According to a recent study conducted in the United Kingdom involving more than 580,000 dogs, the shape of the animal's snout appears to be a predictive indicator of its lifespan. Small dog breeds with elongated muzzles, such as Whippet hounds and Miniature Dachshunds, have the highest life expectancies, while medium-sized breeds with flat faces, like English Bulldogs, have the shortest lifespans. This research, published in
Scientific Reports, utilizes data from 18 British sources, ranging from breed registries to pet insurance records.
Illustrative Image from Pixabay
Kirsten McMillan, the lead author of the study, and her team compiled a database of 584,734 dogs, covering 155 pure breeds and crossbreeds. The findings highlight significant differences. Small long-snouted breeds show a median life expectancy of 13.3 years, while medium flat-faced breeds have the lowest, with 9.1 years for males and 9.6 years for females.
Among the 12 most popular breeds, representing over 50% of the database, Labradors lead with a median lifespan of 13.1 years, followed by Jack Russell Terriers at 13.3 years and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels at 11.8 years. Purebred dogs have a higher median lifespan compared to crossbreeds (12.7 years versus 12.0 years), and females live slightly longer than males (12.7 years versus 12.4 years).
The researchers emphasize that these results are specific to British dogs and call for further exploration of "designer dogs," such as Labradoodles, to account for genetic diversity.
Flat-Faced Dogs and Their Reduced Lifespan
This study sheds light on the notable variations in dogs' life expectancy, based on factors such as breed, size, face shape, and gender. According to Kirsten McMillan, "a medium-sized male with a flat face like an English Bulldog has nearly three times more chances of living for a shorter duration than a small-sized female with an elongated snout, like a Miniature Dachshund or an Italian Greyhound."
The median life expectancy for all dogs stands at 12.5 years but drops to 9.8 years for French Bulldogs, recently ranked as the most popular breed in the United States. Flat-faced dogs, often prized for their cute appearance, face significant breathing issues, highlighting a real "health and welfare crisis" according to Dan O'Neill of the
Brachycephalic Working Group.
Lancashire Heelers, Tibetan Spaniels, and Miniature Dachshunds hold the longevity records, with 15.4 years, 15.2 years, and 14 years, respectively. Females have a slightly higher life expectancy than males, with 12.7 years versus 12.4 years.
Article Author: Cédric DEPOND