Generally medium-sized dogs have an estimated average life span of between 10 to 15 years. This is less than toy breeds which can live to be 15 to 19 years old but more than large breeds such as the St. Bernard or Great Dane which generally live up to only around 8 to 10 years of age. The life span of dogs in general decrease as their body size increases.
Why do larger dogs have a shorter life span? According to this research paper, it could be due to the fact that larger dogs experience an exceptionally high growth rate in their early years. This growth spurt may cause greater cellular damage in their bodies compared to smaller dogs which do not experience this immense growth spurt. It could also be because of the fact that large dog breeds were bred to become big sized by man and such "artificially created" sizes may place an excessive amount of strain on their skeletal systems.
Although medium dogs live to between 10 to 15 years on average, some medium dog breeds have a genetic predisposition to contract certain kinds of diseases which may shorten their life span. For example, Bulldogs are succeptible to heat strokes and respiratory problems due to the shortness of their muzzle, male Samoyeds may be affected by a genetic predisposition to renal failure, and hip dysplasia is very common in Chow Chows, Golden Retrievers, Samoyeds and English Springer Spaniels.
Thus, it is important to be aware of what are some of the common genetic diseases for the breed of your medium dog so that the disease can be detected and treated early. And do not hesitate to bring your dog to the vet if he is not feeling well. Remember to ensure that your dog is well vaccinated against contagious canine diseases as well.
Also, do check out Medium Dog Health in Medium Dog Guide for more useful health tips for medium-sized dogs :-)
Tags: life span of medium dogs, medium dog health.
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