When is a Dog Considered Senior?

Pets age much faster than we do. The life span of a dog depends on its size or breed. In general, the larger the breed or size of the dog, the shorter the life span. For example, in a study of lifespans, only 13% of giant breed dogs lived to be over 10 years old. Conversely, 38% of small breed dogs live to be over 10 years of age.

Dogs are considered senior in the last 25% of their lives. Below is a list of the most common breeds with their life expectancies and age at which they are considered “senior”.

When your dog is senior, make sure they have a senior check-up with your veterinarian.

Breed	Lifespan	Senior Years
Affenpinscher	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Afghan Hound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Airdale Terrier	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Akita	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Alaskan Malamute	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
American Eskimo	13 years	9.5 – 10 years
American Foxhound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
American Staffordshire Terrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
American Water Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Anatolian Sheepdog	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Australian Cattle Dog	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Australian Shepherd	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Australian Terrier	15 years	11 years
Basenji	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Basset Hound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Beagle	14 – 15 years	10.5 – 11 years
Bearded Collie	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Beauceron	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Bedlington Terrier	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Belgian Malinois	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Belgian Sheepdog	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Belgian Tervuren	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Bernese Mountain Dog	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Bichon Frise	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Black and Tan Coonhound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Black Russian Terrier	10 – 11 years	7.5 – 8 years
Bloodhound	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Border collie	11 – 14 years	8 – 10.5 years
Border Terrier	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Borzoi	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Boston Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Bouvier Des Flandres	8 – 10 years	6.5 – 7.5 years
Boxer	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Briard	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Brittany	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Brussels Griffon	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Bull Dog	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Bull Terrier	14 – 15 years	10.5 – 11 years
Bullmastiff	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Cairn Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Canaan Dog	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Cardigan Welsh Corgi	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	12 years	9 years
Chesapeake Bay Retriever	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Chihuahua	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Chinese Crested	12 – 16 years	9 – 12 years
Chinese Shar Pei	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Chow Chow	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Clumber Spaniel	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Cocker Spaniel-American	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Cocker Spaniel-English	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Collie	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Curly Coated Retriever	8 – 12 years	6 – 9 years

Breed	Lifespan	Senior Years
Dachshund	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Dalmatian	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Dandie Dinmont Terrier	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Doberman Pinscher	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
English Foxhound	10 years	7.5 – 10.5 years
English Setter	10 – 14 years	7.5 – 10.5 years
English Springer Spaniel	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
English Toy Spaniel	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Field Spaniel	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Finnish Spitz	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Flat Coated Retriever	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Fox Terrier – Smooth	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Fox Terrier – Wirehair	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
French Bulldog	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
German Pinscher	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
German Shepherd Dog	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
German Shorthaired Pointer	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
German Wirehaired Pointer	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Giant Schnauzer	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Glen Imaal Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Golden Retriever	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Gordon Setter	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Great Dane	9 – 10 years	6.5 – 7.5 years
Great Pyrenees	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Great Swiss Mountain Dog	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Greyhound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Harrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Havanese	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Ibizan Hound	12 years	9 years
Irish Setter	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Irish Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Irish Water spaniel	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Irish Wolfhound	6 – 8 years	4.5 – 6 years
Italian Greyhound	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Japanese Chin	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Keeshond	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Kerry Blue Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Komondor	12 years	9 – 11 years
Kuvasz	11 – 14 years	8 – 10.5 years
Labrador Retriever	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Lakeland Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Lhasa Apso	15 years	11 years
Lowchen	10 – 15 years	7.5 – 11 years
Maltese	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Manchester Terrier – Standard & Toy	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Mastiff	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Miniature Bull Terrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Miniature Pinscher	15 years	11 years
Miniature Schnauzer	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Mix Breed – 1-15 pounds	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Mix Breed – 16-40 pounds	11 – 14 years	8 – 10.5 years
Mix Breed – 41-75 pounds	8 – 13 years	6 – 9 years
Mix Breed – 75 pounds	7 – 11 years	5 – 8 years

Breed	Lifespan	Senior Years
Neopolitan Mastiff	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Newfoundland	7 – 10 years	5 – 7.5 years
Norfolk Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Norwegian Elkhound	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Norwich Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Old English Sheepdog	10 – 12 years	4.5 – 9 years
Otter Hound	12 years	9 years
Papillon	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Parson Russell Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Pekingese	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Pembroke welsh Corgi	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen	10 – 14 years	7.5 – 10.5 years
Pharaoh Hound	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Plott Hound	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Pointer	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Polish Lowland Sheepdog	13 – 14 years	9 -10.5 years
Pomeranian	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Poodle Miniature	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Poodle Standard	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Poodle Toy	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Portuguese Water Dog	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Pug	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Puli	12 – 16 years	9 – 12years
Redbone Coonhound	11 – 12 years	8 – 9 years
Rhodesian Ridgeback	8 – 12 years	6 – 9 years
Rottweiler	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Saint Bernard	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Saluki	13 – 16 years	9 – 12 years
Samoyed	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Schipperke	15 years	11 years
Scottish Deerhound	11 – 12 years	8 – 9 years
Scottish Terrier	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Sealyham Terrier	14 years	10.5 years
Shetland Sheepdog	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Shiba Inu	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Shih Tzu	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Siberian husky	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Silky Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Skye Terrier	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Soft – Coated Wheaten Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
cSpinone Italiano	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Standard Schnauzer	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Sussex Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Tibetan Mastiff	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Tibetan Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Tibetan Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Toy Fox Terrier	15 years	11 years
Vizsla	14 – 15 years	10.5 – 11 years
Weimaraner	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Welsh Springer Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Welsh Terrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
West Highland white Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Whippet	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Yorkshire Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years

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Why Walking Your Dog is Vital to Their Health

Walking your dog is about much more than just potty breaks. Walking your dog provides them mental stimulation, physical exercise, socialization, and opportunities for behavioral training. Moreover, it gets both of you out and about all while helping to grow the bond you have with your dog.

Walking Provides Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Walking your dog regularly provides a basic foundation for physical and mental health. Like a child, your dog wants to know and explore the world. If they are confined to the house for too long, your dog will get bored, and boredom can lead to destructive behavior. Your dog is dependent on you to take them out to explore the sights, smells, and sounds of the world. This is why it’s also good to vary the places you take your dog as much as possible. You’ve probably noticed how busy (and excited) your dog gets when they are walking, so let them enjoy every opportunity to discover.

Walking is Good for Your Dog’s Health

A sedentary life for a dog can quickly lead to an overweight dog, which brings potential health problems with it. Even if your dog is active inside the home, they still need another outlet to expel their energy. You’ll benefit from having a well-exercised dog, as tired dogs tend to behave better. You will also help your pet avoid unnecessary weight gain, thus the health issues that come with it.

Walking Helps with Your Dog’s Socialization Skills

While you are out and about on your walks, your dog is likely to run into fellow canines. This is a great opportunity to help your dog learn acceptable ways of socially interacting with new animals. It will also help build your dog's confidence so your pet will be less afraid to make new friends. However, if your dog does show fear, try taking them to a training class to resolve that anxiety in a more controlled environment. Well-socialized dogs still like a bit of rough-and-tumble play with other dogs when out for a walk, but they’ll know when to stop and will come away without any battle scars. Walking your dog and exposing them to different dogs, people, and situations is a win for everyone.

Walking Your Dog is a Training Opportunity

When walking your dog, consider it a training opportunity. Dogs aren’t born knowing how to walk on a leash, so you’ll have to teach your dog how to follow your lead. While they are on the move, dogs are more inclined to be more receptive to learning. On these walks, you can begin teaching commands like, “sit,” “stay,” and “heel,” especially if you take treats along to use during the process.

Walking Your Dog May Not be Enough

Exercise needs are based on your dog's age, breed, size, and overall health, but a good rule of thumb is you should spend at least 30 minutes every day on an activity with your dog. Younger dogs and dogs bred for sports or herding activities may need much more.

If your dog has a yard to play in, walking isn’t the only form of exercise available. However, don’t expect your dog to create their own exercise routine just because you’ve put them outside. Dogs don’t self-entertain, so if you want to tire your pet out, play catch or fetch!

If you’re at work all day, consider taking your dog to a doggie daycare, hiring a dog walker, or asking a friend to take your dog out during those hours. Your pet will enjoy the company, and you’ll come home to a happier dog waiting to greet you.

Ready to get out of the house with your pup? With this insight, you’ll never look at a walk with your dog the same way again! Don’t have a dog of your own to walk? Volunteer with your local humane society or shelter and help enrich the lives of shelter pups.

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Heavy Panting in Dogs: When is panting normal, and when should you be concerned?

It’s normal for dogs to pant, especially when they’re hot, excited, or energetic. Heavy panting is different, though, and may be a sign your dog is dangerously overheated, coping with a chronic health problem, or has experienced life-threatening trauma.

Here are answers to three important questions every dog owner should know:

• What are the common causes of heavy panting in dogs?

• What can I do about them?

• When is it time to see the vet?

Common Causes and Treatments

Panting helps dogs cool off when they’re hot or engaged in lively exercise. Dogs take between ten and thirty breaths a minute, depending on their size. Get to know what your dog’s everyday breathing and panting looks like so you’ll more quickly notice any changes.

Some common reasons dogs pant heavily include:

Heatstroke or poisoning

It’s normal for a dog to start breathing harder or panting after exertion. As for some dogs, like Boston terriers, bulldogs, and pugs, are prone to heavier breathing than other dogs because of their short snouts. However, heavy panting is also a sign a dog may be suffering from heatstroke or may have consumed a toxic substance.

If you can’t find any obvious reason for a sudden change in your dog’s breathing, take him to a veterinarian immediately. If you suspect heatstroke, first follow the steps at the end of this article to help cool your dog safely.

Chronic illness

Illnesses like heart failure, Cushing’s syndrome, or respiratory disorders can all cause heavy breathing or panting in dogs:

• Heart failure: Like people, dogs can suffer from heart failure. And just like people, dogs may show some of the same symptoms, including breathing difficulty, reduced exercise tolerance, and coughing. How your dog’s heart failure is treated depends on the cause. But treatment may include medications such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics.

• Cushing’s syndrome. This occurs when a dog’s adrenal glands produce too much cortisol. Along with heavy panting, symptoms can include excessive hunger and thirst, hair loss, and a pot-bellied appearance. Treatment varies but may include adrenal-suppressing drugs or surgery. For more information on Cushing's disease, read our article.

• Respiratory disorders. Several respiratory disorders, such as laryngeal paralysis, pneumonia, and lung tumors, may all lead to heavy breathing or panting. Treatment depends on the condition and how far it’s progressed.

Injury and pain

Dogs can’t tell us with words when they’re in pain. So, it’s up to us to know what to look for. Heavy panting is one sign your dog may have suffered an injury.

Other signs of pain or trauma in pets include enlarged pupils, reduced appetite, a reluctance to lie down, restlessness, anxiety, and licking or biting at the pain site.

Dogs may mask their pain with normal behaviors, such as wagging their tail. And an injury may be internal — for example, as a result of being hit by a car. So if you suspect your pet may be in pain, don’t delay. Seek veterinary care right away.

Medication

Some medications, such as prednisone, may also lead to heavy panting in dogs. Talk to your veterinarian if you think your dog’s medication is causing heavy panting.

Other Causes of Heavy Panting in Dogs

Heavy breathing or deep, intense panting can also be a symptom of eclampsia, also called milk fever. Eclampsia is a dangerous condition that affects nursing mothers; low blood calcium levels lead to an inability to stand or walk and tremors. And allergies, infection, or irritation within the airways can cause wheezy, noisy breathing in dogs.

No matter what kind of breathing your dog usually has, any unexplained change — whether heavy panting, coughing, or wheezing — should lead with a call to your veterinarian.

Heatstroke and Your Dog: Emergency Response

Overheating is a medical emergency — and one of the most serious reasons for heavy panting in dogs. If you suspect your dog has heatstroke, a quick response can be lifesaving.

Symptoms of heatstroke include excessive panting, glassy eyes, weakness, fast heart rate, drooling, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, and a body temperature over 104 F. If possible, take a rectal temp. You want to stop once temp is back down to 103.

If you think your dog may have heatstroke, here’s what to do to help:

• Move your dog inside or to a shady spot.

• Submerge your dog in cool water (avoid cold water, which constricts blood vessels) or apply ice packs or cold towels to your dog’s chest, neck, and head. Don’t spray your dog with a yard hose -- on hot days the water inside a hose can reach near boiling temperatures. You want to cool him off gradually.

• Give your dog cool, not cold, water. Or give him ice cubes to lick.

• After you’ve started cooling your dog down, take your dog to the vet immediately.

The best way to manage heatstroke is to avoid it. Never leave your pet in a parked car. It’s better to leave your pet at home than to risk heatstroke. At home, be sure to provide all pets with shade and water or a way to get inside during the hottest part of the day.

When to See a Vet

Remember, panting is normal for a dog after exercise, excitement, or when it’s hot.

Call your vet immediately if any of the following applies:

• Your dog’s panting starts suddenly.

• You think your dog may be in pain.

• The panting is constant and intense.

• Your dog’s tongue or gums appear blue, purple, or white — a sign your pet isn’t getting enough oxygen.

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Homemade Slime: Toxicity and Health Risks for Pets

There has been a rise in a love of crafting homemade slime in households. While not a threat to creativity, some ingredients in slime pose a threat to our beloved pets.

Table Salt

This is often the most concerning ingredient in many slime recipes. Pets can develop salt toxicity or hypernatremia. Depending on the amount of salt ingested symptoms can range from GI upset to Central Nervous System signs such as lethargy, tremors, seizures, coma, and death. Signs of toxicity can be seen at 2 g/kg , or 0.13 tablespoons/kg of body weight. To put this into perspective, a 10lb dog (4.54 kg) could began to show signs of toxicity after ingesting just over 0.5 tablespoons of table salt. For that same 10 lb dog a fatal dose is possible at 1.5 tablespoons of salt ingested. Some slime recipes do not contain a particular amount of salt but just instructions to continue adding salt until the desired consistency/texture is achieved. This can make it difficult to gauge the amount of salt in the finished product. Some homemade slimes contain epsom salt instead of table salt. It would generally take more epsom salt than table salt to cause toxicity but this is still an ingredient that should not be ingested in large amounts as significant GI signs can result.

School glue

This is a common ingredient that does not usually hold significant potential for toxicity. When ingested GI irritation (vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia) is possible.

Shaving cream, hand soap, dish soap, shampoo and most hand lotions

These ingredients cause not much more than GI irritation but variations in ingredients are possible that may increase the risk for toxicity. For example, there are shampoos and lotions that contain cocoa bean (Theobroma Cacao) extract which is an ingredient of concern for chocolate toxicity.

Boric Acid

Generally, in acute (one time) doses, this is a GI irritant that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or anorexia.

Saline Contact Lens Solution

While some contact lens solutions are just saline, in addition to the salt concern, many (usually the ones used to make slime) contain Boric Acid or Borate which is a GI irritant.

Laundry detergent

Laundry detergent, when ingested, can be a GI irritant or for some products even cause corrosive injury to the oral cavity and GI tract. Mixed into a product like a slime it would be diluted and less likely to cause corrosive injury but if not well mixed and if an area of concentrated laundry detergent came into contact with the GI tract there would still be potential for injury.

Toothpaste

Many kinds of toothpaste contain xylitol which can pose significant toxicity risk for dogs.  Depending on the dose ingested, xylitol can cause profound hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and in higher doses liver failure. Both of these levels of toxicity can be life-threatening for your dog.

Liquid Starch

Most liquid starches contain ingredients that would be expected to cause GI irritation at most when ingested in a slime mixture.

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There are other concerns in addition to toxicity when our pets ingest slime. Large amounts of slime could pose a risk for a foreign body obstruction or blockage in the GI tract.

When slime contains decorative additives such as sequins, tinsel, or glitter, injury to the GI tract is also possible. Tinsel is of particular concern as if long enough strands (more than a couple of inches long) are ingested, linear foreign body (a condition where string type materials can cause injury to the GI tract by bunching it up and causing blockage or necrotic damage)is possible.

Another concern is that slime is by nature slimy, and viscous. If your pet vomits this material back up there is a risk for aspiration of the product into the lungs which can quickly become a life threatening situation.

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How do we prevent our pets from ingesting homemade slime?

1. When the slime is not in use keep it somewhere that is not accessible to your pet.

2. Keep your pets out of areas where slime is in use.

3. Teach your children not to walk away from their slime project without putting it somewhere that is inaccessible to pets.

4. Store the slime making ingredients out of reach of your pets at all times.

5. Slime ingestion is also harmful for wildlife. Please dispose of your used slime responsibly.

What should you do if your pet ingests slime?

1. Do not attempt to induce vomiting at home or treat your pet in any other way without advice from your veterinarian or an animal poison control center. Some at home treatments can do more harm than good.

2. Call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline.

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