The long nose in dogs is a important characteristic to determine if a dog is going to live longer or shorter, but it is not the only characteristic that we should look at.
We are going to talk about why the long nose is important or is associated with longevity and what the other characteristics or factors are. And if There is something we can do to help our dog live as long as possible. of possible time.
Why do dogs with long noses live longer?
There are studies on the longevity of dogs that indicate that dogs with long noses are likely to live longer than those with short noses. This is largely associated with the fact that short-nosed dogs often develop respiratory problems, something that those with a long nose do not usually have.
However, we must be aware that the long nose It is a characteristic among many others that affect the lives of dogs. We must not leave aside other things that influence such as: diet, breed, size, genetics and care from the owners.
So if you have a dog with a long nose, congratulations, it is likely that your dog will live a long time. Now, if you have a dog with a short nose, it does not mean that it will live a short life. As we have seen There are many factors on which the years of life that each animal will have depends. Let's look at all this in greater depth.
How many years does a dog usually live?
Before talking about long-lived dogs, we have to talk about what the average life expectancy of a dog is. We are going to see, throughout the entire article, that there are many factors that influence the life expectancy of a dog. However, it is possible to establish an average of the years that dogs usually live and that is between 10 and 15 years. So all those dogs that live 10 or less have a low life expectancy, while those who live 15 years or more have a high life expectancy.
A well-cared for dog with no health problems should easily reach 14 or 15 years of age and even some can reach 20 years of life. Now, there are factors such as genetics that have a lot to say about how long each specific dog or breed will live. Genetics means that some dogs, such as those from Breeds with short noses live between 8 and 10 years on average.
Now, as we have said, There are many factors to take into account, So let's discover them and see why they influence the life expectancy of dogs.
Long nose and other factors that influence the longevity of dogs
Different factors such as dog breed, size, activity, nutrition, environment, etc. They are essential to know if a dog will live longer or shorter. Some of these factors will accompany the animal from birth, such as genetic load, while others are due to human care.
Therefore, if we are thinking of adding a dog to the family, we are interested in all the points, but if we already have a dog living with us, We have to focus above all on those points that can make you live longer .
Genetic factors
La genetics will play a fundamental role As long as an animal can live, depending on the breed or breeds that the dog has, it will have one approximate longevity or another.
Breeds and their longevity
Each breed is associated with characteristics such as coat, size, long or short nose and, therefore, a certain life span. Now, among all the dogs, the mestizos tend to live the longest and those who present fewer health problems.
Apart from mixed breed dogs, some of the longest-lived breeds are:
- Chihuahua, this tiny dog breed can live up to 20 years if well cared for. It is what is considered the longest-lived breed.
- Dachshund, or dachshund. Their average age is usually between 15-16 years, but some of them have reached over 20 years of age.
- Pomeranian. These little furry dogs can easily reach 16 years of age.
- Yorkshire Terrier. Another small dog that in this case can live up to 15 years.
- Miniature Schnauzer. It can also reach 15 years of age.
- Other long-lived breeds are: Afghan Hound, Shih Tzu, Chinese Crested Dog, Bichon, Beagle, Jack Russell, Poodle, Schnauzer, Terrier, Australian Shepherd and Husky.
On the other hand, among the least long-lived breeds we would have the following:
- Bulldog This breed is considered the least long-lived of all, since the average age is between 8 and 10 years in some specimens.
- Shar-Pei. Another breed with a low number of years ahead since its life usually ends between 8 and 12 years.
- Argentine Dogo. Their life expectancy ranges between 9 and 12 years.
- French bulldog This type of Bulldog can live a little longer but still does not usually exceed 12 years.
- Boxer. The same thing happens to this breed as the previous one, its life expectancy is between 10 and 12 years.
- Other short-lived breeds: Great Dane, Weimaraner, Neapolitan Mastiff, Irish Greyhound, Bernese Mountain Dog, Terra Nova, Cane Corso, Presa Canario and Tibetan Doge,
The influence of size
As a general rule, dogs that are smaller in size tend to be the ones that tend to live the longest. If we look at the list of the oldest dogs, we will see that all breeds are small in size. This is because Large dogs tend to develop more heart problems.
The influence of the elongated nose
Dogs with a short nose or brachycephalic nose (dogs with wide and short skulls), are dogs prone to respiratory problems because their airways are usually narrow and usually obstructed. We are talking about breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs or Boxers, dogs that pant a lot, They breathe loudly and even snore due to this characteristic of the nose that prevents them from breathing properly.
On the other hand, long-nosed dogs such as Collies, German Shepherds or Greyhounds do not have this respiratory problem. The elongated nose is accompanied by wide airways and its breathing is not obstructed nor with impediments.
All this makes the length of the nose a important characteristic to know if a dog has a longer or shorter life expectancy.
External factors
When we talk about external factors we are referring to factors such as exercise, nutrition, and the general quality of life that humans can provide to our animals.
Nutrition. Nutrition is the foundation of the health of any living being. Dogs need a balanced diet, a mix of meat, vegetables, fruits, offal, bones... to eat an animal from top to bottom. If the animal's diet is based on nutritionally poor foods, such as too much grain, the dog is more likely to end up with long-term health problems. In addition, learning about the importance of each food can also be helpful, as in the case of insulin plant.
Exercise. Daily or regular exercise is important to keep the animal in good physical shape, avoiding obesity and problems derived from it. But they also love it. If your dog can run free for 40 minutes to an hour each day, you will have a mentally healthy dog as well.
Veterinary care. Visits to the vet, the fewer the better because it means that our animal is fine. However, there are some mandatory ones such as vaccinations, deworming or check-ups that must be done regularly to avoid future problems.
Home atmosphere. Where the animal lives also influences many factors that determine a dog's longevity. Factors ranging from emotional to physical. The first thing is that there are no types of toxins that could affect health and the second is to provide our animal with an environment where it can be relaxed, protected and understood.
Final conclusion for a long-lived dog
If we want a dog that lives as long as possible, we can look at its genetic makeup. We should avoid pedigree breeds since mixed breeds have been shown to have fewer health problems and live longer. Although if we look for mbreeds that are already long-lived, we will ensure that longevity. The dogs of little size they live longer, as well as those who have elongated nose. Therefore, a small dog with an elongated and mixed snout would be the oldest animal a priori.
To all the genetic part we must add good nutrition, necessary veterinary care, as well as prevention against mosquito bites or other bugs or parasites that can transmit diseases such as Leishmania. Adequate daily exercise where the animal can explore, run and move freely will also be another factor in achieving good health for the animal and a long life.
