- Age is not a simple conversion of “one to seven” human years; Dogs age unevenly, intensely when they are young and then more slowly.
- Scientists at the University of California have developed a new formula that takes into account epigenetic changes and breed differences to more accurately calculate a dog’s age.
- Want to know how to calculate your pet’s actual age in human years using natural logarithm?
How do we calculate a dog’s age?
Knowing your dog’s actual age helps you better tailor care, diet and preventive health care. Older dogs require different conditions than young ones – both in terms of activity and nutrition. Researchers emphasize that the size and breed of the dog have a significant impact on the rate of aging. Small breeds live longer and age slower than large breeds. The research team led by geneticist Tina Wang developed a formula based on the analysis of epigenetic changes (DNA methylation) that occur in the bodies of dogs and humans. On this basis, a more precise method of converting a dog’s age into human years was created.
How to calculate a dog’s age on a human calculator?
Scientists, analyzing data from studies involving over 100 Labrador Retrievers, have developed a precise method of converting dog’s age to human age. Instead of simple multiplication, they proposed a mathematical formula: human age = 16 × ln (dog’s age) + 31, where ln is the natural logarithm. According to this method, a one-year-old dog corresponds to the age of a 31-year-old human. A two-year-old is approximately 42 years old on a human scale, a four-year-old dog is equivalent to 53 years old, and a five-year-old dog is approximately 57 years old. A nine-year-old dog would be comparable in age to a 66-year-old human.
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