Bobby turns 31 on Thursday and is the world’s oldest dog. A group of foreign veterinary experts came to the village of Conqueiros near the Portuguese city of Leiria to investigate the secret of his longevity. According to some experts, the secret may lie in the pet’s diet.
Bobby was born on May 11, 1992. He is a Portuguese guard dog. He lives in Conqueros, near the city of Leiria in central Portugal
The dog’s owner, Lionel Costa, invited several foreign researchers on animal longevity, including American veterinary scientist Karin Becker, to the dog’s birthday celebration organized over the weekend. They stayed to check on the 31-year-old dog’s health.
Diet secret?
According to an American-based expert, the secret to the Portuguese pet’s longevity may lie in its nutrition. – Bobby continues to eat good quality human food. However, the food lacks masala. Becker noted that they are free of preservatives and artificial ingredients.
The American expert emphasized that the value of the world’s oldest dog food is also their large variety. – Bobby eats not only chicken or pork but also fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Importantly, he gets a variety of food every day, she pointed out.
Bobby is the oldest dog in the worldPAP/EPA/PAULO CUNHA
Bobby with his ownerPAP/EPA/PAULO CUNHA
“Maybe there’s a genetic factor.”
According to Peter Tobias, a veterinarian and researcher who came all the way from Canada to celebrate the old dog’s birthday, his longevity may be influenced by a combination of factors. – Bobby lives in the countryside, walks off-chain, a relatively stress-free environment, regular meals and loving carers. Genetic factors may also play a role in a dog’s unusual longevity, Tobias said.
Lionel Costa, the world’s oldest dog owner, feeds his petPAP/EPA/PAULO CUNHA
The dog’s owner, Lionel Costa, told reporters invited to the birthday party that Bobby’s genetic tests will be published in about two months.
Listed in the Guinness Book of Records, Costa explained that his health had deteriorated in recent years. In 2018, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. “Thanks to the support we received from many vets during that time, Bobby is still with us,” said the dog’s owner.
The man added that by June “a large team of registered scientists” will investigate the secret of his pet’s longevity.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/PAULO CUNHA
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