Dog Health
Our furry friends all come in different shapes and sizes. And regardless of how big or small they are, we want to provide them with the healthiest life. And to do so, we start by changing their lifestyle and diet. From supplements to additional health care, we offer them all. But some breeds live a long healthy life, unlike the others. Why is this? Do some of the breeds have inherent advantages of any kind? – Certainly. The healthiest dog breeds have inherent advantages and we will explain below how does this impact the health of our pets.
One needs to understand that every breed is distinct from the other, and they possess immunities or are predisposed to the threat of particular health issues.
Is Breed Selection Everything in Determining the Health of the Dog?
The answer is ‘No’.
Apart from the breeds of our fur buddies, several other factors play a significant role in leading a healthy life. In general, when people go for adopting or buying a pet dog, they’re so lost in puppy eyes. They forget to think about their new friend’s end-of-life care. Nonetheless, before getting into the pet-owner relationship, everyone should remember to collect knowledge about the breed they are interested in.
Nothing is better than knowing beforehand what you will deal with later in your dog’s life. If you know that the breed is likely to catch a specific health issue, you will be alert and take necessary precautions. So through this article, Healthiest Dog Breeds you will get to know the breeds that have fewer health issues than the others and what to watch out for when caring for them.
Why Do Some Dogs Live Longer?
Apart from how the dog is raised and how healthy they are, genetics is the main lead in deciding what pedigrees live longer than others. Starting from genetics and moving on to others, let us see some of the reasons below.
Genetics
Genetics means hereditary health problems. Here the medical issue or congenital problem is genetically transferred to the puppies if the dogs’ parents had the same problem.
The puppies born out of this reproduction can lead a life of suffering from the same old problem which their parents had. So, the healthiest dog breeds should have good genes to live longer and healthier lives.
Limited Gene Pools for Endangered Dogs
Most pedigree dogs are not vulnerable; however, they face similar challenges due to a limited pool of breeding mates. If you choose a particular breed with a pedigree, you might be reduced in what parents you can choose from. As there is a limited pool of dogs, this limitation may lead to interbreeding, increasing the risk of catching a disease or lowering immunity.
Inbreeding
For reference, take our cute little pugs. They are a perfect example of interbreeding as they are pretty few in numbers. And this reproduction from the same side of ancestry is harmful to the dogs as they are more likely to get affected by ancestral health issues.
Their Physical Bodies
Due to their size or appearance, some breeds are more prone to health issues than others. This is especially dangerous for large dogs. Musculoskeletal problems are often associated with rapid development. Similarly, dog breeds that have evolved to have a more distinctive appearance, such as Pugs, suffer from various physical issues simply through evolving.
The Healthiest Dog Breeds
A few dog breeds have a history of having low care costs throughout their lives. Let us see which are these breeds.
Bichon Frise
Bichons are one of the healthiest small dogs, but they are susceptible to allergic reactions. Since Bichons are prone to small dog syndrome. It’s essential to devote plenty of training time to Bichon Frise from the moment you carry him back from the shelter.
Greyhounds
Opposite to a common belief of Greyhounds running around and being hyperactive as they are gaming and racing dogs, they are loving, gentle, intelligent, calm, and sweet, with children and adults. Moreover, many would prefer lying on the sofa without batting an eye. Greyhounds are usually stable, but there are a few problems to be informed of, namely hip dysplasia, heart murmurs, and gastrointestinal.
Poodles
Considering their reputation as elegant, slouchy dogs, Poodles are just about as friendly and enthusiastic as the other dogs. Although poodles are generally stable, they are susceptible to Cushing’s syndrome and Addison’s disease.
German Shorthaired Pointers
German Shorthaired Pointers are a breed that originated in Germany.
They are considered among the world’s healthiest breeds, although it is vulnerable to common problems like hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, and gastric torsion. Like some of the other high-energy dog breeds described in this blog, this breed needs a lot of mental stimulation, activity, and care to remain content.
Beagles
While common diseases, including hypothyroidism and hip dysplasia, may affect beagles, the much more severe issue is obesity, which a diligent dog guardian can easily manage. Beagles will enjoy relatively long and disease-free lives unless their diet is monitored closely.
English Springer Spaniels
English Springer Spaniels are a breed of dog that originated in England. They are happy, safe dogs with few genetic disorders. The majority of English springer spaniels live healthy lives; however, eye diseases are the most common cause of death.
Australian Shepherds
Australian shepherds are amongst the most successful breeds eligible for adoption. However, issues like epilepsy, drug sensitivity, eye infections, and hip dysplasia are some of the leading health concerns for this tireless breed.
Australian Cattle Dogs
Bluey, an Australian cattle dog, lived 29 years (1910-1939) long cattle herding happy life. Bluey holds the title of being the world’s oldest dog. Still, unofficially a 30 years old Maggie, an Australian Kelpie, broke the record.
Bluey was able to get this much long life because Australian cattle dogs seldom suffer critical conditions. But there are three most prevalent disorders which are likely to occur, namely, deafness, hip dysplasia, and progressive retinal atrophy.
Read more: The Best DIY Carpet Cleaning Recipes for Home
Border Collies
There are no two ways of saying that Border collies have comparably fewer health issues, and they are also intelligent and brilliant dogs. They require a competent owner by their side who can encourage and challenge them. And as you are saving money with one hand, be prepared to devote a significant amount of your spare time to training and keeping your Border collie busy and exercised.
Mixed Breeds (Mutts)
While talking about mixed breed dogs, two schools of thought of breeders arise—one who supports the mixed breeds and the one against it.
The reason for disapproval is genuine concern about what kind of medical or behavior problems one will get. Conversely, researchers show that even veterinarians are more inclined to argue that mutts are less likely to acquire gene defects and survive longer due to less inbreeding.
Please Note
Only because a breed is listed here doesn’t always imply that they are the healthiest dog breeds and can live long without health issues. It’s just recorded that they don’t have many health issues as some other dog breeds do.
Before adopting a dog, always question yourself if you can manage one, bearing in mind possible medical issues.
Medical bills are amongst the most expensive parts of becoming a dog parent. Are you prepared to provide your dog with the attention and care which it requires?
