If there was one fault we could pick out with our canine companions, it’s the fact that they don’t live long enough. One day, they will inevitably leave us to cross the rainbow bridge. But why is this? Why do dogs age so fast compared to humans?
Discover why dogs age quickly and how their lifespan compares to other mammals in the animal kingdom. Find out which dogs live the longest and how you can extend your dog’s lifespan.
Dogs’ Metabolism Contributes to Rapid Aging
Dogs have an average lifespan of 8 to 13 years; often, the bigger the dog, the shorter the lifespan. Still, every dog has a lifespan much more concise than our own, so why is this?
Canines possess a faster metabolism, and their hearts have to work far harder than humans’. Due to the extra effort, a dog ages faster and thus has a shorter lifespan. Other factors that affect a dog’s lifespan include their health, breed, and general lifestyle.
However, it may be less of a question about why dogs age so fast and more about why humans age so slowly. If we compare our lifespans to the rest of the animal kingdom, we discover that humans (and some primates) are the anomaly as we age far more slowly than many other animal species.
It all comes down to genetic makeup. Humans burn calories 50% slower than other mammals, and this lower rate of energy usage means that our bodies can stay healthy for extended periods. We age slower because we expend less energy in the growing process.
According to MedicalNewsToday, we would need to run a marathon every day to match the energy expenditure of mammals that are a similar size to ourselves.
If we compare the lifespan of dogs and many other mammals to humans and our primate relatives, we see that the latter experience extended childhoods and reproduce infrequently. All organisms require energy to grow, but this energy expenditure significantly contributes to aging. That’s why humans’ slow growth rate and low reproduction rate mean that we live longer.
Do Dogs Really Age Seven Times Faster?
The idea that one dog year equals seven human years is an urban myth, though it has some factual basis. This original theory was based on the idea that a dog’s lifespan is roughly one-seventh the total of a human’s lifespan.
However, the idea that they age seven years at a time is inaccurate. Instead, they mature much faster in the early years and slow down as they grow older. The first year of a dog’s life is equal to roughly 15 years of human life; the second is around nine years.
If we compare a dog’s life cycle to that of a human, we see that a one-year-old dog would be equivalent to a teenager, while a two-year-old dog has the life skills and maturity of a young adult human. At two years old, a dog is roughly 24 in human years.
Every year after this, a dog ages around four to five human years.
Which Dog Breed Lives the Longest?
When it comes to the life spans of different dog breeds, smaller breeds generally outlive their larger counterparts. Small dogs can live for more than 16 years, larger breeds have a reduced average span of 10 to 13 years, and giant breeds rarely live beyond eight years.
Among the longest-living dog breeds is the chihuahua, which often lives over 15 years and can reach an age of up to 20 years old. Other dogs that can pass the 15-year mark include:
- Dachshunds
- Toy Poodles
- Jack Russell Terriers
- Shih Tzus
- Maltese
- Yorkshire Terriers
- Shiba Inus
- Australian Cattle Dogs
The reason why smaller dogs tend to live longer lives is relatively simple: they age more slowly. Disease often goes hand-in-hand with age, so a faster aging process puts a larger dog’s body under more stress and deterioration than a small dog would experience.
However, some diseases are more likely to be experienced by smaller dogs and could reduce their lifespan if contracted. These include intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), luxating patellas, tracheal collapse, mitral valve disease, and pancreatitis.
How Can I Prolong My Dog’s Life?
Like any animal, you can extend a dog’s lifespan with a good diet, exercise, routine, and regular health check-ups. Feeding your dog a balanced diet, engaging in regular play sessions, taking them on walks, and monitoring their general health are all great ways to prolong their lives.
Other factors influencing your dog’s lifespan include environmental choices such as whether they live indoors or outdoors. On average, any indoor pet will live longer because they are less exposed to outdoor dangers such as frosts and extreme temperatures.
In addition, they don’t have to stress over territory or other social factors, which can cause them to age more quickly. And studies show that spaying or neutering your pet is good for their health. The Humane Society of the United States shares that neutered male dogs live 18% longer than intact males, and spayed female dogs can live 23% longer than their unspayed counterparts.
Environmental factors also include chemicals and pollutants. Remember, your dog spends a lot of time with its nose close to the ground, and they learn about their surrounding environments through sniffing and licking, meaning they are more exposed to chemical remnants. So, keeping toxic products away from your dog is another great way to keep them healthy.
Still, ensure your dog can enjoy plenty of supervised outdoor play as this is integral to their wellbeing, and a happy dog is a healthy dog.
