Thanks to EpiPaws for providing the testing kit and report in exchange for my review. All thoughts are my own.

Back in June, I shared with you how much I was excited about EpiPaws' Age Testing Kits. 

The EpiPaws Kits are Epigenetic Pet Age Tests that use your pet's saliva, DNA, and science to determine your pet's approximate age. Note, these kits can't be 100% accurate but do try to come up with an estimated date within 12 months. 

It took a while, but I finally received Chachi's results! The Pet Age report is delivered via email. Some notes were included, including some FAQ's. 

First up, note that the test measures DNA methylation at certain areas of the genome. For more information on the technology: www.epipaws.com/science. 

Second up, birthdays might not be the exact date. They are suggestions, so take it or leave it at your discretion!

Third, there's some information about what to do if you feel like your pet's birthday is more than 12 years off. This isn't exact science yet, so they are still working out lab procedures. 

The actual report is a PDF form that reports the client's information, a bit of info about EpiPaws along with some resources, your pet's estimated age and information related to that life stage. 

For me, EpiPaws reported that Chachi is 11 years and 11 months old! This lines up with what his vet has said, plus some of his actions. 

His age is known as a Senior Dog and is in his Golden Years. EpiPaws provided some information about the Golden Years life stage, including nutrition, health, and behavior. These are basics of what to look out for such as demeanor changes, dietary changes, etc. As pet's age, so do their needs and health. 

At the very bottom of the report, EpiPaws reports Chachi's Zodiac Sign, which totally cracked me up too. As a Virgo, he enjoys routine, structure, being well-groomed, and orderly. This totally tracks because Chachi loves his groomer. He tolerates bathes, but particularly loves it when his groomer rubs his face and head (although he hates it when they cut his eyes!) . He almost zones out! 

The report also says that Virgo loves following their owners around, talking to them. I wouldn't say Chachi talks to me verbally that much. He really doesn't bark unless we are playing, but he does talk to me with his body language and eyes, for sure! 

It's a really simple report, but it's packed with so much information! I had already guessed that as a rescue, Chachi was probably a senior dog, but this helps me narrow down his age range even further. I fully trust that he is 11 years and 11 months old based on his behavior and demeanor!

As the summer ends and you head into a new fall, your family should definitely check out and try out EpiPaws Age Testing Kits. The price seems high, but the value of the information is definitely worth it.

 Knowing an approximate age for your pet, especially rescues, can help determine the ways that your family deals with behavioral and dietary changes, especially as new routines and people emerge this school year. Plus, it's fun to have an actual birthday along with the "gotcha" day too!