Pet Talk: Do smaller dogs live longer?

DEAR PET TALK: How long does a little dog live compared to a big dog?

— Mrs. Roberts’ Social Emotional Learning Class at McKay School, Fitchburg.

DEAR STUDENTS: If you know people who have a little dog, you may have met a dog who’s 12, 15, or even older. Whereas larger dogs; those over 90 pounds, say, may not live to be quite so old.

The factors that influence longevity — how long one might live — definitely show that size at birth versus size at adulthood makes a difference. Consider this: a very large dog, such as a great Dane will have puppies that might be one or two pounds at birth. However, this breed gains weight quickly, and by one month, they might weigh five to eight pounds. Then they may gain weight at the rate of 10 to 20 pounds a month for a year or more. And a Dane will double their height between two months and a year. That is a very fast rate of growth!

Now, consider a smaller dog, such as a Chihuahua. Their weight is measured in ounces for weeks after birth, and they gain weight and height at a slower rate. This slower rate and smaller gain puts less strain on the organs, skeleton and body.

And as much as people love a big dog — and who doesn’t!? — the big dogs come with vulnerabilities.

It is heartbreaking that there is this discrepancy, but it’s science, and the professionals have found that expectations of life-span for smaller dogs ranges from 10 to 14 years; larger breeds may live much more briefly: five to eight years.

And there are a lot of dogs! Currently some 400 dog breeds are officially recognized, which amounts to probably hundreds of thousands of “Heinz 57” varieties of dogs. When I first researched this topic, my thought was that relative heart size might be a factor, but in fact, the science behind a predictably short life is the rate of growth. Of course, there are exceptions, and I’ve seen big dogs who are more than 10 years old, and smaller dogs who die relatively young.

Factors that go into health for all dogs are food, exercise, care and of course veterinary attention. Whatever the size of your dog — make sure you are feeding it healthy and appropriate dog food.

Sally Cragin is the founder of  Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Visit us on Facebook and call/text questions to 978-320-1335.