OSAKA -- Just like their human owners, pets are living longer, with an average lifespan for dogs in Japan up by 0.75 years since 2010 according to a national 2023 survey by the Japan Pet Food Association.

The survey found that dogs owned by regular households lived for 14.62 years on average, up from the 13.87 years when the survey began. According to the association, some factors behind this increased longevity include more owners keeping pets indoors and developments in things such as pet food and medical care.

According to veterinarian Akiko Fukushima of the Japan Animal Medical Center in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, while there is variation by breed, age and other factors, dogs grow rapidly in their first few years and afterward, each year is a human equivalent of around four to seven years of aging. In general, dogs are considered aged from around 10 to 12 years old for small breeds, 8 to 10 years old for medium-sized breeds and 6 to 8 years old for large breeds.

Like humans, when dogs age they undergo changes in appearance, such as their weight or their coat color becoming pale. In some cases, they can require care due to mobility loss or inability to use the litterbox. It's also said that the animals experience a decline in interests and enthusiasm as well as changes in lifestyle rhythm due to declining cognitive abilities.

"Symptoms vary from dog to dog. A change noticed only by family members may be one of the symptoms of aging. Since it may be a symptom of a disease, if you are concerned about this, please consult an animal hospital," Fukushima said.

(Japanese original by Mami Miyajima, Osaka Editorial Production Center)