We all want our dogs to have a long life, but do we know what we need to do to help them live a longer life? This blog will look at the best 15 different things that pet owners can do to increase their dog’s life expectancy.
How to increase your dog’s life expectancy
If you just brought home a new puppy, you are probably not too worried about his/her life expectancy since the average lifespan of a dog is anywhere from 10-15 years. Some dogs live a lot longer than the average, so as your dog gets older, you will probably want to find out what you can do to keep them healthy.
1. Encourage a healthy diet
It’s important to remember that the priority of a dog is not necessarily longevity, but happiness and health. A healthy diet can improve your own life and the life of your dog.
The reason why a balanced diet is essential is obesity is more likely to result in heart disease and joint problems. A healthy diet, exercise, regular vet visits are some ways to increase your dog’s life expectancy.
To improve the life expectancy of your dog, you should encourage a healthy diet. To ensure that your dog is eating enough food, it’s best to feed them twice a day. It’s also important to monitor the amount of food they eat so that you can ensure they are getting a healthy diet.
A healthy diet is a must for your dog’s life expectancy but they are few things to keep in mind when buying dry food or wet food from stores, make sure to read the labels on the food and treats, as many brands contain high levels of preservatives and additives which can cause long term illness for your dog.
2. Exercise enables a healthy body
There are numerous methods for extending your dog’s life. One method is to exercise them on a regular basis. This will assist your dog to maintain a healthy body and prevent him from becoming overweight. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress, enhance endorphins, and regulate mood and emotions in both humans and dogs. In addition, walking helps you maintain a healthy weight and muscle mass while also keeping your heart in shape.
Do you know that active dogs who are socialized with other dogs and get lots of exercises out live their sedentary counterparts? Socializing with other dogs can help reduce stress and enhance the overall quality of life. When you can, keep your dog off-leash, and they’ll feel more at ease when they’re among other dogs and people. Before letting your dog off the leash please make sure your dog is well trained properly to avoid any issues or harm to your dog and others around you.
3. Keep dogs mind in shape, too
Including a variety of mental and physical activities in your routine is important for both you and your pet to increase their life expectancy.
Keeping your dog’s mind in shape is important for them to be happy and healthy. One way you can do this is by keeping them mentally stimulated.
There are few activities you can do that would help keep the mind stimulated. Here are the 8 activities that could help keep your canine engaged:
1. Take them on walks
2. Play games with them
3. Teach them new tricks
4. Give them a job to do
5. Take them on long car rides
6. Play with them
7. Play hide and seek
8. Have your pup on playdates with friends
4. Don’t forget to brush those teeth
I used to neglect my dogs’ teeth and they would end up with periodontal disease, which is a bacterial infection that can cause tooth loss, tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. In addition to brushing their teeth regularly, it’s also important to give them a vet-approved food diet. You could save hundreds of thousands a year by keeping your dog’s teeth clean and healthy.
Some veterinarians recommend the Vet’s Best Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste is one of the best that are designed to help protect the gum and teeth
5. Follow your doctor’s advice: They mean well for dogs
Being a dog owner is not easy. A lot of work and responsibility goes into caring for your canine companion, but there are some ways you can make it easier.
Following your vet’s orders are can save the life of your dogs and also provide a good opportunity for your dog to live a longer life. It’s a good idea to get annual check-ups from your vet to make it easier. To also sure diseases are captured in an early stage, make sure your dog has a wellness exam every year for a full health record.”By taking your dog to the vet every year you get a chance to get preventive care for diseases like arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other conditions that may develop later in life.”
6. Become familiar with the warning signs to potential health problems
Some of the warning signs to potential health problems in your dog include:
1. Loss of energy
2. Inability to keep food down
3. Changes in behavior or personality
4. Difficulty breathing, coughing, or gagging
5. Staring at walls or ceiling without blinking
6. Excessive panting or wheezing
7. Lethargy or listlessness
8. Loss of weight or appetite
9. Wound, skin condition, or discharge
If your dog has any of the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Difficulty breathing or gagging
- Seizures
- Lethargy, weakness, or paralysis
- Weakness with standing or lying down
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Pressure sores on soft tissues of the body
- Dilated pupils or abnormal reactions to light
- Hair loss
Understanding these symptoms of potential health issues could save your dog’s life. These symptoms could be early indicators of an illness or a change in your dog’s behavior. Early detection and treatment are key to preventing chronic health conditions from developing.
7. Give Him Love and Attention
Nothing brings your dog more delight than spending a few minutes with him, scratching his favorite spots, and telling him what a good dog he is.
A study by the American Heart Association found that dogs who were regularly exercised and given love and attention lived for an average of 10.3 years.
If your dog gets less exercise and attention and is kept in a comfy (and possibly cramped) kennel or run, his life expectancy can fall to as little as 4 years. The only way to increase the dog’s life expectancy is to ensure that he gets everyday exercise and daily love and affection. One of the secrets to a long life for your dog is to give them quality time
8. Dogs Live Longer When Quality Time is Given
Quality time with your dog is essential for his well-being. Quality time includes playtime, walks, and all the other things that make up a good day for you and your dog. It’s important that your dog be a part of your life, and not just a house pet.
This is a good way to show your dog that you love and care for them. It will help increase their life expectancy and make them feel more loved and cared for.
9. Keep Body and Mind Active
The natural instinct for a dog is to explore its environment. Sometimes, this can lead to boredom and destructive behavior. As much as possible, try to keep your dog’s mind active by giving them plenty of mental stimulation through activities such as obedience training, socialization with other dogs, brain games, puzzle toys, and games.
10. Avoid Exposing your dog to second-hand smoke
Second-hand smoke can be detrimental to pets, so it’s best to avoid this method if you’re looking for ways to extend your dog’s life expectancy. There is no safe level of second-hand smoke, so letting your dog be exposed to second-hand smoke is not only putting the health of your pet in jeopardy but also scaring and traumatizing them.
A study was done on puppies exposed to second-hand smoke early on, but what happens when they are exposed to it later in life? A dog is exposed to the same toxic chemicals that would have been found once they were adults in the study. So, in order to change their behavior, one must change the situation.
We never realized how big of an impact second-hand smoke had on our dog until we moved into a community with a smoking ban. One of the biggest lessons I have learned from being a pet owner is to protect your dog from second-hand smoke. It not only can affect his health but the health of your entire family due to overexposure.
Here are some significant ways that second-hand smoke can cause harm to you or your dog:
It is important to keep your dog away from second-hand smoke, as it can be harmful to them. Second-hand smoke contains carbon monoxide, which is toxic to dogs and other animals. Carbon monoxide can cause breathing problems, heart arrhythmia, and death. Second-hand smoke can also cause irritation to your dog’s eyes, nose, and throat. Second-hand smoke contains other toxic compounds, such as nitrogen oxide and ammonia, which can cause severe irritation to their respiratory system.
Avoiding second-hand smoke may not always be easy to do. Dog owners need to be more aware of their domestic environment and the fact that they are exposing their dogs to second-hand smoke. Carrying out precautionary actions can greatly reduce your dog’s exposure and protect them against the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
11. Keep an eye on their blood sugar
Blood sugar is a vital part of your pet’s health. Keeping an eye on it can help prevent any complications from occurring, such as diabetes. Pet owners should be aware of the signs of blood sugar issues, such as excessive thirst and urination, changes in appetite, weight loss or gain, lethargy/lethargic behavior, and vomiting.
These signs should not be overlooked and if they do occur, visit your vet and request for blood tests, the result for the blood test may help your dog receive the proper diagnoses and treatments you need.
12. Help your dog live a stress-free life
One of the most important things in our lives is to take care of ourselves and to make sure that we are healthy. This includes making sure that our animals are not stressed out by their environment. One way to do this is by taking your dog outside for a walk (a Win-Win for both your and your furry friend).
A dog that is not stressed out can live a stress-free life and be happy. Ensure that your dog is well-fed, sleeps very well, and also feels safe and comfortable in the environment plays a big part.
13. Forgetting about heartworm and flea and tick prevention
It is important to keep up with your dog’s monthly flea, heartworm, and tick treatments. These are preventative measures that can help your dog live a longer life.
Some ways to prevent heartworm, flea, and tick in your dog are by giving them a monthly medication that protects against these diseases. And also, don’t forget about vaccinations, or regular visits to the vet.
14. Enrich Your Dog’s Life
Enriching your dog’s life is important not just for the dog but also for you. It can be easy to get caught up in your daily life and forget about the details of what’s going on with your dog. The following are a few ways to enrich your dog’s life:
- Spending time with the dog every day, even if it is just for a short walk- Giving the dog a toy that he/she will enjoy
- Playing with your dog every day, even if it is just for a few minutes
- Enrich your dog’s life by considering their muscle, bone, and joint strength and mobility as they age.
- Experts recommend a diet of no more than 25% protein
- Feed your dog a diet high in vitamins and minerals
- Enrich your dog’s life by giving them a variety of toys and chews-Feed a healthy diet of brown rice
15. Minimize Toxin Exposure
Dogs can consume toxins and chemicals, as well as other household products. There are a few ways to help decrease the number of toxins they consume, such as cleaning up their environment and minimizing toxin exposure.
Although accidental toxic exposures are often not preventable, there are ways to make the dog’s environment safer. For example, if your dog gets into your cleaning supplies or gardening chemicals, place them in a safe location where your dog cannot get to them.
If you use concentrated toxins that could potentially harm your dogs, such as weed killers or other chemicals, place them in a sealed container and away from the dog.
Your dog may not stay out of those chemicals forever, but at least for a period of time you’ve limited the number of toxins that he or she can come closer to – and what better way to prevent an injury than to remove the risk altogether.
FAQS
How long is a dog’s lifespan?
A dog’s lifespan is anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Depending on your dog breeds. You can find your dog breeds lifespan here
What is the average life expectancy of dogs and why?
The average life expectancy of dogs is 8-10 years. This lifespan can vary due to factors such as size, breed, and conditions that the dog may have. One reason for this is that dogs are susceptible to cancer, which is the leading cause of death in dogs. Dogs may also die from other diseases such as heart disease and kidney failure. They may live longer, but not by much. An uncommon dog in exceptional circumstances can have a 15 – 20 average years lifespan with good health care and a healthy diet plan.
What dogs live the shortest?
Large dog breeds are not always the category of dogs that live the shortest. The median life expectancy for a medium or large breed is 7 to 8 years old. However, large breeds do tend to live shorter lives than small breeds.
Large breed dogs are generally considered senior citizens at around the age of 5-8 years.
Dogs under 20 pounds live 11 years on average, compared to 8 years for dogs over 90 pounds. While small breeds such as Chihuahuas tend to live longer, there are some notable exceptions. While Poodles can live to be 15 or even 16 years old, Jack Russell Terriers typically only make it to the age of 4 or 5.
There are some dogs that do live into their late teens, typically due to genetics or other factors.
It is important to recognize the signs of aging in dogs from a young age. A dog’s metabolism slows down once they hit their late teens, and dogs that are younger when adopted will live longer than dogs that are older when adopted.
What dogs live the longest?
The average life expectancy for dogs is 10-12 years. However, some breeds have a longer lifespan than others.
The answer to this question is not set in stone. Some breeds live longer than others, but no one knows why. Factors such as diet, genetics, lifestyle, and environment can all affect the life span of a dog.
The best way to increase your dog’s life expectancy is to find a vet who specializes in canine health and takes care of your dog’s well-being, generally following the steps above on how to increase your dog’s lifespan would certainly help you and your dog.
The average life expectancy of dogs is 8 years. Smaller dogs typically live longer than bigger ones, but there are some breeds that will outlive even the largest.
Small breeds that tend to live longer include chihuahuas, dachshunds, and pugs. Bigger dogs are often Great Danes, Golden retrievers, and Labrador retrievers. These breeds live the longest with their average lifespan around 12-14 years.
What shortens a dog’s lifespan?
- Very bad unhealthy diets
- Not taking your dog for a regular checkup
- Not plying or showing love to your dog
- Lack of training
- Not socializing your dog
- Not spaying or neutering
- Not giving them the treatment that they need
- Exposure to secondhand smoking or toxins around the house like Weedkiller
What are some good ways to increase your dog’s mental health?
Some ways to increase your dog’s mental health are:
- Spend time with them regularly.
- Train regularly.
- Give them time outside to run, play, and explore.
- Provide daily exercise for them.-Take them to the park regularly.
- Buy them toys to play with. Play fetch games frequently.-Make sure they get adequate attention until their eyes close at night.
