If they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, then you might be wondering what your newly acquired pal can learn if you don’t know his or her age. While it’s usually easy to tell an adult dog from a puppy, once they’re fully grown you might not be sure if your new canine companion is still youthful, middle-aged or getting on in years.
Many people welcome a dog into their home that has been adopted from a shelter with a patchy past. It’s important to know the age of a dog to determine what type of diet you should provide, what sort of behaviour to expect, what age-related health conditions to look out for, and whether any lethargy is just them slowing down or related to something else.
Individual breeds have different average life expectancies too so you may want to estimate how many years of happy, healthy hound life you still have to enjoy. Here are the techniques a vet will use to estimate a dog’s age.
Dog Body shape
As dogs grow older their weight distribution changes. Fatty areas develop along the lower back and lumbar area with age. Young and middle-aged dogs tend to have visible muscles and a defined body shape. An older dog is likely to display decreased muscle tone, perhaps a more obvious spine and other bones. An ageing pooch that has not been exercised much or fed a poor diet may be carrying extra weight.
Dog Coat condition
Just like us, dogs start to go a little grey as they get older. From the ages of seven to 10-years-old the fur around the muzzle, chest or haunches is likely to start showing some grey or white. Some breeds naturally have more white in their coat even from a young age, however. And just like us, greying can be an indicator of stress.
Examine the dog’s teeth
Dogs usually develop all of their permanent teeth by six months of age. The condition of teeth depends on several factors including the dog’s breed, genetics and behaviour, particularly whether they chewed a lot as a puppy and younger animal. The following points will give you some idea:
- If your dog’s adult teeth are all clean and white, it’s probable your pooch is not more than one year old.
- A yellow discolouration on just the back teeth may indicate that a dog is less than two years old.
- The presence of tartar build-up your dog may be three years and older. A lot of wear on the teeth suggests a dog is five years or more.
- Missing teeth, heavy tartar deposits and markedly worn teeth would indicate a dog is more than 10 years old.
Look into your dog’s eyes
As a dog gets older a natural process called ‘lenticular sclerosis’ begins to cause the lens of the eyes to become more cloudy and opaque. This is quite normal and does not affect vision. It will typically become noticeable between the ages of six and eight. If your pal’s eyes are bright and clear then the chances are he or she is younger than this. Of course, if you have any concerns about your dog’s vision then seek the advice of a vet.
Consider the dog’s behaviour
If a dog is still young, they’ll likely be eager to play, chase, run around and happily jump for toys and treats. An older dog will be less energetic, may have difficulty with the stairs or even jumping up onto your lap. An elderly canine may stretch and yawn more as they nap frequently during the day.
However, energy levels and an interest in play or otherwise could be a sign of other issues such as joint problems or have genetic causes. Dogs of any age may actually be exhibiting signs of anxiety, particularly if they experience persistent pain that causes them to be less active. If you think this could be the case, then head to our shop to discover the all-natural Pet Remedy products that can help alleviate stress, restore calm and restore your doggy’s zest for life.
