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- Various factors, including breed size, face shape, and gender, influence a dog's lifespan, according to a new study.
- Flat-faced breeds like French Bulldogs have shorter lifespans due to health issues such as breathing difficulties, skin infections, and eye problems.
- The study also found that female dogs were reported to live longer than their male counterparts, while smaller dogs lived longer than larger ones.
- For more lifestyle news, go to the News24 Life front page.
A new study has revealed that the lifespan of your canine companion may be determined by various surprising factors, including the breed's size, the shape of its face and its sex.
The Scientific Report released early in February, which analysed 584 734 dogs located in the UK, including over 285 000 deceased dogs, found that some dogs live longer than others due to something that can't be changed: their biology.
The findings revealed that breeds with medium proportions or elongated facial structures, including miniature dachshunds, papillons, and shiba inus, typically live longer, averaging around 14 years compared to their flat-faced counterparts.
Those with flat faces, like French or English bulldogs or mastiffs, typically enjoy about nine years of life.
According to the study, factors such as body size and the sex of your furry friend determine how long they will live.
Female dogs were reported to live longer than their male counterparts, while dogs that are smaller in size lived longer than larger ones.
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Breed also matters, with purebred dogs living approximately eight months longer than crossbred hounds.
"A medium-sized, flat-faced male like a bulldog is three times more likely to live a shorter life than a small-sized, long-faced female, like a miniature dachshund or an Italian greyhound," said Kirsten McMillan, a data scientist at Dogs Trust, and lead author of the paper in the journal Scientific Reports.
For French Bulldogs, for instance, which are currently America's most popular dog breed, overtaking the Labrador Retriever's 31-year reign, the news isn't so great.
It is understood that these bat-eared dogs are prone to various health issues, mostly due to their flat faces. Common health problems include breathing difficulties, skin infections, and eye issues. Pugs and English Bulldogs also experience the same challenges.
"This new research underlines these major health issues by revealing that flat-faced dogs live 1.5 years shorter lives than typical dogs.
"We urge anyone considering getting a flat-faced breed to 'stop and think' and to ensure that they acquire a dog with the best chances of a long and happy life," said Dan O'Neill, an associate professor at the Royal Veterinary College in London, to CNN.
Despite the findings, McMillan pointed out to CNN that the study is not completely comprehensive since it didn't consider factors like the dog's daily interactions with its owners and the reason for its death, which is usually euthanasia.
"I hope this paper is a catalyst to start policymakers, government, vets, owners, everyone asking, 'Why are these dogs dying?' It will be very difficult to answer, but every time we answer even a small part of it, we are progressing towards having a much healthier canine population," she said to CNN.
