What is the life expectancy of a brachycephalic dog?
Anderson Hansen
2025-06-14 21:57:54
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Brachycephalic breeds make up the bulk of the lowest life expectancies. Over the last 10 years the brachycephalic breeds have been popularised to the point of overbreeding.
English Bulldog7.39 (7.08–7.69)
French Bulldog4.53 (4.14–5.01)
Pug7.65 (6.99–8.20)
American Bulldog7.79 (7.16–8.33)
Chihuahua7.91 (7.48–8.39)
Delfina Boehm
2025-06-08 05:18:03
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What vets do know is that brachycephalic breeds have the lowest life expectancy and are the most frequent visitors to a veterinary practice. French bulldogs having the shortest life expectancy at 4.5 years and Jack Russell terriers the highest at 12.7 years. The average age life expectancy for UK dogs was calculated at 11.2 years. After French bulldogs, three other brachy breeds had the lowest life expectancy – English bulldogs at 7.4 years, pugs at 7.7 years and American bulldogs at 7.8 years. But at the other end of the scale, after Jack Russell terriers, border collies would be expected to make 12.1 years and springer spaniels 11.92 years.
Sasha Krajcik
2025-05-31 09:49:33
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: 7
The lifespan of dogs with extreme brachycephalic conformation is shorter.
The lifespan of dogs with extreme brachycephalic conformation is shorter (8.6 years) than all other breeds of dogs (12.7 years).
HumaneVMA notes that upper respiratory disorders were the cause of death for 17% of dogs with extreme brachycephalic conformation (like pugs, bulldogs and French bulldogs) compared to 0% for all other breeds of dogs.
Clinical signs of BOAS can include: Dyspnea (difficulty breathing) Stertor (noisy breathing) Exercise intolerance (often leading to obesity, which shortens dogs’ lifespans further).
In some cases, the dogs’ quality of life can be improved through surgeries correcting anatomical abnormalities, but they may cost thousands of dollars.
Tissues from the mouth, windpipe and lungs are squashed into a smaller, enclosed space, so dogs struggle to breathe sufficient air and oxygen and their airways are narrow and twisted abnormally.
This can cause: Allergies Breathing problems (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome or BOAS) Eye issues Difficulty exercising Heatstroke.
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