How long do dogs live? What is a dog’s life expectancy and what does it depend on? All about the lifespan of dogs

How long does a dog live? Do mongrel dogs live longer than pedigree dogs? How long do small dogs live? If you want to find out how old your dog is in human years, you should definitely read this article. You will also find out what factors influence the lifespan of your dog.

How long do dogs live? What does a dog’s lifespan depend on? Basic information

A dog is man’s best friend. Every loving owner wants their animal to live as long as possible. What can we do to help our dog to be healthy and long-lived?

A dog’s longevity is influenced by many factors such as a healthy, balanced diet adapted to the animal’s needs, the right amount of exercise, genetics, regular visits to the vet and even avoiding stressful situations.

The development of veterinary medicine has made us able to detect diseases and treat our animals earlier. As a result, the average life expectancy of our four-legged friends has increased and is now around 10-13 years.

 

Dog years versus human years – how to calculate the age of a dog?

We are not able to calculate exactly how old a dog is in human years. Animals develop at different rates and this is particularly influenced by the size of the dog and its breed.

When a dog turns one year old, it is roughly 16 human years old. One dog year is then assumed to be 5 human years for small dogs, 6 years for medium-sized dogs and 7 years for large dogs. Keep in mind, however, that this is quite a simplification. Dogs of similar size may develop differently and mature at different times.

How long do dogs live according to their breed – life expectancy of the most popular dog breeds Pedigree dogs on average live shorter than mutts. This is due to the occurrence of genetic diseases affecting the breed.

Average life expectancy of a dog depending on the breed:

Shih tzu 10 – 16 years

Chihuahua 12 – 20 years

German Shepherd 11 – 13 years

Maltese 15 – 20 years

Yorkshire terrier 13 – 16 years

Bernese Mountain Dog 7 – 9 years

Siberian Husky 12 – 15 years

Border collie 10 – 17 years

Boo 12 – 16 years

Jack Russel terrier 13 – 16 years

Golden Retriever 12 – 14 years

Labrador 11 – 13 years

Doberman 10 – 13 years

 

How long do small dogs live and how long do large dogs live? How long does a dog live according to its size

From the above information on the lifespan of individual dog breeds, it is indeed clear that small and medium-sized dogs live longer than large dogs. Why is this the case? It is not exactly known. However, many experts say that the faster ageing of larger breeds of dog may be due to their rapid and intensive growth and development, with the subsequent consequence of lower immunity and susceptibility to cancer. Large dogs also move less, small breeds stay fit longer and are more active.

 

How long do dogs with diseases live? The impact of the most common diseases on a dog’s lifespan. Injuries and past illnesses in dogs can shorten their lives. What about serious or incurable diseases?

Chronic kidney failure

This is one of the most common urinary tract diseases in pets. It particularly affects older dogs. Symptoms include apathy, increased thirst, hematuria and weight loss. Renal failure is an incurable disease that shortens the pet’s life. However, if detected quickly, it increases the chances of enjoying your pet for a long time.

Anaplasmosis

Anaplasmosis is a disease transmitted by ticks. In some dogs it doesn’t cause symptoms, but in case of lowered immunity apathy, high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and limping due to joint pains may appear. With continued veterinary care, your dog’s life expectancy will not decrease significantly.

Splenic tumour

Neoplasm of the spleen can be malignant or benign; it attacks mainly middle-aged dogs, most often representatives of large breeds. Unfortunately, a malignant tumour shortens the life of our dog significantly. Symptoms are apathy, lack of appetite, vomiting and thickening in the abdominal cavity.

 

Dog age – other interesting facts

Determining your dog’s age

We do not always know how old our dog is. When we adopt a dog from a shelter, we usually do not know its birth date. In this case, a vet comes to help. The vet is able to determine the age of the dog based on the condition of its teeth. In puppies, milk teeth erupt around the 3rd week. Between 4 and 6 weeks, canines, incisors and molars appear. An 8 week old puppy already has a full set of milk teeth. The premolars appear around the 4th month and are immediately permanent teeth. At 7 months, the puppy should already have all his permanent teeth. In a 4 year old dog, tartar begins to appear, while in an 8 year old dog, canines begin to wear down.

 

The world’s longest living dog

Bluey, that was the name of one of the world’s longest living dogs. He was born on 30 June 1910 and died on 14 November 1939, living for 29 years and 160 days. He entered the Guinness Book of Records, but his age is not scientifically documented. Bluey was an Australian shepherd dog, he spent his life working among sheep and cattle.