Why do some dog breeds live longer than others?
You don’t want to even think about the day your cherished pooch is no longer by your side and crosses over the rainbow bridge. It’s better to focus on the here and now and give your dog a healthy and happy life. But if you’re wondering where your own pup stands or you’re thinking about getting a specific type of dog, it’s good information to have. The bottom line: Size might matter when it comes to the longest dog life spans. “There is a trend across mammals in general that smaller mammals live longer lives,” says Catherine Lenox, DVM, a veterinarian for Royal Canin. “There isn’t a clear reason for this—it might have something to do with the animal’s metabolism—but it does seem to be true for dogs as well.” Yet, other factors not relevant to size, such as poor genetics, unforeseen accidents, not getting enough exercise, and sudden illness, impact how long a dog lives, too.
According to Dr. Lenox, the following 20 dog breeds will live up to 15 years or even longer. While this is by no means an all-inclusive list and there’s no guarantee that every dog noted here will live for this long, there are things you can do to help your dog live the longest, healthiest life possible. “Be proactive about preventive care, manage medical conditions with your veterinarian as needed, keep your dog in normal body condition (not too heavy and not too thin), and feed a high-quality complete and balanced diet without too many treats,” advises Dr. Lenox. Now that we have that squared away, let’s see the cute pups!
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