Size Matters: The Link Between Dogs and Health

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Researchers with the Dog Aging Project are looking into the health conditions that affect small and large dogs throughout their lives, with the goal of quantifying how the pattern of disease history varies across the spectrum of dog size, dog age, and their interaction
• In a study published a few months ago, the researchers demonstrated that overall, larger dogs are more likely to face lifespan-limiting health conditions such as cancer, bone-related disease, GI disorders, and neurological and endocrine conditions
• It’s common knowledge that small dogs typically have much longer lifespans than large and giant breeds; past research shows large dogs age much faster than smaller dogs, and suggests cell damage from excessive amounts of free radicals starts at a young age in large breed puppies