Bobi, a dog purportedly living to the ripe old age of 31, recently captured the world’s attention and earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the oldest dogs ever recorded.
While this remarkable feat has made headlines and amazed dog lovers worldwide, skepticism among the veterinary profession remains palpable. For science-based professions like veterinary medicine, extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence. To put things into perspective, Bobi’s reported age is equivalent to a human living over 200 years, which, given our current understanding of the aging process and medical capabilities, appears highly implausible.
One significant point of contention lies in how Bobi’s age was established. The age when Bobi was registered with the National Union of Veterinarians was self-certified by the owner. They claimed he was 30 years old when they registered him, and he passed away just one year later. This self-certification, without any external verification, adds to the doubts surrounding Bobi’s age.
Another source of doubt arises from the visual evidence. Pictures of Bobi when he was much younger, approximately 20 years ago, show a dog with different markings on his feet. These photos raise questions about whether the dog in question is genuinely the same one throughout the years.
From a veterinary perspective, it’s unusual for larger dogs like Bobi to outlive their smaller counterparts. Additionally, overweight dogs are less likely to reach an extremely old age. Bobi, as observed in photos, appeared to be carrying excess weight, making it even more surprising that he lived nearly three times longer than the average dog.
Genetic testing examined the telomeres of Bobi’s DNA which was submitted as evidence of his age. Telomeres on the end of chromosomes shorten as mammals age. However, this merely confirms that the animal is old – it doesn’t actually provide an exact age.
Bobi’s extraordinary age has been used by proponents of raw feeding and similar dog diet philosophies as a testament to the health benefits of their products. While this doesn’t necessarily discredit Bobi’s age claim, it raises the question of whether there is a motivation to exaggerate his age for commercial or ideological purposes.
As vets we find it is very common for owners to be unsure of the exact age of their dog, especially if it was rehomed and the age was estimated at the time. Sometimes people may be unsure if their newly rehomed dog is three years old or eight years old, and that dog may go on to live for more than 10 years longer, so the age on the clinical records maybe very inaccurate.
With smaller creatures like hamsters, it is not uncommon for parents to replace a dead pet with a new one to prevent their child from getting upset. This can lead to some people believing their small furry pets are living three or four times longer than you would expect!
While Bobi’s remarkable age has garnered worldwide attention and fascination, the mystery of Bobi’s age remains a contentious topic in the veterinary community. While the Guinness Book of Records has bestowed upon him the title of the world’s oldest dog, the lack of concrete evidence leaves many veterinarians unconvinced.
However, despite all this controversy, we must remember that dogs don’t actually have any ambition to live a long life. They live in the moment, and want to be happy day by day. The quality and happiness of an animal’s life is much more important than the length of life, and vets occasionally see animals suffering because owners wish to keep their pets alive longer, despite them being unhealthy or in pain. People shouldn’t feel guilty putting an older animal to sleep as this can often be the kindest option.
