Young At Heart

A new calculator revolutionizes the concept of ‘dog years’

By Deb Acord
CTW Features

Buster the terrier has had epilepsy for more than a decade. His hearing is failing and he has lost a couple of teeth - common for an old dog. In human years, Buster is 14. In the traditional way of determining his age in "dog years" (multiplying a dog's age by seven), he's nearly 100.

But calculate his DogAge, and Buster suddenly becomes younger - 11 "dog years" younger. He's no spring chicken, but being in his 80s beats being 100.

DogAge is a measure of dog health based on science and statistics. Like its parent program RealAge, it uses a detailed questionnaire about diet, lifestyle and health to determine biological, not chronological, age. RealAge is a collection of interactive guides (on Web sites and in books) that measure a person's health.

In Buster's case, several factors helped achieve a younger biological age: he's neutered, gets regular checkups, is given medication for his epilepsy, gets exercise, and lives in a non-smoking home. And most important, says Dr. Dondi Dahlgaard, "He is an ideal weight."

Dahlgaard is the author of "DogAge: How to Keep Your Dog Youthful and Healthy" (Plumb Books). She is the chairwoman of the DogAge and CatAge Scientific Review Boards and is director of critical care at SouthPaws Veterinary Referral Center in Washington, D.C.

Keeping a dog at ideal weight is vital to keeping a dog at optimal health," Dahlgaard says. "The most common mistake dog owners make is over-feeding." Sometimes, it's intentional. Other times. it's not, Dahlgaard says. "Some dog food manufacturers pack too many calories into their food," she says. "Pet owners should always read the labels."

Most dogs will thrive on one of the "lite" foods on the market, Dahlgaard says, and it doesn't have to be a super-premium or designer brand. "There are a lot of commercially available dog foods that are more closely monitored than the boutique dog foods," she says.

Once owners find a brand that works for their dog, Dahlgaard says they shouldn't change. "That's one way you can keep track of how your dog is feeling," she says. "We get dogs in the emergency room that are very sick, and when we ask the owner about their pet's appetite, they often say, 'he decided he didn't like that brand of dog food.'" So they've been experimenting with other new foods, and haven't yet settled on one the dog will eat. "If that Lab has been happy to eat the same food for seven years and all of a sudden won't eat, that means something is wrong."

Keeping track of your dog's diet isn't the only way to prolong life, Dahlgaard says. "Owners who take their dogs regularly to the vet for preventative care, including spaying and neutering, are keeping them healthy. Keeping your dog safe is also important. Do you walk them on a leash, have a fenced yard, have them wear a seatbelt in the car?"

Another way to ensure a pet will have a long life: exercise. "It's not just for their physical conditioning, but also their mental state," Dahlgaard says.

Dog owners might care about their pets but may not understand nuances relating to their health or notice important indicators that something might be wrong.

"If I don't feel well for a day, I won't necessarily go to the doctor unless I am violently ill, but when that happens, I know I should do something," Dahlgaard says. "Lots of times, dogs are showing outward signs for significant periods of time, but owners disregard them."

If the dog has a change in behavior, it could indicate something is wrong and owners should contact their veterinarian.

"If owners really pay attention to their dogs, they can help them live longer, Dahlgaard says. "And you have to understand your dog and learn from mistakes. Your dog isn't going to learn that he gets sick from eating the garbage. He'll eat the garbage whenever he has the opportunity, so his owner has to keep it out of reach."

It all comes down to "knowing your dog," Dahlgaard says. "If you have a dog that's an ingester - always eating stuffed toys or clothing - don't leave those things anywhere he can get to them."

"It's up to you, not your dog."

So regarding Buster the terrier: His DogAge was calculated with a test that comes up with benefits and costs. Benefits will decrease his biological age; costs will make him age faster.

Buster's benefits:

- Regular vet checkups

- Nonsmoking home

- No infections or parasites

- Medication for health conditions

- Plenty of exercise, training

- Safe yard and use of a leash

Buster's costs:

- Possible oral disease

- Possible missing vaccinations

- Canine disease

For all dogs, there are some things that will keep them younger longer and some that age them faster. Here are some that keep dogs young:

- Eating some vegetables and fruits

- Playing at the park

- Traveling in a dog carrier in the car

- Recognizing his name and obeying basic commands

- Maintaining perfectly white teeth

- Eating a measured amount of dog food each day

These things will age him prematurely:

- Eating such "people food" as greasy fast foods, or cooked poultry bones

- Chasing cars

- Traveling in the back of an open pickup truck

- Behaving badly around children

- Suffering from bleeding gums

- Grazing from a food bowl always kept full

For more information on DogAge or CatAge, or to take the test: www.dogage.com or www.catage.com

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