You’ve likely heard that one year of a dog’s life is equivalent to seven years of a person’s. Is that so, and why does it matter?

Our four-legged friends age faster than we do. And as they get older, they develop diseases similar to those that affect elderly people. So we need to know when to start scheduling more frequent veterinary checkups for detection and treatment of senior diseases.

Dogs and cats age fastest during their first two years of life, so that a 1-year-old pet is similar to a 12-year-old child, and a 2-year-old pet is comparable to a 24-year-old person. After that, each year of a pet’s life translates to four human years. But keep in mind that big canine breeds can age twice as fast as small ones, and indoor cats tend to live longer than outdoor kitties.

When it comes to keeping up with your pet’s health, age matters.