Age Matter
Think you know everything about your dog or cat ?
Yet, probably have you already asked some of these questions : "Up to what age can he live ?”, "What is his age" human "?, "At what age can not reproduce ?”, "When can I be sterilized ?”…
Test your knowledge by answering a few questions…
1 – At what age a newborn kitten opens there eyes ?
A – Between 2 and 4 days
B – Between 7 and 10 days
C – Between 15 and 20 days
B : The kitten opens his eyes between 7 and 10 days after birth. The eye color is blue but initially it will change in most cases !
2 – Multiply by 7 the age of my dog for the equivalent human age.
A – True
B – Fake
B – FAUX : It's more complicated ! It depends on your dog's size. A large dog is aging much faster than small dog.
Furthermore, for a given size, the multiplier coefficient is higher at the beginning of life of the animal at the end of life.
Check the "painting of the ages" which allows you to calculate the "human age" of your pet.
3 – At what age can I get my dog neutered ?
A – 2 month
B – 6 month
C – and
B – 6 month : In dogs, it often takes between 6 weeks 3 months to properly isolate the testes into the scrotum. Puppies are so castrated later, typically from the age of 6 month. This is what is most often recommended by veterinarians (just like bitches, cats and kittens).
This is an indication that age may vary by case. Before castration, the veterinarian must ensure that both testicles are present in perineal area : it can indeed happen that both testicles, or both remain in the abdominal or inguinal position. This is called cryptorchidism. When this abnormality is present, castration by the method “classical” is not feasible and the veterinarian should use a different surgical technique, more complex.
4 – What is the expected average life of a cat ?
A – between 6 and 10 years
B – between 14 and 18 years
A and B – Both answers are correct. It depends on whether the animal is sterilized or not ! For non-sterilized cats, life expectancy is between 6 and 10 while she was between 14 and 18 years for neutered cats. Hence the importance of sterilization !
Of course, these values are average : there are cats living under old or older contrary, sometimes up more 20 years !
5 – The first hot bitches always appear between 6 and 8 month.
A – True
B – Fake
B – FAUX As life expectancy, the age of first estrus may vary depending on the dog template. A small breed dog is usually a bitch earlier large breed. giant breed female dogs often have their first heat in more than a year. small breed female dogs may have their first heat at the age of 6 month, even earlier.
6 – Up to what age can a dog be pregnant ?
A – 8years
B – 9 years
C – + from 10 years
C – More than 10 years : There are not actually of menopause in female dogs. It can theoretically be pregnant at any age. However, in getting older, the heat become less frequent and more discreet. Some dogs may have very marked when young hot with heavy blood loss vulvar, then, with age, have heat that pass completely unnoticed.
If you want to breed your bitch, it is recommended to do during his years “young adult” (before 5 years for a medium sized dog, and even earlier for giant breeds). A pregnancy in an older dog may present significant risks to the bitch and her cubs. Ask your veterinarian for advice.
7 – At what age a puppy can it be separated from his mother ?
A – 6 weeks
B – 8 weeks
C – 10 weeks
B – 8 weeks : It is essential that a puppy remains with the mother until the age of 8 weeks minimum, so that it has acquired all maternal learning. From this age, the puppy is able to live alone, without his mother. It is autonomous, not only nutritionally (early weaning to one month), but also in terms of psychological development.
8 – At what age a puppy loses it's baby teeth ?
A – 2 month
B – 4 month
C – 7 month
B – 4 month : A puppy starts to lose his baby teeth around age 4 month, and this continues until the age of 6 month. AT 7 month, a dog has all his adult teeth.
9 – Until what age should I vaccinate my cat ?
A – 10 years
B – 12 years
C – throughout his life
C – throughout his life : We sometimes think, wrongly, an older cat should be vaccinated. It is, on the contrary, recommended that reminders vaccine each year throughout the animal's life (except in cases of cons-indication medical emitted by your veterinarian). Indeed, older animals have lower immunity and are often weakened : if they are not vaccinated, they risk contracting diseases more easily.
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henceforth, you know all about age issues in your pet, stages of life, life expectancy ...
The secret to your little protected live as long as possible ? Lots of love, a good diet and regular medical follow your veterinarian !
Author : Dr. Magali Pernot. Illustrator : Dr. Caroline Allard – Vetup®