Your pet's health is more than a birthday or a single test result. A pet longevity score brings available information together into an overview that can help you notice changes, understand priorities and have more informed conversations with your vet.
At Stay, the aim is simple: make your pet's wellbeing easier to follow over time, without expecting you to interpret every detail on your own.
What does a longevity score mean?
The Stay Longevity Score is a number from 0 to 100 that summarises an assessment of your pet's current wellbeing. It provides a starting point for understanding where things stand and which areas may deserve a closer look.
It is not a prediction of how many years your pet will live, a diagnosis, or a guarantee of future health. A higher number does not rule out illness, and a lower number is not a verdict on you as an owner.
The useful part is the context alongside the score: clear explanations, suggested next steps and changes you can discuss with your vet.
A whole-pet view, informed by veterinary evidence
Stay considers your pet as an individual, bringing the information you share together with available health records. Its assessment framework is informed by veterinary guidance and research into healthy ageing and preventive care.
Published research supports the importance of consistent preventive care, but it does not establish that a single score can predict an individual pet's lifespan [1][2]. The score is a way to organise information and support decisions, not a substitute for clinical judgement.
More complete and up-to-date information gives an assessment better context. Where information is missing or uncertain, an estimate should be treated with that limitation in mind.
What is body age?
Body age is an estimate intended to put your pet's current condition into an age-related context. Calendar age tells you how long your pet has been alive; body age offers another way to understand the information available about their wellbeing.
It is an estimate, not a direct measurement of how long your pet will live. It should be read alongside the score, your pet's history and your vet's advice—not as evidence that ageing has been reversed or that your pet is free from disease.
Why follow changes over time?
A single result is a snapshot. Looking at assessments over time can help you spot changes and prepare useful questions for your vet.
A score can change because your pet's circumstances have changed, or because you have added more accurate information. That is why the explanation matters as much as the number. The aim is to understand your pet better, not to chase points.
What should you do with the result?
Use it as a starting point for a conversation. Review the suggested priorities, keep your pet's records current and discuss any changes to their care with your vet.
Do not wait for a new score if your pet seems unwell. Contact your vet about symptoms or concerns, and seek emergency veterinary care if you think your pet may be having an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
Can a longevity score tell me how long my dog or cat will live? No. Lifespan varies between individuals, and no score can promise a particular outcome. The value is in understanding current wellbeing and supporting ongoing care.
Is body age the same as calendar age? No. Calendar age is time since birth. Body age is an estimated perspective on your pet's condition, based on the information available.
Does the score replace a veterinary check-up? No. A physical examination and your vet's clinical judgement remain essential. Stay supports owner-led discussions with a vet; it does not diagnose disease or prescribe treatment.
Can the score change? Yes. Updated information and changes in your pet's circumstances can affect the assessment. Read the explanation alongside the number rather than interpreting a change in isolation.
Explore Stay
Stay brings your pet's information into a clearer picture, with a score, context and suggested priorities to discuss with your vet. Request access to Stay.
Important note
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. A longevity score and body age estimate do not diagnose disease or replace a physical examination. Consult your veterinarian about your individual pet, especially before changing diet, exercise or medication.
References
These sources provide background on preventive care and healthy ageing; they are not validation of Stay's score or body age estimate.
- American Animal Hospital Association. 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines. https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/
- Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2002;220(9):1315–1320. https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/220/9/javma.2002.220.1315.xml