How long does a domestic dog live?

Dogs with smaller body sizes tend to live longer

As people’s lives get better and better, we also have more demands on our spirits and hearts. Pets are kind, gentle, and cute, which not only make people mentally happy, but also reduce many diseases. But every time I meet friends who are planning to buy a pet, I always make them mentally prepared in advance. Most pets have a much shorter lifespan than us, so under normal circumstances, we would personally send them away. So if you can’t bear the pain of separation, it’s best to carefully consider keeping a pet.

Since being separated from pets is so painful, how long does a common pet live? Are there any pets that have a long lifespan and are suitable for keeping?

1: Dogs are our most common and intimate pet friends, but they are also the most difficult pets to determine their lifespan. The lifespan of dogs varies greatly depending on their breed and body size, with smaller dogs generally having longer lifespans. The average lifespan of giant dogs such as the Great Dane and the Great Bear is 8-10 years; The average lifespan of large dogs such as Golden Retrievers and Alaskans is 10-12 years old; The average life span of medium-sized dogs, such as Samoye and border collie, is 12-15 years; The average lifespan of small dogs such as Teddy and Jingba is 15-18 years old; It is not difficult to take good care of many small dogs and live to 20 years old, which actually violates the laws of nature. In natural environments, mammals have shorter lifespans as their body size decreases, and longer lifespans as their body size increases. Elephants and whales are both famous long-lived animals.

The average lifespan of common dogs

In addition to their body size, mixed breed dogs have a longer lifespan than purebred dogs, and genetic factors determine that purebred dogs not only inherit excellent and stable personalities, but are also more susceptible to certain genetic diseases. Some breeds of dogs may have a shortened lifespan due to the deliberate cultivation of certain characteristics, such as the short trachea of the Fado and Bago, which makes it more difficult to dissipate heat and susceptible to heatstroke and respiratory diseases. And some other breeds of dogs also have diseases determined by their own genes, such as golden retriever’s dilated heart disease and tumor cancer, and VIP’s adrenal gland disease.

Here we list the average age of the most popular dogs among friends for your reference:

Small dogs, Chihuahua 14-16 years old, Bomei 12-16 years old, Yorkshire 11-15 years old, Xishi 10-18 years old;

Medium sized dogs, French Bulldog 10-14 years old, Cocker 10-16 years old, Boxer 10-12 years old, Bulldog 8-10 years old, Australian Bulldog 16-20 years old;

Large dogs, Golden Retriever 10-12 years old, Rowena 9-10 years old, Belgian Malinois 14-16 years old, Labrador Retriever 10-12 years old;

Giant dogs, Great Dane 7-10 years old, Irish Wolfhound 6-8 years old, Newfoundland 9-10 years old, St. Bernard 8-10 years old;

The secret to dog longevity

The breed and size of dogs determine their age range, but whether they can live to this age depends on their illness. The most common diseases that affect the lifespan of small dogs are liver disease, kidney disease, endocrine disorders, and bladder stones; The most common diseases in medium-sized dogs include respiratory syndrome and pancreatitis in some short nosed breeds; The larger the size of large dogs, the greater the incidence of arthritis, heart disease and cancer. Golden fur is the most typical example. Almost perfect dogs have the highest incidence rate of heart disease and cancer, and are even listed as hereditary heart diseases alone.

Extending the lifespan of pet dogs and ensuring their health is very important, and scientific breeding and finding responsible doctors are also of utmost importance. Vaccination should be administered on time to prevent fleas, ticks, and heartworms based on the living environment. Blood and biochemical tests can be conducted annually to determine the health of organs such as the liver and kidneys. Some special breeds of dogs require examination for specific items, such as golden fur, which will undergo regular X-ray or ultrasound examinations with age to monitor tumor and cardiac changes. If there are new lumps, the nature of the lumps needs to be determined as soon as possible.

A healthy weight is the secret to a dog’s longevity. Many pet owners in China are still worried about their dogs going hungry and always try to make them eat more food and grow more meat, resulting in more diseases. A study on Labrador Retrievers in the United States found that if the weight is within the reasonable range of 25-30 kilograms, a 25 kilogram dog can live 2 years longer than a 30 kilogram healthy dog while maintaining good health. So feed your dog regularly and quantitatively, control the intake of snacks and snacks, measure your weight regularly, and determine if you are feeding them correctly.

The last point is to find responsible breeders when purchasing puppies, reduce breeding with genetic diseases, and understand the lifespan and health issues of puppy relatives to help you choose healthy puppies.

We need to pay attention to the health of elderly dogs, and add antioxidant nutritional supplements to the usual diet to help elderly dogs prevent diseases and slow down aging.