By Andrew Court
Published Feb. 3, 2024, 12:20 p.m. ET
It appears that the appearance of your furry friend can provide insight into their life expectancy.
An analysis of over 584,000 dogs in the United Kingdom has revealed that dogs with flat faces and small noses are likely to have shorter lifespans compared to those with longer faces and bigger snouts.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, is likely to concern owners of breeds such as French Bulldogs, which are known for their flat faces and small noses.
Lead author Kirsten McMillan stated, “A medium-sized, flat-faced male like a bulldog is three times more likely to live a shorter life than a small-sized, long-faced female, like a miniature dachshund or an Italian greyhound.”
The study examined data on 155 breeds, as well as popular mixes.
Although most French bulldog owners are aware that their dogs have shorter lifespans, researchers found that the breed had one of the lowest life expectancies, at just 9.8 years.
Other short-nosed breeds, including large mastiffs and English bulldogs, had average life expectancies of just 9 years and 9.3 years, respectively.
“This paper is showing people that at a population level, these dogs are not doing well,” McMillan emphasized.
Dan O’Neill, an associate professor at the Royal Veterinary College in London, said, “This new research underlines these major health issues by revealing that flat-faced dogs live 1.5 years shorter lives than typical dogs.”
“We urge anyone considering getting a flat-faced breed to ‘stop and think’ and to ensure that they acquire a dog with the best chances of a long and happy life,” he added.
On the other hand, the study found that miniature dachshunds and Italian greyhounds, both breeds with long faces, had an impressive average life expectancy of 14 years.
The study also noted that Papillons lived for 14.5 years, while a healthy Shiba Inu could be expected to be a family pet for almost 14.6 years.
There was one anomaly discovered in the study – Lhasa Apsos, with their tiny noses and small, smushed-up faces, had an average life expectancy of 14 years.
The researchers did not provide an explanation as to why smaller-faced canines lived for less time, but it’s possible that their small noses could create breathing issues leading to other health problems.
Before becoming anxious about your small-faced pup, the researchers acknowledge that there are a variety of other factors that determine a dog’s average life expectancy.
Female dogs are more likely to live longer than male dogs, while physically smaller breeds generally outlive large ones.
