Dog Size Linked to Disease Risk and Lifespan, Study Finds

Larger dogs face higher risk of serious conditions, while smaller dogs are more prone to certain other diseases, potentially explaining their longer lifespans.

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.