Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
What affects how long dogs live and die in Italy
By Roccaro, Mariana et al.·Published in Preventive veterinary medicine·2024·Department for Life Quality Studies, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Factors related to longevity and mortality of dogs in Italy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study of nearly 5,000 dogs in Italy found that the average lifespan is about 10 years, with certain breeds living longer than others. Smaller breeds like Yorkshire terriers and Shih Tzus tended to have longer lifespans, while larger breeds like bulldogs and Bernese mountain dogs had shorter ones. The most common cause of death was cancer, particularly in larger breeds, while smaller dogs often faced issues related to degenerative diseases. This information can help pet owners make informed decisions about breed selection and health management to improve their dogs' quality of life.
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Abstract
Besides its translational value, an improved understanding of dog longevity and mortality is necessary to guide health management decisions, breed selection, and improve dog welfare. In order to analyse the lifespan of dogs in Italy, identify the most common causes of death, and evaluate possible risk factors, anonymised medical records were collected from 9 veterinary teaching hospitals and 2 public health institutions. Data regarding breed, sex, neuter status, age, diagnosis, and mechanism of death were retrieved. Cause of death (COD) was classified by pathophysiologic process (PP) and organ system (OS). Of the 4957 dogs that died between 2004 and 2020 included in the study, 2920 (59.0%) were purebred, 2293 (46.2%) were female, 3005 (60.6%) were intact, 2883 (58.2%) were euthanised. Overall median longevity was 10.0 years. Median longevity was significantly longer for crossbreds, females, neutered dogs, and small-sized breeds. The breeds with the highest median age at death were the Yorkshire terrier, English cocker spaniel, West Highland white terrier, Italian volpino, and Shih Tzu, whilst the American bulldog, English bulldog, American pit bull terrier, Bernese mountain dog and the Maremma and the Abruzzes sheepdog had the lowest median age at death. The most frequent COD by PP was neoplasia (34.0%), which occurred more frequently in large breeds, namely German shepherd, Labrador retriever and Boxer. Degenerative diseases mostly affected small-sized dogs like Miniature pinscher and Dachshund. Regarding the OS involved, diseases of the renal/urinary system were most frequently responsible for COD (15.0%), prevalently degenerative and inflammatory/infectious. Substantial variation in median longevity according to causes of death by PP and OS was observed. These data are relevant for breeders, veterinary practitioners, and owners, to assist breed selection, facilitate early diagnosis, guide choice when purchasing a purebred dog and making health management decisions, and ultimately improve dog welfare.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38394961/