Each future owner of a four-legged asks the question: “How many years do dogs live?” And this is understandable, because when we buy a dog, we bring into the house not just an animal, but also a family member.
Neither cynologists, nor veterinarians, nor even experienced breeders will be able to say exactly how many years dogs live. Of course, there is a certain arithmetic mean based on several indicators. But we should not forget about the factors.
According to statistics, the average life expectancy of our smaller brothers is about twelve years. But this figure is very, very unstable, and it depends not only on breed characteristics, but also on the place of residence, and on the presence of hereditary diseases, and on feeding, and on the quality of water, and on the quality of food? and even the climate.
Of course, breed features in this matter are put in the first place. Encyclopedias, for example, clearly state how many years dogs of various breeds live. But again, these are averages. Let's stop for an example on the well-known Germansheepdog. For one owner, she dies of old age at the age of 9, for another - at 17. Agree, the gap is significant. So what's the deal?
This is where the factors listed earlier pop up. The first dog lived in a large city; The second dog lived in the taiga, drank only spring water, ate natural food, walked a lot, practically did not get sick and did not get stress.
Most of the purebred dogs, the very ones that we buy for decent "nth" amounts, are hostages to the excessive "love" of the owners. Why is the word "love" in quotation marks? Yes, because we, driven only by good intentions, begin to groom a pet, feeding him with buns, sweets, sausage, grilled chickens and other food that is inedible for dogs. As a result, pets have problems such as obesity, low hemoglobin, zero immunity, kidney failure, heart failure. And then - clinics, treatment (or healing), operations … And this is a new burden on the liver, and on the kidneys, and on the heart. And new stresses - both psychological and physical. It turns out that the body, already having problems, is obliged to deal with new ones. Having difficulty coping with the already existing loads, he is forced to take the next blows in the form of all the same ultrasounds, x-rays, chemicals. And here the question becomes different: "How long does a dog live, often ill?"
Healing one, we cripple another. Unwillingly, of course, but allsame…
Surprisingly, between how many years purebred (or domestic) dogs live and mongrels, there is a gap of several years. The domestic dog is less adapted to a stressful environment. A mongrel dog from the very first days is forced to fight for life. This is where natural selection comes into play. Mongrel, as a rule, are more hardy, more hardened, more active. That is why they live longer.
It has also been observed that smaller dogs outlive their larger relatives. Let's say a Dogue de Bordeaux is measured on average 8 years old, a Chihuahua - 14. But again, these are average figures.
It is in your power to extend your pet's life for several years. Provide him with good, balanced nutrition, clean water, long walks, movement and love. True love, which does not consist in feeding delicious pieces from the "lord's table", but in affection, games, attention.
