Why do dogs have a short lifespan?

You might have heard about “dog years” versus “human years” to determine a pet’s age and lifespan.

The notion that one dog year equals seven human years is oversimplified.

Different species have varying life expectancy ranges.

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In 2021, human life expectancy is as high as 85 years in some regions.

In the Paleolithic Era, the average human life expectancy was only 22-33 years.

Life expectancies for both humans and dogs have changed significantly over time.

THE VARIABLES IN A DOG’S LIFESPAN

Life expectancy is influenced by various factors including;

• genetics

• diet

• physical activity

• pathogens

• clean water

• medical care

All these variables play a role in determining the lifespan of a species, race, or breed.

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Species with faster development have shorter pregnancies, faster teething, and quicker physical maturity.

They also reach sexual maturity earlier and generally live shorter lives.

Humans are unique as they care for their offspring longer than any other species.

Parental care contributes to the survival of the species and adds to human longevity.

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HEALTHCARE AND NUTRITION

Compared to wolves, dogs lead more sedentary lives, even working dogs.

Wolves have slim and athletic bodies due to a natural raw diet from hunting.

Domesticated dogs often have robust bodies and may be overfed, leading to stress in their systems.

They don’t rely on their body condition to eat the processed food we provide.

Interestingly, domesticated dogs have inherited some modern human diseases like diabetes.

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Life expectancy is influenced by various factors in a species.

Fast-developing species usually have shorter lifespans.

Dogs have a shorter life span compared to their wild ancestors due to physical modifications in breeding and increased disease predisposition from genetic diversity loss.