Debunking myths: how to calculate the age of dogs and cats?

For each year of a person, do they add seven still dog?, this account is commonly accepted as the way to know the age of dogs. But really it’s not so.

Following this, a team of California scientiststhe United States, broke this myth and developed a mathematical formula which is based on the changes in DNA and allows you to determine the age of the pets, and thus solve the enigma.

How is the age of dogs calculated?

The researchers created a mathematical formula which allows us to determine with much more precision what is the age of a dog. This rule is based on real science.

The team was based on research about the process of aging. That is to say, it is based on the fact that the chemical modifications who suffers DNA of a person throughout life create what is known as epigenetic clock.

The exact formula researchers use to match the epigenetic clock of dogs with humans is: 16 multiplied by the natural logarithm of the dog’s age, plus 31. The formula works as long as the dog already a year old.

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Dog age: how is the count done?

The easiest way to know the age of a dog is to use a scientific calculator. There, you must:

• Enter the age of the animal, as long as it has turned one year old and the day it was born is actually known.
• Press the ln key (natural logarithm).
• Multiply the resulting number by 16.
• Add 31.

The result will be the dog’s age in “human” years.

According to these calculations: a two-year-old dog is 42 human years; one of 4, 53; one of eight, 64, and one of 15, 74 years old. However, researchers emphasize that although the development of dogs is similar, there are breeds that age differently, so this formula may not be exact for all dogs.

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Calculate the age of cats in human years

During the first two yearsthe cat experiences very rapid growth, since it would correspond to 24 years of people. From that moment on the cat It is already developed and the age curve changes: Each year of the cat is equivalent to about 4 or 5 years of humans.

Age of cats in relation to humans

• 1 month of a cat equivalent to 6 human months.
• 2-3 months are equivalent to 2-5 years.
• 4 months are equivalent to 6-8 years.
• 6 months are equivalent to 10 years.
• 7 months are equivalent to 12 years.

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• 12 months are equivalent to 15-16 years.
• 18 months are equivalent to 20-21 years.
• 2 years are equivalent to 24 years.
• 3 years are equivalent to 28 years.
• 4 years are equivalent to 32 years.
• 5 years are equivalent to 36 years.
• 6 years are equivalent to 40 years.
• 7 years are equivalent to 44 years.
• 8 years are equivalent to 48 years.
• 9 years are equivalent to 52 years.
• 10 years are equivalent to 56 years.

The calculation continues in the same way during the years of life of the animal.