6 Healthiest Dog Breeds
When it comes to our furry friends, we want them to be healthy and happy for as long as possible. There are some things pet owners can do to help ensure that happens, like keeping your dog at a healthy weight, maintaining regular vet visits, staying current on vaccinations, and feeding your pup healthy food.
But, even with proper nutrition and a good diet, some breeds seem to be more blessed than others. It’s a bit tough to put them in exact order, but here’s a look at six breeds that consistently rank among the healthiest dog breeds:
1. Australian Cattle Dog
Known as blue or red heelers, these active, short-haired dogs are recognized as the breed with some of the fewest health complications. They typically live anywhere between 13 – 15 years.
2. Australian Shepherd
They may share a continent name, but Australian Shepherds and Australian Cattle Dogs are two different breeds. Still, both are also known for their athleticism, herding tendencies, healthy physiques, and long lifespans of about 13 – 15 years.
3. Border Collie
Border Collies are another dog known for having fewer health complications than many other breeds. Their herding and active tendencies may contribute toward keeping them young at heart.
4. Chihuahua
Chihuahuas can have health complications, but they tend to have fewer incidents than most breeds. They also have very long lifespans, often living up to 18 or even 20, and are hearty, little resilient beings when it comes to illness and disease.
5. German Pinscher
Like the other breeds here, German Pinschers have relatively few health complications. Some of this may be due to good genes; it’s also possible that their strong, but lithe, builds don’t add extra strain to their frames.
6. English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel also gets voted least likely to have many serious health conditions. It is another breed with a strong, but not bulky frame, and is known for its athletic nature.
Other healthy breeds
In addition to those listed above, plenty of other breeds are known for their vitality and vigor, aside from general aging conditions or overuse. These include:
- Basenjis
- Beagles
- Belgian Malinois
- Bichon Frise
- Greyhounds
- Mixed breeds or “mutts”
- Poodles
- Sheba Imus
Factors that may contribute to health and longevity
It’s hard to say what gives these breeds an edge up in the health department; there are likely a few contributing factors. Good breeding practices over time may play a role. Other possibilities include that some have been bred to be working dogs and are therefore more active by nature. Most tend to be medium or smaller dogs, which often results in less strain on their internal organs and joints. Rate of growth is yet another factor that might play a role in these dogs’ good genes.
Keeping your dog healthy
Even if your dog makes this list and has a low likelihood for many of the ailments that plague other dogs, you can do things today to keep your pup healthy. Ensuring a proper diet, exercise, regular visits to the vet, and educating yourself further on your breed will help you recognize when your four-legged buddy may require intervention — helping him can stay healthy longer.
New health trends and advancements
If you do find your pet beginning to suffer from an illness or disease, non-traditional and homeopathic methods, like supplements, or acupuncture and chiropractic care have received good reviews from some pet owners. However, you’ll want to make sure any provider you work with is reputable and can provide references.
Another non-traditional treatment that is showing exceptional results is stem cell therapy. By introducing healthy, young stem cells to the tissue, these therapies address the root cause of injuries and age-related illnesses by healing from within. However, timing is critical — it’s important to look into this before your puppy is spayed or neutered for the most minimally invasive stem cell extraction.
Helping dogs live their best lives
Even if your dog doesn’t make the list of healthiest breeds, there’s a lot you can do to help ensure a long, happy life together. Learn more about how we’re helping pets live their best lives and advancing pet healthcare at Gallant.com.
