By GINA SALAMONE Of The New York Daily News
Good news, pet lovers – your furry friends are living longer.
Veterinarians say they’re seeing more and more dogs and cats reach the age of 15 years or more, MSNBC reports.
“Just as the average life expectancy for people keeps reaching closer to the century mark, we’ll continue to see the same parallels in our pet population,†said Martha Smith, director of veterinary services at Boston’s Animal Rescue League.
How long your pet lives can vary with breed though. Small to medium-sized pooches live longer than larger dogs. Toy dogs stick around for the longest time, while giant breeds like Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, Great Danes and Irish wolfhounds have the shortest life span.
In general, cats outlive dogs, with many indoor ones living long enough to celebrate their 20th birthday. Siamese and Abyssinians live the longest.
Owners hoping to keep their pets around for as long as possible should avoid overfeeding them. Studies show that slightly underweight dogs live an average of two years longer than pudgy pups, according to MSNBC.
I'm glad my Zippy lived to be 16. I hope his happiness with us made up in some way for his abuse before he became a rescue dog.
I don't think 15 is that old… And they'd live even longer if we didn't have such terrible commercial pet food!
I don't think 15 is that old… And they'd live even longer if we didn't have such terrible commercial pet food!