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Rottweiler is one of the best breeds that come in use for many types of work. They are mostly used as guard dogs, search or rescue dogs, and as police dogs too.
However, if you are an owner of a Rottweiler, you may sometimes wonder that for how long this four-legged friend will live with me. For how long do rottweiler live?
If you are also wondering these types of questions, I’ve got you. Here you will get to know everything about rottweiler lifespan and especially about the factors that mostly influence it.
You will also get a few tips in the last that can help your rottweiler to live a long and happy life. So, make sure you stick to the end.
An Average Lifespan Of a Rottweiler
The average lifespan of a rottweiler is typically 8 to 10 years. It seems slightly short when we compare them with other breeds. We can see that the breeds that fall under the same weight category have the potential to live for almost 15 years. For example, the Tibetan Mastiff breed is a breed that falls under the same weight category. But still, they have a life span of 12 to 15 years.
This comparison forces us to turn on the engine of our brain. This makes us wonder that what actually makes rottweiler live shorter than the other breeds with the same weight. Well, there are a few major things that have a great impact on the rottweiler’s lifespan.
Which factors Greatly Influence The Rottweiler Lifespan
Here is the list of a few most important factor that greatly influences the lifespan of a rottweiler. There are a few factors that you can control, but some of them are not in your control. Let’s understand them deeply in a very simple language.
The Size
Generally, dogs of the rottweiler breed weigh roughly around 95 to 135 pounds. You can see that they are usually big in size which gives them a strong hard and badass look. But this is the same quality that greatly contributes to the shorter lifespan of a rottweiler.
Mostly, larger animals tend to live longer than small ones. For example, elephants can live for almost 7 years. Larger parrot breeds are also another phenomenon example of that. They can easily manage to live for a couple of years and some of them can even touch the mark of 100 years. But this is not true for dogs. The larger dog will be, the shorter lifespan would be.
It might be a surprise to you but unfortunately, this is true. It is also have been proved in scientific researches. Scientists found that an increase of 2kg increase in weight will eliminate almost a month from the dog’s life. It clearly shows that the larger size of a dog is, the more quickly they will age.
The Diseases
Large dogs have a rapid speed of growth which makes them more prone to catching diseases. There are many diseases that they can develop as they grow older. This rapid growth is also a cause for free-radical production which has a big hand in the abnormal growth of the cells in dogs. Here are a few most common diseases that your rottweiler may encounter.
Cancer
Cancer is the most common disease in this breed and it can be a big reason for your dog’s death.
Osteochondritis Dissecans
This is another disease that has been found very common in this breed. This mostly takes place on the shoulder of our Rottie. When a cartilage piece with a silver bone under it, gets detached from the bone’s end and this disease occurs.
Parvovirus
Parvovirus is also known as Parvo is an infectious virus in rottweiler that can turn very serious if not treated at right time. It mainly attacks the intestine and can lead to some serious health issues such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and even death too.
“Is there any solution to this?” you may be wondering. Well, yes, vaccination can help. Vaccination at an early age can be very effective in reducing the risk of Parvo.
So, if you don’t want your dog to suffer from this terrifying disease, make sure to take your sweet puppy for vaccination at an early age.
Obesity
Obesity is another common disease in the rottweiler breed. It is mostly caused by overweight.
Also, a dog with overweight may deal with some other diseases too. Overheating, skin diseases, diabetes, reproductive problems, arthritis, heart problems, and breathing issues are some of the most common health problems that can be caused by overweight.
The Genes
Genes are another one of the most common factors that can greatly affect a rottweiler’s lifespan. As we are talking about genes, it is important to consider that a good breeder plays a major role here. Breeding is very helpful for the breed which is already inclined to lots of health problems.
You should make sure to buy your puppy from a reputable breeder. Because he performs selective breeding where they examine the specimen and picks up only those who are not having any health issues. By doing this, you will ensure that your Rottie will have a good and long life.
The Hormones
A study that was published in 2002, showed that there is a link between rottweiler’s lifespan and the age when they are getting neutered or spayed. The study found that if a dog of rottweiler breed gets spayed or neutered before 1 year, the risk of getting caught by cancer increases.
So, make sure you wisely choose when to spay your beloved Rottie, otherwise, it can lead to some health problems.
It is highly recommended to get in contact with a reputable breeder and holistic vet so you can easily find out the perfect time for your dog to get spayed.
The Sex
According to a study published in 2017, female rottweilers tend to live longer than male ones and that is because of the large size of male rottweilers.
A male rottweiler weighs around 95 to 135 pounds and on the other hand, female rottweilers weigh around 77 to 115 pounds. Now, you can easily see that female rottweiler are slightly shorter than males. They can outlive them for approximately 2 years.
What Can You Do To Help Your Rottweiler To Live a Quality Life For a Long Time
Now you are very well aware of all the main factors that affect the lifespan of a rottweiler. All of them are not in your control. But still, there a few factors that you can easily manage. If you try to manage them well, you can surely help your dog to live a qualitative long life. Here a few effective ways and tips that can help you out.
Provide a Quality Diet
A quality diet is a must if you want your dog to have a long and happy life. You should make sure that your dog is getting fed nutritious food. Always check the ingredient of the food and avoid those which contains harmful chemicals.
You should not concern about food only, but water also. Provide high-quality water to your beloved Rottie.
Take Your Rottweiler To Vet For Regular Check-ups
Once your rottweiler turns 7 years old, take him to your vet for regular checkups (twice a year). It can be very helpful in preventing or catching any underlying diseases in your dog before it turns serious.
Give Importance To Hygiene
Hygiene is a thing that you should never ignore. If you do, it can cause your dog some serious health issues. You can easily maintain good hygiene just by regularly cleaning your dog’s toys and the feeding bowl. It is also important to clean all the areas where your Rottie mostly roams, especially the area where he sleeps.
Make sure you don’t forget to groom your dog as it is the most important thing to keep your dog overall hygienic.
Try To Avoid Spaying or Neutering at an Early Age
As I mentioned above that spaying or neutering dogs at an early age can increase the risk of cancer, and once he falls sick, it can even cause him death.
So, make sure not to perform this process at an early age if you don’t want your dog to suffer from such diseases.
A Few Important Tips To Remember
- Regularly engage your dog in physical activities. It can be very helpful for him to maintain a lean physique and in preventing the diseases like obesity.
- Keep all the toxins out of your dog’s reach. Toxins like lawn chemicals, pesticides, and household cleaners can put your rottweiler’s health at great risk.
- Always get your dog vaccinated at the time as per your vet’s advice. Also, make sure you don’t over-vaccinate your dog.
- Maintain good hygiene of your dog’s teeth by brushing them. Click here to know how to brush your dog’s teeth correctly.
Final Words
The average rottweiler lifespan is about 8 to 10 years. But there are lots of rottweilers who have managed to live for almost up to 13 years. Your dog can achieve that too if you provide him a good environment, feed him a well-balanced nutritious diet, and maintain good hygiene around him. All these things can be very helpful in increasing the lifespan of your dog.
Along with all these things, loving and spending some quality time with your dog is equally important. This helps him to stay happy in the long run of life.
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