New Methods For Determining Your Dogs Age
This video will teach you more accurate ways to figure out your dogs age, and how to keep your dog living a longer healthier life.
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Step 1:
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The Debate
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For years dog owners have been told that to figure out their dogs age in human years, you simply multiply by seven. For example, if your dog was seven you would multiply by seven which makes your dog's age 49. It gives us humans a number we can relate too. Sounds good, but thoughts on this simple formula are starting to change.
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Step 2:
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An Expert View
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Veterinarian Dondi Dahlgaard wrote a book called "Dog Age". In it she makes a compelling case for changing the way we look at how old our mutts really are, and states that multiplying by seven is actually incorrect. Dondi has evaluated several lifestyle factors that have been shown repeatedly to affect how long and how well a dog lives. Smoking can predispose your dog to developing nasal tumors. A recent study finished by Purina showed that dogs who are fed to their proper body condition lived almost two years longer than those who are not.
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Step 3:
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The Online Test
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There's a companion website, DogAge.com that will let you take the dog age test right on your computer. I really want to know Buddy's age, so I'm going to put the dog age test to the Buddy test. "What best resembles Buddy Wilder's shape?" Well Buddy is obviously in shape so let's say he's not too boney. "Does anyone in Buddy Wilder's house smoke?" Absolutely not. The test calculated Buddy's human age at 45.2 years. Now Buddy is an 11 year old Sheltie, and Shelties live to about 14 years. So I would have to say that the test wasn't that accurate, but what I love about the "Dog Age" book and test is helps you understand how to prolong your pet's life. For the "Pet Report" I'm Mitch Wilder.
