Overview

• Researchers have found that the size of a dog can influence the type and severity of health conditions they may face, which could explain why smaller dogs generally live longer than larger ones.
• The study analyzed data from over 25,000 dogs across 238 breeds and found that larger dogs are more susceptible to serious conditions including cancer, bone-related diseases, gastrointestinal problems, ear/nose/throat issues, neurological and endocrine conditions, and infectious diseases.
• Smaller dogs, on the other hand, were more prone to ocular, cardiac, and respiratory issues, along with liver or pancreatic diseases.
• The study did not find a significant difference in the occurrence of kidney or urinary diseases based on the size of the dog.
• The researchers emphasize that more research is needed to better understand the relationships between a dog’s age, size, and disease prevalence.