你家毛孩多大了?關於犬貓年齡計算方式
- Jessie Chen
- 7月29日
- 讀畢需時 4 分鐘
已更新：8月15日
自1950年開始，我們最常聽到關於狗的「人類年齡」計算方法是：狗狗一歲相當於人類七歲。
2019年加州大學聖地牙哥分校的研究人員，研究了104隻年齡在4個月至16歲之間的拉布拉多獵犬，並提出了一個將狗的年齡轉換為人類年齡的公式，可利用DNA甲基化(DNA methylation.)概念來確定狗的年齡（以人類年齡計算），得出：
【人類年齡 ≈ 16 × ln(狗年) + 31】
不過眾所周知，不同品種、體型的狗狗老化速度不同，而這項研究僅涉及單一品種，因此並不適用在所有狗狗上。雖然這個公式不完美，但的確比之前的方式更有根據。
而美國獸醫協會 (AVMA)最新建議則是：由於幼犬比人類兒童成熟得更快，因此狗狗1歲等同人類15歲、次年約加 9歲，後續每年約加 5歲，並因品種、體型不同而有所差異。大型犬種在5到6歲左右被認為是老年犬，小型犬種則是6到7歲。
為什麼小型犬比大型犬壽命長？
雖然具體原因尚不清楚，但目前科學家們提出的結論是：體重每增加4.4磅(約1.8公斤)，狗的預期壽命就會減少約一個月。有可能是因為大型犬更快死於與年齡相關的疾病，以及大型犬快速生長可能導致細胞異常生長和死於癌症的可能性更高。
犬貓老年學是新興的科學領域，因為愛寵人士希望延長與毛孩相處的時間，更希望能提高生活的品質。而如何利用老年科學研究成果幫助犬貓「延緩衰老，促進健康長壽」，則有待科學家們未來進行研究，以便更好地解釋生長與死亡之間的關聯。
至於貓的壽命除了取決於品種，也取決於是家貓還是野貓。除了部分品種貓如暹羅貓等壽命較長，一般家貓的平均壽命為16至18年，而野貓的平均壽命約為13至14年。公認估算法為：2歲相當於人約24到25歲，之後每年加 4歲方式來計算。
可見現代科學還是無法對犬貓實際年齡計算，有更具體貼切的研究和共識。但無論如何，怎麼配合毛孩不同年齡階段給予正確周全的需求照顧，是所有寵愛的飼主必須正視和投入的課題。
本文資料來源：[akc.org]；[goodnet.org]；[sciencefocus.com]
撰文｜《 p’adore Today 寵愛今天》 編輯部
How old is your furry friend? How to calculate the age of dogs and cats
Since 1950, the most common way to calculate "human years" for dogs is: one dog year is equivalent to seven human years.
In 2019, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, studied 104 Labrador retrievers aged between 4 months and 16 years and proposed a formula to convert dog age to human age. The formula uses the concept of DNA methylation to determine the dog's age (calculated in human years) and concluded:
Human age ≈ 16 × ln(dog years) + 31
However, it is well known that dogs of different breeds and sizes age at different rates, and this study only involved a single breed, so it is not applicable to all dogs. Although this formula is not perfect, it is indeed more reliable than previous methods.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently released its recommendations: Because puppies mature faster than human children, a dog's first birthday is equivalent to a 15-year-old human, followed by an additional nine years the following year, and then an additional five years each year thereafter. This number varies depending on breed and size. Large breeds are considered senior at around five to six years old, while small breeds are considered senior at six to seven.
Why do small dogs live longer than large dogs?
While the exact reasons are unclear, scientists have concluded that for every 4.4 pounds (1.8 kg) of weight gain, a dog's life expectancy decreases by about a month. This may be because large dogs die more quickly from age-related diseases, and their rapid growth may lead to a higher likelihood of abnormal cell growth and death from cancer.
Canine and feline gerontology is an emerging scientific field, driven by pet lovers' desire to spend more time with their furry companions and improve their quality of life. Future research on how to leverage the findings of geriatric research to help dogs and cats "delay aging and promote health and longevity" remains to be seen, aiming to better explain the connection between growth and death.
A cat's lifespan depends not only on its breed but also on whether it's a domestic or wild cat. While some breeds, like Siamese, have longer lifespans, the average lifespan for domestic cats is 16 to 18 years, while that of wild cats is approximately 13 to 14 years. A generally accepted estimate is: two years is equivalent to approximately 24 to 25 human years, and then add four years for each subsequent year.
Clearly, modern science still lacks specific research and consensus on calculating the actual age of dogs and cats. Regardless, providing appropriate and comprehensive care tailored to the needs of our furry companions at different stages of life is a topic that all devoted pet owners must address and dedicate themselves to.
Sources: [akc.org]; [goodnet.org]; [sciencefocus.com]
Written by the editorial department of p’adore Today
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