How Old is My Dog?
How to Tell Dog or Puppy Age by Observing Teeth, Eyes, Skin and Coat
Jul 28, 2009
When a dog or puppy has no known background, it may be impossible, even for veterinarians, to accurately determine its age. Many factors can affect a dog’s appearance of aging; however, there are several ways to make an educated guess.
Estimating a Puppy’s Age
A puppy’s age can be estimated more accurately than that of an older dog. Newborn and very young puppies have no teeth. At one month of age, their baby teeth, also called deciduous or temporary teeth, will begin to erupt through the gums.
Over the next couple of weeks, the growing puppy will become the proud owner of 28 very sharp little teeth. During this teething period they will, most likely, be mouthing and chewing everything in sight. Providing plenty of safe chew toys and keeping items such as shoes, remotes, books, and electrical cords out of reach will prevent many disasters.
Puppies soon lose these baby teeth and replace them with a set of shiny, new permanent teeth. The central and intermediate incisors will come in usually between 2 and 5 months and the corner incisors at around 4 to 5 months. Incisors are the smaller teeth in the front center, used for nibbling and grooming.
Permanent canines usually come in at around 5 months of age. These are the longer teeth in the front corners of the mouth that are used for tearing food.
The first, second, third, and fourth premolars located in the central jaw erupt between 4 and 6 months of age. These are used for grinding food.
Lastly, three molars will appear in the back of the jaw between 5 and 7 months of age. These teeth when used in conjunction with strong jaw muscles are used for crushing.
Estimating Age in an Adult Dog
At around one to two years of age, the teeth may lose some of their shine and develop a yellow tint, especially in the jaw teeth. The sharp, jagged edges of the lower incisors may begin to show signs of wear.
At around three to four years of age, a dog may show signs of tartar on most of the teeth and the upper incisors may also begin to show signs of wear.
As the dog continues to age, tartar buildup will increase and become darker in color. More teeth will show signs of wear and the canines may become more rounded or blunt. A very old dog may have excessive amounts of tartar with some loose or missing teeth.
Older dogs may have a cloudy appearance to their eyes. Sometimes this is due to cataracts which cause blindness and sometimes it’s due simply to a hardening of the lens protein as the dog ages.
Older dogs, just as humans, will have graying of the hair. This usually begins around the muzzle and can progress to most of the face, head and other parts of the body. Of course this may not be noticeable in white or light colored dogs.
Older dogs also lose skin elasticity much like humans do. This may show up primarily under the chest and neck and around the face.
Older dogs may appear stiff and arthritic.
How Accurately Can One Estimate a Dog’s Age?
Estimating a dog’s age is by no means an accurate science as many factors such as breed, quality of care, and environment all figure in.
Large breeds generally age more quickly than smaller breeds.
Occasional dental cleanings by the veterinarian, regular tooth brushing, a premium diet of hard kibble, and chewies designed for dental health tend to keep a dog’s teeth in good condition and appearing younger.
Good skin care and parasite control can prevent wear on the teeth. Dogs who chew and bite excessively due to fleas and other skin problems can wear down the incisors prematurely.
Skin elasticity can vary with breed or mix as well as the environment the dog has been exposed to, and his general health.
In other words, a dog who has had good care may not show his age. On the other hand, a dog who has lived a hard life may appear older than his years.
Every dog should see the veterinarian for a yearly check up. Twice a year is recommended for older dogs.
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