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Life
expectancy of large breed dogs
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Do Larger Breed dogs live
longer than small breeds?
Large breed dogs have a shorter life expectancy
than smaller breeds which is unfortunate for the
owner/guardians of large breed dogs. We love our big dogs
even knowing their time with us will be short. We don't
focus on the quantity of time but the quality of time we
spend together. Sharing our homes with our big fur balls is
like having a small piece of heaven for our own. Retriever
Is it true that seven human
years equals one dog year?
Everyone has probably heard of the term "dog years". The
myth that a dog ages seven years to every one year of human
life is just that, a myth. There is no accurate guideline
that can be followed because dogs age more quickly in puppy
stage then they do in later years. Also, different breeds of
dogs actually age differently with large breed dogs
remaining puppies until the age of eighteen months to two
years. By the same rate, large breed dogs can become senior
citizens by the age of six years.
Diet is important for your dog
to have a long life
Feeding a large breed puppy a managed diet is important.
Make sure the puppy's diet is not rich in fats and served in
moderate portions. For a large breed puppy it is better to
feed three small meals a day instead of one or two large
meals. Even though the puppy is large, the digestive tract
is smaller in proportion to a smaller dog. We don't want the
puppy to become overweight as this may shorten his/her
lifespan and we want to ensure he/she receives all the
nutrients they need. Ensuring our large breed friends are
healthy and well cared for may extend their time with us to
the max. Many of the injuries and ailments that strike our
dogs have their origins in our dogs being overweight. It has
been estimated that 23% of the dogs in the United States are
either overweight or obese. Just look around you the next
time you are in a pet store or out walking your dog; are the
dogs you see overweight? It is so very important that you do
the research on the breed you have decided you want to share
your home with. Knowing beforehand the care and life
expectancy of the breed you have chosen will assist you in
the preparations for raising your new puppy.
Many large breed dogs suffer from joint ailments. This is
also aggravated by being overweight. Having the right
nutrition with the correct mix of vitamins, minerals and
proteins in the food you give your dog is important. Making
sure your dog receives the exercise and activity level that
they need to maintain their ideal weight is one way to
ensure their health.
As stated above, the large breed dog approaches senior years
starting around six years old. To keep our large friends in
good health, make sure they are given well balanced meals
with high quality ingredients. A good diet in combination
with regular exercise and regular visits to the vet will
keep your dog in good health and hopefully increase their
longevity.
Inherited diseases of a large
breed dog
There are some factors that are beyond the control of the
pet owner. Some inherited illnesses and diseases that are
common in some breeds should be monitored by the breeder and
hopefully will be disclosed to you when you are inquiring
about selecting a puppy from a breeder. Hip dysplasia,
cardiomyopathy and hypothyroidism are just three of the
inherited diseases some large breed dogs may encounter. Do
your research and find out what diseases are most common in
the breed of dog you are interested in. Then find an
informed reputable breeder that is working on improving the
breed.
Spaying and Neutering
Spayed and neutered animals tend to live longer then
unaltered animals. Altered animals tend not to roam as much
and appear to have a reduced risk of some cancers. The age
of the animal at the time of neutering should be well
thought out and discussed with your breeder and vet. It was
considered appropriate at one time to neuter your animal
between the ages of six and nine months. Now after many
studies it has been brought forth that dogs in sports or
competitions should not be neutered until after they reach
one year of age. Also other studies have been released that
states some cancer and diseases may be linked to having your
animal neutered. Which is correct? No one can say definitely
which the correct answer is until further studies have been
done. As long as there are statistics there will be
conflicting information regarding any subject. You as a pet
owner/guardian need to ask questions of the breeder and vet
and make decisions that you feel are in your pet's best
interest.
The average life expectancy of a dog weighing between 120
and 150 pounds has been shown to be between 8 and 10 years.
Of course this is just general and in no way can be taken
for fact. I've know 5 Rottweilers who have died at six years
of age and a 150 pound Lab that lived to 13 years of age. We
can strive to give our large dogs plenty of love, food and
exercise and just hope we have them around for many years of
enjoyment.
Jim McKiel lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Doris
and their pet family members Buddy and Buster. They have
devoted their lives to the betterment of pet ownership.
For more information, visit
http://LargeBreedFamilyDogs.com
Copyright Jim McKiel - http://theonlinemarketingstrategies.com/
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