What is the lifespan of an English Bulldog? While they are not the longest living dog breed, English Bulldogs can have a long and fulfilled life in the hands of a caring owner. On average, this breed can live for up to 10 years, with some stretching it to a few more years.
So why is it important to know your dog’s lifespan? While it’s sad to think that we will soon outlive our pets, planning, and preparing are crucial to give the canine the best life. By knowing the life stages of your English Bulldog, you can make each day count.
What is the lifespan of an English Bulldog?
Similar to other breeds, English bulldogs will have a variable lifespan. A few studies looked into their longevity, but the results suggest that this breed isn’t the longest living domesticated canine.
Research conducted by the United Kingdom Canine Club indicated that an English Bulldog’s average lifespan would only be a little over eight to 10 years. Of this number, less than 9% were reported to die of old age.
Comparable to this study is one conducted in 2013, reporting that an English bulldog’s average lifespan will be a little over eight years.
Another study conducted in 2010 gives a different take on the English Bulldog’s longevity. It revealed that this breed would have a shorter lifespan of only a little over six years.
However, these numbers are just a scratch on the surface. Many factors affect a dog’s lifespan, whether it’s an English Bulldog or not.
Factors affecting the lifespan of an English Bulldog
There are plenty of reasons that can impact the lifespan of dog breeds such as their nutrition and physical activity. It’s crucial to know this part, so you can minimize potential danger associated with such factors:
Diet
A big part of your dog’s lifespan relies on its nutrition. An English Bulldog that receives poor nutrition will have a shorter lifespan than its healthier counterpart. This is why picking the right choice of dog food product is crucial, especially for Bulldogs with digestive problems.
Take note that there’s no one-size-fits-all diet for canines. You have to understand the specific needs of your dog, its health condition, activity level, and deficiencies. From there, you can tap the help of a veterinarian to formulate a diet plan that matches your canine’s needs.
Aside from that, your Bulldog’s nutrition should be suitable for its current life stage.
Breeding
Another thing that will affect a Bulldog’s lifespan is how the breeder produced the litter. Haphazard breeding can lead to various genetic defects that will directly impact the canine’s longevity.
English Bulldogs are quite prone to health problems. If not bred well, their predispositions to these health conditions will increase, making them unattractive to potential owners.
Make sure that you only deal with legitimate breeders when scouting for an English Bulldog puppy. You should always ask for a health certificate and proof that the parent canines are free from any defects.
Physical activity
Aside from diet and proper breeding, your English Bulldog’s exercise level will also impact its lifespan. While this breed doesn’t need hours of rigorous exercise a day, it’s important to keep them active. This is to prevent obesity and other metabolic health problems.
It’s best to opt for low-impact exercise when it comes to English Bulldogs. They are heavy-boned and stocky, which can easily punish their joints. Short walks around the neighborhood, indoor playtime, hydrotherapy, and so on are great options.
Veterinary care
Just like humans, English Bulldogs need proper healthcare to stay healthy. You must bring the canine to the vet regularly for routine checks. Proper vaccination is also critical to fighting a slew of life-threatening problems, especially in the dog’s early life.
Potential health problems that will impact an English Bulldog’s lifespan
English Bulldogs can be healthy canines if bred and raised well. Still, you should watch out for these potential health problems that may impact your pet’s lifespan:
Heart Disease
Heart disease can occur in both younger and older English Bulldogs. But if it is mitigated early, it can often be controlled with medication. Early diagnosis will help ensure that your dog lives for many years.
Having regular dental care and weight control can go a long way in delaying or preventing the onset of heart disease.
Signs to look for that point to heart disease include loss of appetite, lack of physical activity, breathing difficulty, and coughing. Bring your dog to the vet if you notice these signs on your pet. They must undergo diagnostic heart testing for diagnosis.
Bladder and Kidney Stones
English Bulldogs have an increased risk of developing bladder and kidney stones. This condition is more typical in female dogs.
It can be a painful process and may result in a serious and life-threatening health issue since the stone can cause a complete blockage. In this case, there is a risk of rupture of the bladder.
It is possible to treat stones with diet changes, non-surgical, or surgical procedure. A preventative diet is crucial if your dog already had stones in the past.
If you notice blood in the urine of your dog, and they struggle urinating, it is crucial to get them to the vet at once. Undergoing urine testing is recommended as a preventative measure.
Brachycephalic Syndrome
Brachycephalic syndrome is due to an abnormality on the airway of flat-faced breeds like English Bulldogs. Canines with this problem will suffer from loud snoring, noisy breathing, labored respiration, poor exercise tolerance, and retching.
If you suspect that your English Bulldog has this condition, you must bring it to the vet for proper diagnosis. Depending on the extent of the problem, your dog may only need lifestyle changes. Some cases require surgical intervention since no drug can help ease brachycephalic syndrome.
Laryngeal Paralysis
Senior English Bulldogs can have paralysis of the vocal cords. The vocal cords that are paralyzed can hang down into the air passages and impede breathing.
Pay attention to loud and noisy breathing. This can become serious in dogs and result in fainting and struggling to breathe effectively.
It is possible to manage mild cases at home with medication. However, it is important to note that the occurrence of this condition may increase in hot and humid weather.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Dysplasia is described as abnormal joint structures. English Bulldogs are vulnerable to hip and elbow dysplasia, which can result in life-long pain. This risk of this condition increases as the dog ages, but it’s mostly genetic in nature.
A sign of dysplasia is your dog having trouble getting up from a lying position or demonstrates a limp. Early diagnosis can aid in pain management and help improve the quality and life of the English bulldog.
Hemivertebrae
This condition can be characterized by a wedge-shaped vertebra that can result in a curve on the spine. This condition is congenital and can result in damage to the spinal cord and result in disability.
Spinal abnormalities can be detected via x-ray on puppies. Early diagnosis can help mitigate further damages exacerbated by physical activity and weight gain.
Final Thoughts
What is the lifespan of an English Bulldog? It can be anywhere from 8 to 10 years. Still, a lot of factors will affect your dog’s longevity, including diet, genetics, veterinary care, and lifestyle. It’s important to plan all of these to ensure that you and your English Bulldog will have many years to enjoy together.
