When asked how many human years are in a dog year, most of us would reply ‘seven’. I’m sorry to say most of us have been lied to our entire lives. In his viral TikTok, veterinarian Dr. Hunter Finn insists dogs age in a more complex way than humans—and not to alarm you, but the doc says your dog may be older than you think. The new formula to calculate a dog’s age in human years now involves a logarithm according to the American Kennel Club – time to break out the ol’ Texas Instruments.
@dr.hunterfinn
How to Calculate a Dog’s Age
“A 1-year-old dog equals a 31-year-old human. And a 2-year-old dog is 49,” Dr. Finn explains in his video, which has been viewed over 3 million times so far. This can be a jarring realization when for so long we thought dogs weren’t technically “adults” until 3 years of age. Although dogs seem to age really rapidly early on, the aging process slows considerably in later years. In a recent study at UC San Diego, researchers compared dog DNA to human DNA to determine a more accurate timeline of our dog’s lifespan and determined the new calculation. If you are curious about your dog’s age, Pedigree’s Dog Age Calculator uses the updated formula to give you a more accurate idea of where your pup is in life. My dog is 10-years-old in human years which equates to about 65-66 in dog years (he’s a senior and I’m having a hard time with that).
Our favorite Chris Pratt-lookalike, Dr. Finn, has a considerable amount of helpful videos for pet owners on his TikTok page such as health tips, busting pet myths, and some good wholesome vet humor. If any of these topics sound interesting, you won’t regret following him on TikTok. Bonus: he’s based in Arlington, TX. If you’re in the area, be sure to give him a visit for your pet’s next check up!
