Dogs are an important part of many people’s lives and couldn’t imagine a world without their best friend. Sadly dogs do not live forever and we all will have to say goodbye one day. But can we predict how long a dog might live? Do some dogs live longer? Is there anything we can do to extend their lives?
What is Ageing?
To most people, ageing is the process of getting old by living a long time. Scientists instead refer to senescence, or biological ageing; this is where the body gradually deteriorates to the point of death. We aren’t 100% sure how this happens, but it is probably a combination of damage to cells and DNA (from outside influences like UV light or oxidants), and programmed destruction from within. In either case, the body starts to slow down, fall apart, become more susceptible to further damage, and eventually fail. Medical science, both human and veterinary, has come a long way, but we still cannot (yet!) halt this process.
What Affects My Dog’s Lifespan?
There is a huge variation in the size and shape of dog breeds – it can be hard to imagine a Chihuahua and a Rottweiler are the same species! Because of this, the genetics of dogs are highly variable as well, which has resulted in a wide range of lifespans. In general, the smaller the breed the longer it will live; a Yorkie could live 14-16 years or more, whereas an Irish Wolfhound may sadly only live to be 6 or 7. A study has also found that crossbred dogs also live longer on average than purebred dogs. We recommend checking how long your dog’s breed is expected to live, as a rough estimate.
Diet and nutrition play an important role in a dog’s lifespan, just like in humans.
A good diet is essential for getting all the nutrients your dog’s body needs – this means an appropriate diet for their life stage (puppy food for puppies, senior food for seniors, etc.), and an appropriate amount (not too much or too little). Commercial dog foods have all the correct nutrition for the average dog; special diets, such as raw, grain-free or vegetarian, are on average more likely to be lacking in essential nutrients, so could result in a reduced life expectancy. Obesity is a huge issue in the pet world, and obese pets are more likely to get obesity-related diseases and die early – even if a fat pet is slimmed down, their life expectancy may remain shortened. Feeding them an appropriate diet from a puppy and ensuring they stay slim will go a long way to extending their life.
We have known for a long time that neutering tends to increase the lifespan of a dog.
There are various reasons for this. Neutering eliminates the risk of reproductive organ disease and reduces the risk of other diseases, in particular certain cancers. Furthermore, unneutered dogs are more likely to roam and fight, both of which can cause injury or even death – neutering can lower this risk and increase their life expectancy. However, it is important to note that the incidence of some other diseases can be increased by neutering – the risk of this is low, and we still generally recommend most dogs should be neutered, but please ask your vet for more information if you are concerned.
Finally we come to disease
Being old does not kill a dog, but the diseases related to ageing do. Cancer, musculoskeletal disease and neurological disease are all quite common in older dogs, and all can cause death if untreated. Often these diseases cannot be prevented, but early identification and treatment can slow the process down. Other diseases can also shorten a lifespan, which is why prevention is so important – ensuring your pet is fully wormed and vaccinated, a healthy weight, has clean teeth, gets enough exercise, is mentally happy and not stressed, and protected from accidents as much as possible will help reduce the incidence of disease. Unfortunately, some breeds are predisposed to or even born with issues that reduce their lifespans – we recommend fully researching a breed before you get one, so you are prepared for likely diseases.
Life is complex (the most complex thing on Earth!), and so many factors affect how long something lasts for. So if you’re asking the question of how long your dog might live, it will be a combination of all of the above factors and more – it can be impossible to predict.
How Can I Make My Dog Live longer?
In general, the life expectancies of dogs have been increasing as veterinary care, diets, preventative medicine, owner input and more have improved dramatically. So congratulations, your dog is probably already going to live longer than its great-great-great grandfather did! But what can you do to make them last even longer?
A lot of the advice mentioned above will increase longevity – feeding the right diet and exercising regularly even in old age, getting them neutered and preventing disease. We would recommend regular vet check-ups, particularly as your dog gets older, to help spot anything that could indicate disease. You should also maintain vaccinations, flea and worming protocols throughout life. Avoid accidents by keeping pets away from busy roads or dangerous areas (neutering will help this). If you are in the market for a new dog, you can also do some research to pick a healthy long-living breed, or even get a healthy crossbreed. A lot of the things that increase a dog’s life expectancy you are probably already doing, so keep it up and don’t be afraid to visit your vet if something is not quite right.
As a bonus, did you know that the longest-lived dog was an Australian cattle dog called Bluey, who lived to 29 years old! As a working dog, perhaps the long years spent running after cattle and sheep, and eating a hearty Australian ranch diet kept him young?
Closing Thoughts
As we sadly all know, nothing lives forever. But you can definitely play your part in ensuring your dog has a long healthy life by following the above tips and your vet’s advice; care throughout their life will pay off eventually and reward you with more happy years with your friend.
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