A Guide to Determining Your Pet’s ‘Human Age’
We believe that only humans age. Every pet owner knows better. As much as we want to keep our pets for the longest time possible, they age too and they age differently compared to us. If you are curious about your pet’s ‘human age’, the rule of thumb is to multiply its actual years by seven. For example, a three-year old cat is equivalent to a twenty one year old human. A ten year old dog is equivalent to a thirty year old human.
However, that is not always the case. Dogs have different aging process. For dogs, the maturity hits during the first few years but it recedes after that. The breed actually plays a role in the lifespan of dogs. Small dogs live longer compared to their medium and large-sized counterparts.
Pet Health Network Chart
The Pet Health Network designed a chart that pet owners can refer when determining the ‘human age’ of their pets. Like humans, pets will go through being an adult (ages four to seven), senior (ages eight to fifteen) and geriatric (ages fifteen onwards). The age will also depend on the weight of the pet.
Pedigree
The Pedigree website also features another way of calculating the pet’s ‘human age’. Pet owners simply refer to their website and from the drop-down menu, select the pet’s age and breed. If you really want the help of vets, you should go to one and discover aging issues of your pet.
International Cat Care
For your feline pet, there is also another way of determining their age. The International Cat Care gave a version of age chart. The chart tackles about the life stages of cat from kitten (birth to six months) to junior (seven months to two years), prime (three years to six years), mature (seven years to ten years), senior (eleven years to fourteen years) and geriatric (fifteen years onwards).
Here in Singapore, pets are welcome distractions. They improve the wellness of many and they should never be underestimated. The least that we can do is take care of our pets and treat them kindly. If we notice a change in their mood or health, it is time that we bring them to vets for check-ups.
Caring for the pet transcends to more than providing a shelter and medical care for them. Your pets need your time and your presence. Your pets, like any other humans, age. Might as well spend more time with them while they are alive or forever regret the lost times.
Tips to Control Your Dog’s Shedding
Excessive hair shedding is a grooming issue dog owners commonly experience. Although shedding is normal on dogs, some cases are caused by more serious factors. To minimize potential coat problems, know your pet’s needs and follow these tips.
- Brush the Hair Regularly
Brushing your dog’s hair daily is your best defence against uncontrollable shedding—don’t forget the chest, tummy, underarms, and legs. For puppies, you can get away with two to three times a week. For older dogs, daily brushing may be necessary as they groom themselves less frequently.
- Give Occasional Baths
Bathing helps loosen fur that you can later brush out. After brushing your dog’s hair, place him in a tub filled with warm water. Gently massage your pooch’s hair with dog shampoo, rinse thoroughly, and towel dry. It’s also recommended to use a blow dryer in cool setting for drying his hair. Once done, brush your pup’s coat one more time to remove loosened fur during the bathing process.
- Provide Proper Nourishment
The pet foods we often find in the market today are especially designed to keep your pet healthy. While shedding is a normal part of your pet’s seasonal cycle, you can prevent excessive shedding by making sure that your dog is eating healthily for his age and active level.
- Avoid Stressing Your Dog Out
Just like humans, dogs get stressed out, too. The primary causes of their stresses are separation anxiety, boredom, and loneliness. To combat shedding due to stress, spend enough time with your little furball and be sure they’re getting adequate exercise.
- Consider Clipping
If you’re living in a place with warm climate, like Singapore, and your dog has thick coat that sheds more often, consider having it clipped. Take your pup to a professional pet groomer and have his coat trimmed to reduce chances of hair tugs and tangles, which can lead to excessive hair shedding.
Although some shedding cases in dogs are to be expected, you can control excessive hair loss by taking good care of your Fido. By following these aforementioned tips, you can spend less time cleaning and vacuuming over furniture and more time playing with your little pooch.
