems or go Deaf . In some cases Incontinence may develop. :"Aging begins at birth, but its manifestations are not noticeable for several years. The first sign of aging is a general decrease in activity level, including a tendency to sleep longer and more soundly, a waning of enthusiasm for long walks and games of catch, and a loss of interest in the goings on in the home." http://www.canismajor.com/dog/older.html The most common effects of aging are:http://www.petplace.com/dogs/what-to-expect-as-your-dog-ages/page1.aspx
Illnesses Behavior, needs and adaptability HANDLING AGING IN DOGS As a dog moves from midlife to old age and becomes geriatric, there are some specific measures which can help to keep a good Quality Of Life and help the older dog remain in the best condition possible:
Other common changes include being aware of changes to their attention, behavior and body. For example, skin conditions can often be noticed by familiarity with their feeling, as gained through stroking and exploring their fur. Dull eyes or appearance of anxiety may indicate pain. Sudden changes to digestion or activity level may indicate organ or diet issues that can often be treated. REFERENCES SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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