How long is my girlfriend’s Yorkie going to live?

The smaller the dog, the longer they live. The bigger the dog, the shorter they live. This is one of the reasons why dogs tend to have much shorter life spans than cats, as they are physically larger animals. The average life span mostly depends on the size and weight of the dog. Smaller dogs (i.e., miniature Poodles, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus) reach geriatric age by 8, but can live up to 15 years, while medium-sized dogs (i.e., mixed breeds, Beagles, Springer Spaniels) are geriatric by age 8, but usually only live 10 to 14 years. Large or giant breed dogs are geriatric by anywhere from ages 5 to 8, and rarely live longer than 12 years. Unfortunately, our four-legged family members are often killed before their time due to cancer and metabolic diseases like kidney failure, liver disease, or diabetes.

A recent Purina® study evaluated food-restricted dogs versus control-fed dogs, and found that food-restricted dogs weighed less and had lower body fat content, which may help delay the onset of chronic diseases and certainly keeps your dog healthier over time.18 Indeed, the study also showed that the average life span was significantly longer for dogs in which food was restricted. The results suggested that a mere 25% restriction in food intake increased median life span and delayed the onset of signs of chronic disease.18 In other words, thinner dogs may live longer than obese or overweight dogs, which is important considering 40% of America’s animals are obese.19 This advice is probably true for humans as well, so if you’re reading this, consider cutting back on the Cheez Whiz.

As your pets age, annual, routine veterinary care is the best thing you can provide for them. Some veterinary medications can help preserve your dog’s quality of life as she gets arthritic or when she starts wetting the bed. Finally, when your dog does become geriatric, consult with your veterinarian about re-evaluating her requirement for annual vaccines, and consider doing blood work instead to help detect medical problems sooner.

Material from It's a Dog's Life... but It's Your Carpet. Copyright 2008 by Justine Lee Veterinary Consulting, LLC.