How Long Does a Dog Live?

How long a dog will live greatly depends on many factors. Generally a dog's overall health is what matters most; however, a dog's size, breed and genetics can determine its life expectancy. Access to veterinary care can also be a deciding factor in preventing and treating certain dog diseases and increasing life expectancy.

A dog's size is a major indicator in how long it will live. Giant dogs, such as rottweilers and Great Danes, live an average of six to 11 years because their joints and organs break down faster than smaller breeds. Medium to large dogs generally live 10 to 13 years; however, individual breeds are more susceptible to health problems. Small dogs live the longest, up to 15 years, since they have less stress on their organs and joints.

Certain breeds are more likely to suffer certain health problems that may result in death. Golden retrievers have a high cancer rate, Doberman pinschers tend to develop heart disease and large breeds are more likely to suffer hip and joint disease. Smaller dogs are also likely to develop health issues, but they are not as likely to result in death. On average, bulldogs have the shortest life expectancy at 6.7 years, and toy poodles have the longest at 14.4 years.

A dog that has a healthy diet will be much healthier and live much longer than one that does not. Dogs need to eat more protein than what is in store-bought dog foods. Dogs that have diets that include traditional dog food supplemented with additional meat tend to develop fewer health problems that decrease their life expectancy. A veterinarian can recommend what exact diet is best for a specific breed and size.

A dog that has good genetics, such as being purebred and having no family history of fatal disease, will have a significantly longer lifespan. Dogs that are inbred or are a mixed breed may be more at risk of dying sooner because the more types of genes there are, the more likely an undesirable gene will make its way into a dog's gene pool. Life expectancy is very difficult to determine in mixed breeds or inbred dogs.

There are many diseases that are very common in dogs and can significantly lower life expectancy. Many diseases, if caught in time, can be treated by antibiotics or corrected with surgery. If left untreated, these diseases can cause complications and lead to death. A very common and lethal disease is heartworms, in which parasites attach themselves to a dog's lungs and heart, and which can be result in death if left untreated. Other diseases include Lyme disease, caused by tick bites, and parvovirus, which is fatal in puppies.

A dog's good health is what can help it exceed the average lifespan for its breed or size. Keeping a dog healthy is the most important component in increasing its life expectancy. Feeding a dog a healthy diet, making sure it gets plenty of exercise and taking it to get annual veterinarian checkups can greatly prolong its years. Just like in humans, the sooner a health issue is discovered, the easier it will be to take care of.