News Japan's dogs live longer but care challenges grow

[thomas]

Dogs in Japan live longer lives, with the average lifespan increasing by 0.75 years since 2010. A 2023 survey by the Japan Pet Food Association revealed that dogs in regular households now live an average of 14.62 years, up from 13.87 years when the survey began. Factors contributing to this increased longevity include more pets being kept indoors and advancements in pet food and medical care.

Photo credit: Miyajima Mami via Mainichi​

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.

Dog lifespan in Japan up by 0.75 years since 2010; owners face 'elderly pet care' hurdles - The Mainichi

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 n

mainichi.jp

Our doggies see their vet significantly more often than we see our human doctors. And while there is (pricey) pet insurance, the cost of treatment and medicine is not insignificant. Anything and everything for our furballs.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

My cat gets super stressed when she has to leave the house to go to the vets. I decided when the time comes to put her down , I will use the new service here where they come to your home to put them down. I was a bit shocked when I saw they charge almost $500US to do it.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Given how nicely people treat their pets, I wonder if the language has changed as well. It used to be that one would say "Give the dog some food" as
犬に餌をやる
Would people now say the following?
犬に餌をあげる

Or would the in-group/out-group rules apply? Or are they gone now, too? By that I mean, use やる when referring to the in-group but あげる when referring to the out-group.

 

[thomas]

You got it all wrong. There is no 餌 anymore; it's 朝ご飯 or 夜ご飯 and of course ~あげる!!

 

[mdchachi]

My cat gets super stressed when she has to leave the house to go to the vets. I decided when the time comes to put her down , I will use the new service here where they come to your home to put them down. I was a bit shocked when I saw they charge almost $500US to do it.

With all your guns, it would be cheaper to use the Old Yeller method.
(Or maybe this is called the Kristi Noem method now.)

There is no 餌 anymore; it's 朝ご飯 or 夜ご飯 and of course ~あげる!!

Although we learned this, I don't think I've ever heard 犬に餌をやる used in real life.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I'm still feeling guilty and fear going to jail over my first cat 35 years ago. When she died , I placed her in a nice steel tool box , wrapped in my fancy silk jacket from Japan and buried her about 4 feet down

. I bought a cement statue of a cat to mark her grave. Not long afterward . I found out it's against the law to bury a pet in the city of Portland?? I suspect someday I will look out to see police detectives with metal detectors searching my back yard.