Dogs never cease to amaze us with their energy and curiosity, their great trust in us and their patience with us two-legged companions. We want to enjoy this time together for as long as possible.
All the more important to know how dogs age, what keeps them healthy and why "1 dog year equals 7 human years" is a myth we must forget.
Dogs are the pet species with the greatest differences in appearance and size – the result of centuries of breeding. They also differ enormously when it comes to the aging process: Small dogs mature faster but live significantly longer at 15-18 years on average than large breeds, which are already true seniors at just 7 years. They mature more slowly in youth but age more rapidly.
The old rule "1 dog year = 7 human years" doesn't work, as it ignores these factors. For an accurate age determination, more complex formulas are needed. We've built them into our dog age calculator so you can easily work out your dog's age.
Many different factors are decisive for a dog's biological age (which is not always identical to the one on the pet passport):
Dogs are born with a certain genetic makeup. There's nothing we can change about that. Coat and eye color and many other traits are determined here, possibly also hereditary diseases.
Epigenetics describes factors that can activate or inhibit certain genes. Not all existing genes are necessarily read and put into action.
For example, a certain diet can slow down areas in the genome that drive the aging process. Environmental toxins like particulate matter, on the other hand, can promote inflammatory processes that burden cells.
Dogs seem to be quite similar to humans in their aging process. The changes in the body and the diseases that occur more frequently in old age are comparable.
The processes in the body have not yet been fully clarified down to the last detail, but there are many clues. Dogs are particularly well suited for researching these: Due to the large differences between dog breeds, the various factors can be well examined here.
One hypothesis is that smaller dogs age more slowly because their metabolism is set differently than in large dogs. They use more energy for heat production, have more stress-resistant cells, and lower levels of growth factors. They also produce fewer oxygen radicals that can cause damage in the body.
In large dogs, high concentrations of growth factors (e.g. IGF-1) lead to strong growth in youth but can accelerate cellular aging. Additionally – presumably also due to stronger growth – they have a higher risk of cancer.
How often a dog should be fed per day is a hotly debated topic that is often discussed dogmatically among dog owners. The "wolf faction" advocates once-daily feeding, while others prefer to feed much more frequently.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution here. As a rule of thumb: most dogs do well with feeding twice a day.
Older animals, puppies, and dogs with conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders need smaller and more frequent meals, as their system would be overwhelmed by 1-2 large portions.
Science shows: Longevity often begins in the mouth. Tartar and inflamed gums harbor plenty of bacteria. These can migrate through the bloodstream and settle on the heart valves. That's why dental diseases can be life-threatening for dogs.
Daily tooth brushing and annual dental cleaning at the vet can massively reduce this risk. Dental care in dogs is not cosmetic – it's a life-extending measure: A dog with healthy teeth statistically lives up to 2 years longer.