How to make your dog live longer

20-06-2021

All dog owners will want to ensure that their dog enjoys a long and healthy life. But how long is the average life span of your particular breed of dog, and what can you do to increase the chance that your dog will live longer than expected?

A myth has developed that one year of a dog’s life equals seven human years, so that, for example, a dog at the age of one is like a human child at the age of seven, and a 5-year-old dog is the equivalent of a dog. 35 year old human adult.

In reality, there is no established linear correlation between dog years and human years. Dogs mature much faster than humans. A dog at the age of one year has generally reached full growth and is sexually active; this is obviously not true for a seven year old human child. So a one-year-old dog is similar to a teenager, who has to grow up but is more or less physically mature. Thereafter, each year in a dog’s life can be considered roughly equal to 4 to 6 human years.

In general, the life expectancy of American dogs is about twelve years on average. But the actual life expectancy of any particular dog is highly dependent on its breed. Generally speaking, the larger the breed of dog, the shorter its life. Veterinarians assume this is because the bodies of larger dogs must work harder than those of their smaller compatriots.

The average life expectancy of some of the most common dog breeds are: 7 to 10 years: Great Dane, Newfoundland, Doberman Pinscher, Bulldog, Rottweiler; 9-11 years: Saint Bernard, Bloodhound, Chow Chow, Boxer; 10-13 years: Airedale Terrier, Dalmatian, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Scottish Terrier, Afghan Hound, Dachshund, Irish Setter; 12-15 years: Beagle, Bichon Frize, Collie, Doberman, Pomeranian, Border Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Greyhound, Labrador; 14-16 years: Boston Terrier, Irish Setter, Standard Poodle, Schnauzer, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier; 15-18 years: Dachshund, Miniature and Toy Poodle, Chihuahua.

The life expectancies stated above are for purebred dogs. Inbreeding and pure breeding can weaken the gene pool and reduce life expectancy, as a unique set increases the likelihood that an undesirable trait will influence the dog’s genetic makeup.

So what can be done to increase the chances that your dog will exceed the statistical norms for his particular breed and live a longer than average life? Obviously, it is important to ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise. And, like humans, dogs seem to thrive best in a relatively stress-free atmosphere.

The most important thing is your dog’s diet. Dogs are carnivores and as such require a diet rich in meat protein, up to 42% for puppies. Unfortunately, the manufactured foods we buy for them at the grocery store or local pet store, while high in protein, for the most part use cereal protein sources. You should try to feed them a supplement that contains high-quality meat protein. Also, to help prevent the chances of cancer, it is advisable that the supplement contains immune enhancers. To avoid seemingly unavoidable skin irritations and scratches, an anti-inflammatory supplement containing an adequate balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids should be added to the daily diet. Since dogs are very prone to joint disease as they age, a Cox-2 inhibitor can be very helpful. And, of course, the supplement must be rich in vitamins and minerals.

Spending thirty minutes each day playing with your dog and making sure he gets a decent amount of exercise daily, while watching his diet, can go a long way in ensuring that your dog lives a long and healthy life. And be sure to take your dog to the vet annually for a complete exam.

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