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We\u2019ll get the bad news out of the way first: There\u2019s no \u201csurefire\u201d way to tell how old your dog is without knowing at least her approximate birthday or birth year.\n<\/p>\n
That\u2019s according to Julie Tasch, the Dogtown team lead at Best Friends Animal Society<\/a> sanctuary in Utah. But, if you rescued your pup or took her in from the street, there are clues to how old she might be. It\u2019s worth pursuing those clues so you can target your dog\u2019s food and care to the right age.\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s important to know your dog’s age, especially if they are under 6 months old. If they are this young, they should be on puppy food and you’ll want to make sure they’ve received all of their vaccinations,\u201d Tasch says.\n<\/p>\n You\u2019ll want to know if your dog is approaching old age as well. If your vet estimates your dog to be senior, you may consider switching her to a senior food with fewer calories and added supplements to reduce joint pain, Tasch says. Plus, older dogs need more regular vet visits.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tasch says the Best Friends staff will look at a dog\u2019s teeth to get an idea of how old she is. It\u2019s the best way to get an estimate, so your vet will likely do the same.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe more tartar, discoloration, or broken teeth, generally means an older dog,\u201d she says. \u201cHowever, it\u2019s still a guess. Poor nutrition at a young age or broken teeth due to trauma, could be misleading in aging a younger dog.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The teeth method is best for guessing the age of puppies younger than six months. They\u2019re still developing their chompers, so you can make a \u201cpretty good guess\u201d based on the stage of their teeth, Tasch says.\n<\/p>\n Genetics can also make that harder, says veterinarian Erin Chu<\/a>, DVM. Smaller breeds can contract more dental diseases than their larger friends, and some dogs can just have clean, tartar-free teeth into their senior years.\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Along with the teeth, Tasch says your pup\u2019s graying face might indicate that she\u2019s old, but that comes with a caveat, too. Just like humans, dogs can see their hair gray prematurely.\n<\/p>\n Chu says that owners can also look at their dog\u2019s eyes to check if they\u2019ve become hazy or contracted cataracts. Check your dog\u2019s body, too, to see if there are fat pads on her lower back or whether her spine is more prominent, other potential signs of a senior dog.\n<\/p>\n Activity level is another sign of your dog\u2019s age. Younger dogs are more active than their elders, who might have trouble with stares or sleep more than normal.\n<\/p>\n So if you do end up adopting that stray you found wandering around the neighborhood, a guess is about as good as you\u2019ll get. \u201cBy looking at teeth and the dog’s general physical appearance, you can generally make a pretty good guess at placing the dog into a category of either puppy, young adult, adult, or senior,\u201d Tasch says. \u201cBut specific ages are nearly impossible to determine.\u201d\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nope, sorry. According to Embark, which sells dog DNA tests, the test can help determine the genetic age of your dog<\/a>, but they can\u2019t figure out your dog\u2019s calendar\/biological age.\n<\/p>\n Check the Teeth <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Other Clues to Your Dog\u2019s Age <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Does a Dog DNA Test Tell Age? <\/span> <\/h2>\n