EACH dog’s expected lifespan may differ from one to another. A small dog is expected to live 10 to 15 years, a medium-sized dog to live 10 to 13 years and a large dog to live between 8 to 12 years. Dogs have the tendency to age faster compared to humans, with an average lifespan of 10 to 18 years. The factors affecting their lifespan include [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] breed, lifestyle, and the health of the dog.
While humans are considered to have fully developed bodies by their late teens, dogs are considered as fully grown when they’re just one year old. A year in a dog’s life can be equated to four to seven years when compared to a human, and the exact age ratio is dependent on the dog’s breed, size, and health. Some breeds age quicker than others, and will only live up to 10 years if they have had good health.
Other breeds may age slower and can live up to 18 years instead. The scientific reason behind the ageing of a dog lies in their higher metabolism rate and their genetic makeup which differs from humans. Their heart rate is much faster than a human heart rate, and their bodies tend to wear down much faster than a human’s as their bodies work harder. All these accelerated growth means that dogs do a lot of work in a shorter period of time than our bodies are.
Hence, just like other life processes of a dog, the age process is sped up. A dog has the ability to live longer when it is provided proper nutritious food, regular exercise, frequent vet check-ups and a happy and healthy lifestyle. In 2018, Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who lived up to 29 years and 5 months has been recorded as the oldest dog on record. [/ihc-hide-content]
