Dogs are man’s best friend but one breed will be your buddy for longer.
A comprehensive study has revealed that flat-faced dogs have shorter lifespans than those with typical-faced faces. The research explored how breed, body size, face shape and sex can affect how long pets live.
The study used data from 500,000 dogs across the UK, analyzing more than 150 breeds and crossbreeds to see which dogs may be at risk of early death. It revealed the life expectancy of all dogs was typically, on average, at 12.5 years, but found three lived the longest.
These were the Lancashire Heeler (15.4 years), Tibetan Spaniel (15.2 years) and Miniature Dachshund (14 years).
The study, completed by The Dog’s Trust, found that breeds with flat-faces, like French Bulldogs (9.8 years) have a 40% increased risk of living shorter lives, compared to dogs with typical faces, say Border Collies (13.1 years).
The charity collected information from vets, pet insurance companies, academic institutions as well as breed registries for the findings.
It also found female dogs have a slightly higher median life expectancy (12.7 years compared to 12.4) and Labradors (13.1 years), and Cocker Spaniels (13.3 years) lived longer than the average median of (12.5).
The pups with the shortest median were Caucasian Shepherd (5.4), Presa Canario (7.7) and Cane Corso (8.1).
Lead author Dr Kirsten McMillan, Data Manager at Dogs Trust said: “We found life expectancy varies between breed, body size, face shape and sex – this is the first study where all of these elements have been compared and contrasted alongside evolutionary history. Many of these factors interact to compound the issue, for example, medium-sized, flat-faced male dogs are nearly 3 times more likely to live shorter lives than small-sized, long-faced females.
“The findings have important implications for the canine pedigree health debate: although this study does not determine risk factors for early death, it does highlight groups that require further investigation. We hope this study can help breeders, policymakers, funding bodies, and welfare organisations make informed decisions to improve the welfare of companion dogs, as well as helping owners understand the range of factors that influence health and longevity, especially when acquiring a dog.”
The study also found larger dogs have 20% increased risk of dying earlier than smaller dogs, which complements another data set revealed last month.
The previous findings, conducted by the Dog Aging Project (DAP), gave insight into how different breeds and sizes of dogs experience health complications throughout their lives. The relationship between a dog’s size, health and age is complex. However, the data sheds light on the mysteries that surround ageing ailments and particular diseases. It could also prove useful for humans, not just our furry friends.
The study analyzed more than 25,000 dogs across 238 breeds, completed by researchers spread out throughout the US. The findings, published in PLOS ONE, revealed larger dogs are more prone to bone-related diseases, cancer, gastrointestinal problems, and endocrine and neurological conditions. It also noted issues with their ears, nose and throat as well as infectious diseases are also higher compared to smaller pups.
However, for smaller dogs, they were more susceptible to ocular, cardiac and respiratory issues. Although, kidney and urinary diseases didn’t show any differences when it came to the dog’s size or breed.
As our pets grow older, they are more likely to develop health problems, and this is consistent across all breeds, but the particular condition itself may vary. The study says skin conditions, cancer and orthopaedic issues are more likely to appear in larger dogs, whereas this is the case for cardiac and endocrine diseases for smaller breeds.
Researchers also looked into whether a purebred pet or mixed breed dog or where it was based, had any input. But the data claims this didn’t alter the findings as much as size and age.
Scientists suggest while larger dogs may not have more health problems than their smaller counterparts, they are generally more at risk for particular diseases. It could explain why some have shorter lifespans than tinier pooches.
Researchers have emphasized there is a need for more studies on the subject and paved the way for more studies.
