We've had our little Bichon-poodle, Tiki, for 6 years. We rescued him from a kill shelter and almost literally raised him from the dead. Some intensive nursing on our part brought him back to life. At the time, the vet estimated that he was about 5yrs old, based on his teeth. Now, my DH is questioning whether he is indeed an 11yr old dog. Tiki doesn't have the "look" of an elderly dog at all.He's not frail, has all of his teeth, is very healthy. But then again, Bichons look like teddy bears until they are well into their teens. I tend to agree with the vet, that he was probably about 5 when we got him and 6 years later he would be 11. DH thinks his birthdate is off by 4-5 years (yes, I realize that would make Tiki a newborn when we got him, but there's no reasoning with this man!) Sooo, how does a vet determine a dog's age?

It's pretty easy to tell up to about 1-2 years. Permanent Teeth have a pretty "fixed" eruption date, though it does vary a little. Adult teeth are all in and fully grown by a year. Wear starts at that point and varies greatly by diet and chewing habits. General health, diet genetics and habits cause so much variation that any guess at that point is just that - a guess.Doug, DVM

If he were under two when you got him, the vet would have known. After that, it's more guesswork than anything. So, he could be anywhere from 8 years on up.His "youthfulness" may just be a reaction to six years of a good home.

Several years ago we rescued a mixed poodle that was living on the street. I guessed he was about two years old.Eight years later we moved and I told his new vet he was a rescue and I didn't know his age.The vet, 30+ years experience, checked the dog and looked at his teeth.He told me the dog was no more than four years old. I told him we had him eight years.The vet shook his head and said, 'it was just a guess.'Dr. Doug was correct.

Regardless of his age, kudos to you for adopting a sick dog and nursing him back to health. Indeed his longevity has to be tied to the love and good care he has had since then.God bless all rescuers.Dale

Aren't poodles and Bichons breeds that tend to live longer? My Aussiepoo is 11 and still silly and playful in spite of losing his sight to diabetes (he still insists on playing fetch!) And having a white muzzle - you don't see the graying that tends to give away some dogs' ages.Clearly, you've done a great job of rehabbing your dog!!

Determining a dogs age | Good Sam Community

Scottiemom
Nomad
Aug 11, 2019
Regardless of his age, kudos to you for adopting a sick dog and nursing him back to health. Indeed his longevity has to be tied to the love and good care he has had since then.

God bless all rescuers.

Dale
gbopp
Explorer
Aug 10, 2019
Several years ago we rescued a mixed poodle that was living on the street. I guessed he was about two years old.
Eight years later we moved and I told his new vet he was a rescue and I didn't know his age.
The vet, 30+ years experience, checked the dog and looked at his teeth.
He told me the dog was no more than four years old. I told him we had him eight years.
The vet shook his head and said, 'it was just a guess.'
Dr. Doug was correct.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Aug 10, 2019
If he were under two when you got him, the vet would have known. After that, it's more guesswork than anything. So, he could be anywhere from 8 years on up.

His "youthfulness" may just be a reaction to six years of a good home.
dturm
Moderator
Aug 10, 2019
It's pretty easy to tell up to about 1-2 years. Permanent Teeth have a pretty "fixed" eruption date, though it does vary a little. Adult teeth are all in and fully grown by a year. Wear starts at that point and varies greatly by diet and chewing habits. General health, diet genetics and habits cause so much variation that any guess at that point is just that - a guess.

Doug, DVM

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