Life expectancy of dogsDogs accompany us as man's best friend for many years. How old dogs can become depends on various factors.
The life expectancy of dogs is determined, among other things, by the breed, the
Size, the Nutrition and Attitude as well as the general Health condition of the quadruped influences.
The oldest dog in the world is currently an Australian cattle dog, which lived 29 years and 5 months, and thus even listed in the Guinness Book of Records. However, very few dogs reach an age of 20 years or more.
Always look out for symptoms of old age in your pet so that, if necessary, the dog can be given the best possible Age appropriate treatment age of the dog. With a dog health insurance you do not have to worry about the costs of preliminary examinations or treatments.
In the guide you will learn how old dogs can become and which factors influence life expectancy. In addition, we answer the question of how you can best support your dog in old age to allow him a long dog life.
In our guide you will learn what life expectancy dogs have. On our product page you will also find important information about insuring your four-legged friend.
Smaller dogs have a higher life expectancy.
How old do dogs live?
Dogs have a dThe average life expectancy is 8 to 15 years. How old dogs become depends predominantly on the size, breed and health of the dog hab. Also the nutrition, the attitude and the quantity of movement have an influence on the life expectancy.
If the question is asked about the life expectancy of dogs, it must first be divided into small, medium and large dog breeds. Because generally applies: Je smaller the breed is, the higher the life expectancy is. But also here applies: No rule without exception.
For the rest of the animal species it is the other way round – there it is usually the case that larger species have a higher life expectancy. For example, whales or elephants are among the longest-lived animals.
However, a study by evolutionary biologist Cornelia Kraus of the University of Gottingen 1 confirms the statement that larger dogs have a shorter life expectancy because they are more similar to a faster aging process are subject to. Accordingly, a puppy of larger breeds passes through the stages of life more quickly than those of smaller breeds, which reduces the lifespan of dogs.
In the case of mixed breeds, where it is not obvious to which breed they belong, a subdivision is made according to weight.
How the average age of small, medium and large dogs compares, we will show you in detail in the next sections.
High life expectancy of small dogs
Small dogs include all breeds of dogs and mixed breeds of dogs that are maximum 15 kg weigh. Among them are, for example, Chihuahua, terrier, cotton dog, dachshund or dwarf Spitz.
Dogs, which are assigned to this category, have a life expectancy of an average of 10 to 15 years. However, it is not uncommon for smaller breeds to live as long as 19 to 20 years. Thus, the small breeds are often the dogs with the longest life expectancy.
However, genetic susceptibilities related to various diseases can lead to a significantly shortened life expectancy.
How old do medium-sized dogs?
Medium sized dogs are all between 15 and 45 kg. This category includes, for example, breeds such as Dalmatians, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds or Weimaraners. On average, the life expectancy of medium-sized dogs is 10 to 13 years.
However, some dogs in this category can live to an older age, for example, a healthy Labrador Retriever can reach an age of 14 years. Unlike small dog breeds, however, an age of 18 years is rather the exception for medium-sized dogs.
Large dogs have a lower life expectancy
Large dog breeds weigh more than 45 kg. These include, for example, Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands or Leonbergers. The average life expectancy of large dogs is only 8 to 12 years.
Very large dogs, such as the Great Dane or other so-called giant breeds, have an even lower life expectancy – they live only 8 to 10 years on average. Irish wolfhounds only live 6 to 10 years on average.
Table – Life expectancy of dogs at a glance
Other dog breeds
Convert dog years to human years – How old is my dog??
To convert dog years to human years, dog age is often multiplied by the Number 7 multiplied – one dog year is equivalent to seven human years. However, this formula is only a rough guide and will be no longer used, as it cannot be applied to small and large dog breeds at the same time.
The difference between small, medium and large dogs must be included in the conversion.
Why is it at all meaningful to convert the age of the dog into human years? The conversion is important because the dogs must be treated according to their age. Some of them need special food – others suffer from old-age incontinence or joint pain as they age, for example.
In order to know when and if your dog needs different treatment, you should be able to convert your dog's age into human years – this way it might be easier for you to act according to the dog's age.
Why some dogs don't age as well
The values listed so far for the life expectancy of dogs are only average values – some dogs get older, others unfortunately do not reach the average.
There are many reasons why some dogs do not live to a ripe old age. It is therefore all the more important to give the dog the best possible support in its development and health. To this end, as a dog owner, you should know the most common causes of death.
Common causes of earlier death in dogs are:
– Cancer
– Cardiovascular diseases
– Injuries from accidents or bites
– Infections
– Hereditary diseases
– Multimorbidity in old age
Dogs also often suffer from allergic reactions, tumors or ear infections. Tartar and gingivitis are also quite common in dogs. In addition, fleas, ticks and mites are widespread in dogs. One of the most dangerous and most feared disease is gastric torsion of a dog.
In order to detect these diseases at an early stage regular check-ups with the veterinary surgeon indispensably. In addition proper nutrition, prevention and care prolong the life expectancy of dogs.
Recognizing old age in dogs
In order for the dog to receive the proper care, it is important to Symptoms and signs of senility to know:
– The physical activity decreases
– Dogs see and hear worse
– The immune system becomes weaker, making the dog more susceptible to disease
– The dog is less adaptable
If you have observed any of these symptoms in your dog, which may indicate multimorbidity, you should first consult a veterinarian. This can diagnose whether it is a serious disease and explain how you can accompany your pet in an age-appropriate way and suggest a treatment strategy.
you recognize first signs of age weakness with your dog? First have the symptoms examined by a veterinarian. We cover the costs!
This way you can give your dog a long& healthy life expectancy
Unfortunately, a dog can not always stay by our side. However, dog owners can do something to ensure that their four-legged friend leads a healthy life and can thus reach a ripe old age. In order to make life as healthy as possible, above all a balanced diet, a lot of exercise and the right Care crucial.
When feeding your dog, you should make sure that the food contains all the necessary nutrients contains, which the dog needs. Nutrient requirements can change with age, so you should always adapt the dog food to the dog's age.
Above all it applies, To avoid obesity. The consequences of overweight can be joint problems, diabetes, cardiovascular problems as well as other serious diseases. Also, the animal should species-appropriate occupation become. If you feed the dog properly and give him enough exercise, you can increase the quality of life and also the life expectancy of the dog enormously.
It is also necessary, avoid stress. Excessive stress is not only stressful for humans – dogs also suffer from it. For this reason, it is important to know the dog's stress factors and avoid them if possible.
Especially in old age it is enormously important, Preventive examinations at the veterinarian to have carried out. The older an animal gets, the more susceptible it usually is to diseases. Many diseases that appear in the dog only in old age, can be detected when the disease has already spread. By timely detection at the vet, treatment can be initiated at an early stage. In addition you can to vaccinate regularly let to strengthen the immune system of the dog.
Why large dogs do not grow so old?
Which breed of dog is the oldest?
Dogs with the longest life expectancy are for example the Lakeland Terrier, Irish Terrier and the Canaan Dog. These reach an average age of 15 years. But dachshunds, miniature poodles, border collies and the cocker spaniel also have a particularly high life expectancy of up to 17 years.