Age in Pets – Beyond Dog Years‏

Find out your pet’s true age!

Everybody knows the unfortunate truth that pets age faster than their owners do. While many people have heard that one human year equals seven dog years that equation isn’t entirely true, nor is it accurate for all the other pet varieties out there! One human year does equal seven dog years, for the first two years of life. After that though the aging process slows down and one human year, on average, will equal four dog years instead of seven.

Cat’s have a similar age progression as dogs. One human year is equal to seven cat years with a gradual slowing after that. Check out this handy chart below to find out your pet’s age in human years. Understanding your pet’s age in relation to yours may help you to better understand why your seemingly young pet is showing signs of age.

What about other pets, though? How old is your pet guinea pig? Or pet rabbit? Potbelly Pig? Let’s find out!

What’s Your Pet’s True Age?

• Rabbit – The first year for a rabbit is equal to about eight human years. By the time a rabbit has hit the age of five, they will be nearing 45 in human years.
• Guinea Pig – The first year for a guinea pig is about ten human years progressing at that same rate so that by the time five human years has passed, your guinea pig will be fifty!
• Hamster – Hamsters age very rapidly. One human year is equal to twenty hamster years with few hamsters ever reaching their fifth birthday. If they do that would make them 100!
• Horse – As a much larger pet horses age two years for every one human year generally, ensuring rather long lifespans.
• Parakeet – The average parakeet will be five within the first year of life. It will be about twenty-two after five human years.
• Potbelly Pig – These little piggies age about three years to our one. Another potentially long-lived pet!

photo credit: Descansando via photopin (license)