According to research, a dog’s typical life expectancy is between 10 and 14 years, while some dogs live longer due to their genes, while others are susceptible to conditions that shorten their lives. Healthy habits and precautionary care go a long way toward extending the life of your dog.

Here are a few healthy lifestyle habits that can help you extend the life of your dog:

1. Keeping your dog’s bodyweight in check:

   A study revealed that the average lifespan of overweight dogs was up to 2 1/2 years shorter than that of dogs with a healthy body weight. This includes making sure dogs aren’t overweight and carefully monitoring their calorie intake. This can be accomplished by meticulously monitoring and managing your dog’s bodyweight through regular weighing and using feeding standards as a reference point for how much to feed your dog, depending on their age and level of physical activity.

2. Daily Walks:

   Dogs need daily exercise to stay mentally and physically healthy. It has been established that an absence of exercise and mobility can result in a range of health problems, including obesity. According to a VCA Hospital article titled “Obesity in Dogs,” obese dogs are more likely to develop various types of cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis and accelerated joint deterioration in the affected joints, stones in the urinary bladder, and anaesthetic problems due to heat intolerance. Hence, concluding that daily walks are an essential in your dog’s life.

3. Vet Visits:

   Veterinary care establishes the foundation for your dog’s overall wellbeing. Advanced veterinary medicine has made significant advances in treatment and prevention of health problems in dogs. The importance of regular health checks cannot be overstated, as they are helpful in identifying any potential complications at an early stage, before they cause pain and have an adverse impact on the dog’s wellbeing. Aside from regular vet visits, it is also critical to keep record of routine preventive medications, vaccination timelines, and prescribed medications.

4. Continuous Teaching & Training:
   

   A study revealed that mental and physical stimulation can reduce the ageing process, thus teaching your dog new tricks and training them even as they become older can help to slow down the ageing process and increase their longevity.
   
   

Following these healthy lifestyle habits can improve your dog’s mental and physical well-being, extending their lifespan.

References:

• Salt, C., Morris, P., Wilson, D., Lund, E. and German, A., 2018. Association between life span and body condition in neutered client‐owned dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
• Wallis, L., Range, F., Kubinyi, E., Chapagain, D., Serra, J. and Huber, L., 2017. Utilising dog-computer interactions to provide mental stimulation in dogs especially during ageing. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Animal-Computer Interaction.
• Williams, K., 2021. Obesity in Dogs. VCA Corporate. Available here. .