Tips to increase your dog’s lifespan from veterinarians

Following the passing of Bobi, the world’s oldest dog at 31, it makes sense that some pet parents might want tips for increasing their own dog’s lifespan. And while the vet who announced the beloved dog’s death has previously shared what she believes contributed to his long life, thanks to veterinarians.org, we have some tips for pet parents worldwide to help their own dog live a healthier life (that may also improve their lifespan overall).

Obviously, Bobi was able to benefit from the fact that he lived in an area of the world with less pollution, as well as a human diet of very fresh produce and meats. So it does make sense that a number of the contributing factors for his longer lifespan will not apply to many other dogs.

However, that does not mean that these tips can’t help to increase our dog’s lifespan. So what did Athena Gaffud, DVM of veterinarians.org offer up as some suggestions to help improve your dog’s chances of a longer life?

Tips from a vet to help increase your dog’s lifespan

In the press email we received on behalf of veterinarians.org, Dr. Gaffud gave us a number of tips that will help our dog’s live their best lives. And in particular, these tips are all about helping them to live as long as possible.

• Regular visits to the vet, as well as preventative care: “Veterinarians can diagnose some congenital diseases even in young puppies. Preventive care is important to stop possible complications and improve the overall health of your dog. Preventive health care also includes vaccines that give dogs protection from common dog diseases.”
• A diet that is both balanced and healthy: “Dogs are omnivores so make sure they are getting a healthy and balanced diet from meat and plants. If you are buying commercial dog food, ensure that it is high quality and AAFCO certified. Always check the ingredients and other pertinent details such as manufacturing and expiration date. Do your best not to over or under-feed your dog.”
• Much like with people, dental health is extremely important: “Periodontal disease could cause bacteremia and heart problems. The teeth and gums could be a point of entry for bacteria. The poor dental state could also affect the eating habits of your dog. If something is painful within the oral cavity, their food intake may decrease leading to malnutrition which creates a ripple effect on their overall health.”
• Knowing about different dog breeds and what their lifespan might be: “Different breeds have different life spans. Small breeds usually have longer life spans whereas large breeds have shorter life spans. Chihuahuas could live up to 20 years while an Irish Wolfhound has a life expectancy of up to 10 years.”

Honestly, there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to the health and life expectancy of our pets. And while there are no guarantees that even a solid diet and regular vet visits will keep your dog living longer, we are always willing to do whatever we can to keep them with us and living their best lives.