Biological life expectancy is genetic information contained in the DNA of all individuals.
This obviously does not mean that we can accurately predict the life span of each one, but through an arithmetic average we can establish a rather reliable range valid for all species. For a cat, for example, it is 12-18 years old, for a horse 25-30 years old.
Ma how long a dog lives on average? Let’s find out!
On average, dogs can live 8-15 yearsbut within the same species there is a considerable variability: just think of the Chihuahua Toby Keith, the oldest dog in the world according to Guinnes World Recordwhich recently celebrated its 21 years!
A dog’s life expectancy is not only affected by geneticsbut also from environmental circumstances and chance.
What does a dog’s life expectancy depend on?
Each species has its own biological life expectancy programmed into its DNA, but in general the characteristics that most influence how long a dog can live are:
- race;
- cut it;
- sex;
- health state;
- lifestyle (care, weight, etc.).
Life expectancy of a dog based on size
If a Chihuahua can live up to 20 years, a large breed dog like the Rottweiler will hardly exceed 11. According to scholars, small dogs live on average longer than large dogs.
Based on size, this is how long an average dog lives:
This happens because big dogs have a very accelerated metabolism in the growth phase and it is as if they age faster: a Great Dane gains 100 times its weight in the first year of life, while a human being only 3!
Life expectancy of a dog based on breed
Not only the size, but also the breed can affect how long a dog lives on average.
Tight breed selections result in less genetic remixing which increases the possibility of developing defects or diseases that can negatively affect a dog’s quality of life and consequently its duration.
For the same reason, in general, mestizos and crossbreeds have a longer life expectancy of a purebred dog.
Here is the average life expectancy of some of the more common breeds:
Sex
In mankind, women live longer than men, and differences also exist in the canine species. Very often the life span of a dog is shortened due to the insurgence of diseases in old age that vary according to the sex of the dog:
Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is synonymous with long life, even in dogs: a balanced diet, regular exercise, a healthy and comfortable environment and the right medical care are necessary ingredients for a canine long life elixir.
In fact, obese dogs are more prone to developing diseases such as:
Physical exercise is essential to keep Fido in shape, also from the point of view of psycho-physical well-being.
Every 2 kg of excess weight compared to the standard, the life expectancy of the dog is shortened by 1 month.
Related pathology
Pathologies can affect how long a dog can live, however this depends on the intrinsic characteristics of the subject. Statistically it is possible to estimate the dog’s life expectancy of some of the most well-known diseases:
Treatment
As we have seen, how long a dog lives depends on many aspects, but we must not forget how important human care is. The life expectancy of a dog stray it is reduced due to disease, malnutrition, exposure to external agents and dangers.
It goes without saying that a dog needs attention and care: it must be regularly vaccinated and dewormed, and undergo periodic examinations and check-ups.
The best way to extend the life of our 4-legged friends is to take care of them in the best possible way, in all stages of growth!