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Longevity & Medical Disclaimer

Last updated June 26, 2026

1. What the Longevity Estimate is — and is not

The free Longevity Estimate is a wellness signal computed from population-level actuarial life tables combined with the information you provide (breed, size, age, neuter status, body-condition score) and the activity you log. It is a general, educational indication of how your dog’s healthy-lifespan factors compare — nothing more.

It is not:

• a diagnosis, prognosis, or prediction of any individual dog’s date of death;
• a detection or screening tool for any disease or condition;
• veterinary advice, or a reason to start, stop, or change any treatment;
• a medical device, or a substitute for a physical exam and professional judgment.

2. Ranges, not dates

Lifespan is inherently uncertain. For that reason, Tailmates always presents life-expectancy as a range (for example, “12.5–14.0 years”) and never as a single calendar date. Any product, screen, or message that appears to give a single “death date” is a bug — please report it. Treating the range as a countdown misreads what the number is for: it is a nudge toward healthy habits, not a verdict.

3. Estimate vs. Verified — the role of your veterinarian

Tailmates offers two distinct things, and we keep the line bright:

• Longevity Estimate (free, non-clinical): three bars (genetics, body condition, activity), with the bloodwork bar shown locked. Generated by software from the inputs above. The word “Verified” is never applied to it.
• Verified score (clinical): generated only after a licensed veterinarian reviews actual source results, corrects and attests to them, and confirms an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). Without that sign-off, a Verified score cannot exist — this is enforced in our systems, not merely promised.

Only a veterinarian can diagnose conditions, interpret results for your individual dog, and recommend care. Always consult your veterinarian about your dog’s health, and seek prompt care for any urgent concern. If your dog is unwell, contact a veterinarian or an emergency clinic — do not wait on, or rely on, an app score.

4. No outcome guarantees

Walking and healthy weight are widely associated with canine well-being, but Tailmates makes no promise that using the app, hitting a streak, or improving a score will extend any individual dog’s life or prevent illness. Individual results depend on genetics, health status, environment, and care that are outside our control.

5. Supplements, products & claims discipline

Tailmates does not sell supplements, treatments, or cures, and does not earn referral fees or product-sale commissions. We will not claim — and you should be skeptical of anyone who does claim — that a supplement or product “treats,” “cures,” “prevents,” or “reverses” disease or aging. Any future wellness product guidance will be framed as general education, will avoid disease claims, and will defer to your veterinarian. Nutritional and lifestyle decisions for your dog should be made with your veterinarian, who knows your dog.

6. Veterinary compensation

When veterinary services are purchased through Tailmates, the veterinarian is paid fair-market value for the clinical work performed, on a published fee schedule. Payment is never structured as a referral bounty or a cut of any product sale. This protects the independence of the clinical judgment you are relying on.

7. Data sources & limitations

Estimates draw on published actuarial and reference data that describe populations, not your specific dog. Reference ranges and life tables are versioned and updated over time, and an Estimate may change as inputs, activity, or the underlying model version change. An Estimate is only as good as the information entered.

8. Emergencies

Tailmates is not for emergencies. If your dog is in distress, contact your veterinarian, an emergency veterinary hospital, or an animal poison control service immediately.

9. Contact

Questions about this disclaimer or how a score is computed? Email hello@tailmates.io.

See also our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.