Article Title: How Long Do Dogs Live
Author: David Beart
From the time we bring them home as wriggling bundles of joy,
we all want our puppies to live forever. As they bond with us
and grow into full fledged family members, we tend not to think
about the end of their life or how many precious years we have
with our canine friends.
However, when picking out our new puppy it is rare that we give
adequate consideration to the average lifespan of the dog. There
are distinct factors that play into whether our puppy will be
with us until our children graduate from high school or if they
give us a few good years.
Most experts agree that small breeds tend to outlive large
breeds. The general rule of thumb is the larger the dog the
shorter the life span. Large medium to large breed dog tend to
live about ten years, although there are exceptions to every
rule. We have a feisty-willed large breed mutt who is determined
to see his fifteenth birthday.
Smaller breeds tend to live longer, anywhere from twelve to
fifteen years. Occasionally you will run into the nearly twenty
year old Scottie, but most don't make it past their sixteenth
year.
Again, every rule has its exceptions. The Irish Wolfhound isn't
expected to make it more than six or seven good years although
there really isn't a conclusive reason as to why this is so. Of
course these figures are taking into consideration overall good
health and quality care. Genetics play a vital role in
longetivity, but those we can't control. There are a few factors
in our favorite little guy's life we can do to help him get to
his ripe old age. Some of them can even combat predisposition to
genetic diseases.
One of the fastest ways to shorten a dog's life is to keep him
outside all the time. Dogs that live outside tend to be missing
a few key ingredients in their overall care that impact their
life span.
Even with a shelter available, dogs do wear down and age
quickly when they are dealing with constant element exposure.
While some can adjust, most dog bodies find the extremes the
environment can dish out at them to be exhausting and
threatening.
Dogs who permanently reside outside tend to receive less over
all care. Since people spend the majority of their time at home
inside, often small health problems go unnoticed until it
becomes an overwhelming problem. Even the responsible pet owner
can forget to feed or water the dog who is permanently engaged
in outdoor activities when the lifestyle inside the home becomes
stressed or busy.
Outdoor dogs also lack the essential strong emotional
connection with their owners that indoor dogs benefit from.
Having their human friends to please and play with goes a long
way in their overall happiness and health. Often a sick dog who
has no emotional connection will stop eating and caring for
themselves long before those who have families who love and care
for them. If you want your little guy to live a longer, fuller
life, bring him inside and let him be part of the family
lifestyle.
Whether you are bringing home a purebred puppy or a
distinguished gentleman of questionable descent, their life span
can be about the same. Barring any health problems, each should
live as long as the other and it really just comes down to
personal preference.
>From birth to about two years old your puppy is learning and
growing. Every day your little guy is reaching new miles stones
and his body is very busy. High quality puppy food packed with
nutrition can help set him on the foundation for a healthy life.
These foods are a little more expensive, but they can be well
worth the cost when considering the effects of malnutrition.
If your little guy comes from a family or breed history of hip
and back problems such as hip dysplasia, excessive exercise in
the first two years can put added stress on the joints in
question and actually exacerbate the potential for later
problems. Exercise is good, over doing isn't.
Regular veterinary check ups and of course vaccinations during
the first two years can help to catch problems early on, which
will increase his overall health. This is the time when your
puppy really needs you to watch out for him, whether his body is
having health problems or he is ingesting things that can cause
long term problems, staying on top of him now reduces health
effects in his later years.
>From his second year through his fifth we can consider this his
basic years of good health and maintenance. Watch for signs of
growing obesity and make sure he is receiving ample exercise and
fun play time. If he is a healthy dog then these years should be
stress free.
Keep at least annual appointments with the vet for check ups
and updated shots. His food should be a high quality protein
based variety, but if he's showing signs of to much happy eating
either cut back on his portions or switch to a low calorie
variety.
Once he gets into his fifth to eighth year we can consider him
a middle age to aging dog. These are the years when small but
manageable health problems are likely to show up. If he's a
really good eater but hasn't shown signs of obesity before,
these are the years when his activity will slow down some and he
may develop a weight problem now. Again, a good low calorie food
and a few perhaps coaxed walks should be enough to help him keep
his youthful figure.
Other problems such as cataracts, arthritis, or even heart
murmurs are most likely to show up during these years. They are
not catastrophic events and can typically be handled with a trip
to the vet and either simple procedures or medication. Ignoring
problems now however, are likely to grow into unmanageable
problems quickly. Stay on top of his check ups and vaccinations
to ward off any potential disasters looming about. Most dogs
that are generally healthy should make it through these years
just fine.
Depending on the size, breed, and overall health of your not so
little guy, once he reaches eight years old he may be starting
to push toward borrowed time. Smaller breeds won't get there
until about ten, but even medium dogs are now starting to wear
down.
Just because he's getting old doesn't mean you have to start
thinking about euthanasia. There is a possibility that he will
have health and happiness for a few more years to come. However
now is the time when health problems can erupt quickly and
strike hard. Eight years old and beyond is when you are most
likely going to face making tough decisions about your faithful
canine's quality of life. The care you gave him as a puppy is
now doing its part to take care of him as he ages.
Some older dogs need to be encouraged to eat. If your once upon
a time eating machine is suddenly losing weight, switch to a
higher protein, higher fat content dog food to help him maintain
his energy.
Our care for our dogs all the way through their lives can make
a huge difference in how long they live a full and happy life.
When bringing a new puppy home remember that how you treat his
body right now will carry a direct effect to his life span down
the road. Many dogs outlive their life span and are happy and
energetic the whole way through. A little love and
responsibility can go a long, long way. Any dog that has touched
your life will certainly live forever.
About The Author: David Beart is the owner of
http://www.professorshouse.com. Our site covers pets, dogs,
finances, family, cooking and other household issues.
