How Long Do Pit Bulls Live? Among the most popular dog breeds in the United States are pitbull mixes.
Their eccentric personality, unwavering allegiance to their owners, playful attitude, and athletic prowess make them well appreciated.
Many others, meanwhile, question just how long these beloved pets will survive. And the question has no one correct response.
Your pitbull's lifetime is influenced by several elements, hence let's have a closer look at a few things you should take into account before choosing to acquire one of these magnificent medium-sized dogs.
American Pit Bull Terrier Lifespan
An American pitbull terrier typically lives between eight and fifteen years of age.
Though it seems like a reach now, 15 years does happen. Actually, several stories of pitbull hybrids living late in their thirties have surfaced.
Naturally, one of things to consider is if your pitbull is purebred. Purebred pitbulls will probably have less health concerns to consider as their hereditary line is more stronger.
Having stated that, the typical age of pitbull-type canines is:
Dog breeds falling under the same overall category of bull terriers include Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, and the American bulldog. Their typical lifetime is somewhat similar and they have comparable physical and mental traits.
Related Post: Pit Bull Mix With German Shepherd
The following pieces explore the main parallels (as well as variations) among the many breeds:
Elements Influencing Pitbull Lifespan
Your pitbull's longevity will be affected in a few ways. Of course, there are too many elements to discuss; let's look at a few that most likely influence your pitties life:
General Medical Condition
The general health of your pitbull will obviously affect its lifespan.
A dog with a clean bill of health is more likely to see its golden years than one with chronic conditions from the start.
The general state of your pitty will also depend on the degree of affection and attention you provide. Dogs left alone or tethered to a tree will develop a great deal of tension and endure unnecessary stress that will carry many preventable ailments.
A bit later on we will go over some of these diseases most commonly affecting this dog breed.
Workout schedule
One gains so much from a good fitness program.
It helps your dog burn off extra energy and helps lower undesired fat, therefore promoting a good cardiovascular system. It also keeps your dog's legs and paws receiving appropriate blood flow.
It also addresses your dog's lung growth and respiratory capacity.
Regular exercise helps dogs' lungs operate far better than those of a dog that lounges about doing nothing.
One of those things you totally control is exercise; so, make sure you set aside enough time every day to play fetch at home or to take your dog for a fast run around the block.
Regular walks help many pitbulls, so responsible owners will treat their dogs as often as they may possible allow.
For these walks, acquire your pitbull a strong, but durable collar or harness since it will probably get very excited and start yanking and dragging on its leash.
Genetics
The general health of your dog is strongly influenced by genetics.
The genes of your dog convey certain features from its forebears. These genes discovered in its DNA suggest that it is more (or less) likely to have major health problems downstream in life.
Regarding hereditary disorders, more often than not the breed is not actually important; rather, the genes have a major influence. Therefore, if you are considering a purebred how long do pit bulls live, why not first find out from the breeder whether the parents and grandparents of the puppy led long, healthy lives?
Meal Plan
A good diet may extend the life of your dog and enable it to be healthy.
Nutrients, amino acids, good fats, and protein will abound in the greatest dog diets available.
These dog diets have been especially designed to augment your dog's intake of these essential dietary components that support their development into robust, healthy adults.
This is why you should perform appropriate study on what your dog need at every level of growth and arrange its food accordingly. Not just cheap dog food but many of the required minerals and lipids may also be found in common food items!
With some appropriate research, you can make sure your pit bull gets precisely what it needs to lead a long life.
Look at frequency.
Vet visits are not particularly exciting. Though I cannot personally attest to your dog, I know that I detest medical appointments (something about personal space being violated I think).
Still, these visits are really vital.
Your veterinarian will be able to identify any underlying problems you should be aware of and create a treatment plan that will quickly address them.
Additionally possible to perform routine blood tests revealing a lot about your dog's genetic features and will inform you quite a deal about potential diseases before they ever start.
Read Also: American Staffordshire Terrier Vs Pit Bull
Additionally helping you monitor your dog's weight and muscular growth, your neighborhood veterinarian will perform gradual weigh-ins. They will thus also inform you whether your pit bull requires more (or less) activity or a dietary modification.
Therefore, never cut back on routine veterinarian appointments!
Common Medical Problems Affecting Pit Bulls
You will eventually find that your pitbull becomes sick regardless of what you do. Nearly every dog experiences this.
A few life-threatening diseases listed here could cut the lifetime of your dog:
Heart Issues
In pitbulls, congenital heart disease consists in anomalies present at birth that range from septal abnormalities (holes in the heart's wall) to problems with heart valves or an unclosed fetal blood artery (PDA).
These flaws can affect blood flow efficiency, therefore influencing circulation and oxygenation. Exercise intolerance, trouble breathing, and in severe situations heart failure might all be symptoms.
Usually, diagnosis calls for veterinary tests and imaging modalities like echocardiogram to find these problems.
Although not all pitbulls will have these issues, early identification and suitable treatment are vital; thus, breeders should screen for these issues and pet owners should be aware of possible symptoms for quick intervention.
Cerebellar Ataxia
Damage in the cerebellum of the brain causes cerebellar ataxia, a disorder impairing coordination and balance that results in unstable motions and difficulty regulating muscles.
In pitbulls, it can arise at around three to five years old and affect otherwise healthy canines to cause shaky gaits, tremors, or problems with exact motions.
Although a pit bull's life expectancy is not much affected by this disorder, it does damage their quality of life, hence regular veterinarian visits are very essential to control symptoms and offer the best treatment.
Torsion in the gut
A pitbull's stomach swells with gas, fluid, or food, then twists in a condition known as gastric torsion—also known as bloat.
Usually attacking dogs in their middle to elder years, this can occur in pitbulls or any breed can be fatal if not treated quickly. This problem can be exacerbated by eating too fast, overindulging in food, or working out following meals.
In order to lower the risk of stomach torsion in these dogs, make sure they have a good weight, eat a balanced diet—made-from homemade dog food or quality dog food—and exercise care avoiding intense activity following meals.
Frequent medical visits help to keep their health and identify any possible problems early on.
And why not schedule a visit with a canine nutritionist if you are truly unclear about what a balanced diet for a healthy pitbull comprises? They will be able to help your dog stay happy and healthy by working out fantastic meal substitutes.
Apart from the above stated potentially fatal disorders, pitbulls have a range of minor health problems.
Though most of the time not fatal, they vary from irritating to more major. Just look at this post if you truly like to know a little bit more about these health issues: Are high maintenance Pit bulls?
Advice on Maximizing Your Pitbull Mixes Life
Regular exercise and veterinarian visits are already advised as ways to extend the lifetime of your pit bull.
Furthermore obvious is the fact that giving your pitbull the greatest nutrition you can afford will also let them to lead longer, better lives.
Still, another factor to take into account is just furnishing the nicest possible living setting you could.
Some pitbulls acquire what is known as separation anxiety; they are quite clinging.
Every time their owners leave the house, this situation makes them somewhat nervous. Suffering from this ailment, how long do pit bulls live will do everything they can to escape and search for their devoted owners.
Should your dog find their current house unsatisfactory but safe, they will most certainly act accordingly to break free and b-line down the road.
This is when they discover themselves in the headlights of a fast automobile on the freeway possibly being picked up and transported to the local pound or worse.
Therefore, examine your house closely to ensure that it is a loving family setting for your pit dog when you leave; else, they will not try to escape.
If you have indoor dogs make sure they have chew toys to keep them occupied till you get home and they won't go crazy waiting for you. If you have outdoor dogs make sure they have enough of food and water when you leave for work.
Final Thought
A medium-sized athletic breed, pitbulls should lead long and healthy lives.
Indeed, some people have inherited disorders that could affect their life span. Others come across questionable activities like dogfights that also lower the typical pitbull life expectancy.
The good news is, though, that these conditions and circumstances are really rare. Don't wait if you're thinking about adopting one of these beautiful family dogs; either save a pup from the local shelter or acquire a lively puppy from a qualified owner.
Responsible dog owners will attest that these dogs can live as long as or even longer than most other dog breeds given frequent visits to the local veterinarian, premium dog meals, and an active lifestyle.