(NC)-It can be difficult for pet owners to recognize when their beloved four-legged friend has transitioned from an adult pet to a mature adult pet, especially since dogs and cats age more rapidly than humans do. On average, a small/medium breed dog or a cat is considered to be a mature adult at the age of seven while large breed dogs become mature adults at the age of five.
Although most owners continue to feed their pets the same food despite their age, their dietary needs change once they reach the mature stage in their life; so should their food! "Pet owners need to speak with their veterinarian to determine their pet's stage of life and the appropriate time to transition to mature adult pet food," says Senani Ratnayake, Registered Veterinary Technician. "Much in the same way adults need to readjust their diet as they age, pets need to do the same."
There are a variety of issues that affect dogs and cats as they get older, ranging from joint problems to oral health, heart conditions, kidney problems, obesity and more. One of the ways to maintain optimum health is for pets to eat a nutritionally balanced food.
"While there are many pet foods available, there are only a small number that truly cater to the mature adult pet," adds Senani. "Hill's Pet Nutrition specifically designs foods that meet a mature adult pet's special needs. Both their Prescription Diet and Science Diet brands provide precisely balanced nutrition to help mature adult pets live a long and healthy life, which is what every pet owner wants."
If you've ever wondered what your cat or dog's 'real' age is, there is a way to calculate it. The charts below provide a comparison of your pet's age and the equivalent in human years:
How to calculate your cat's REAL age
Cat's Age
|
Human Years
|
6 months
|
9
|
9 months
|
13
|
1
|
19
|
2
|
28
|
3
|
30
|
4
|
38
|
5
|
45
|
6
|
48
|
7
|
51
|
8
|
55
|
9
|
59
|
10
|
63
|
11
|
66
|
12
|
69
|
13
|
72
|
14
|
77
|
15
|
81
|
16
|
86
|
17
|
90
|
18
|
96
|
How to calculate your dog's REAL age
Dog's Age
|
Human Years
|
|
|
Small/Medium Breed
|
Large Breed
|
3 months
|
6
|
3
|
6 months
|
12
|
8
|
1
|
17
|
12
|
2
|
23
|
24
|
3
|
27
|
30
|
4
|
32
|
37
|
5
|
37
|
43
|
6
|
41
|
50
|
7
|
46
|
57
|
8
|
50
|
63
|
9
|
55
|
70
|
10
|
59
|
77
|
11
|
64
|
83
|
12
|
68
|
90
|
13
|
73
|
97
|
14
|
78
|
|
15
|
82
|
|
16
|
87
|
|
17
|
92
|
|
18
|
96
|
|
- News Canada