The loving and protective behavior of German Shepherds towards their owners makes them a favorite dog breed among family members. When new German Shepherd puppies are brought home by dog lovers, they always want them to be healthy and live longer. But most dog owners must be interested in learning how long their pets live.
A German Shepherd’s life span typically ranges from 9 to 13 years. However, female German Shepherds have an advantage over male German Shepherds because they live an additional 1.4 years. According to this, German shepherd males have a life expectancy of 9.7, and female dogs have ten years and 11.1 years for females.
The average life expectancy is influenced by several variables, including health, diet, care, and others. Your German Shepherd has a better chance of living longer if they are in better health.
The lifespan of a German Shepherd dog will be the focus of this discussion, which will go into great detail regarding the average German Shepherd lifespan, how long they can live, and the best ways to extend their life.
So guys let’s discuss this topic thoroughly without wasting our time:
Table of Contents
How Long Do German Shepherds Live?
We all want our German Shepherd puppies to be healthy and live a long life in our family when we bring them home for the first time. Being a German Shepherd owner you must be eager to know how long a German Shepherd can live.
A German Shepherd’s average lifespan ranges from 9 to 13 years. Female German Shepherds live an additional 1.4 years longer than their male counterparts. However, some of them may live longer than expected, while others may live shorter, depending on a variety of factors such as their health, diet, care, genetics, exercise, environment, and attention.
A German Shepherd’s lifespan is also heavily influenced by genetics. Some GSDs may be born with health issues that will shorten their life. As an example: Hip or elbow dysplasia is frequent in German shepherds and is caused by heredity. Dogs with such disorders will have joint troubles or be unable to walk freely, limiting their activity time and, eventually, their lives.
Other genetic disorders that can shorten a German Shepherd’s lifetime include epilepsy, heart illness, and cancer, all of which allow the canines to live indefinitely. German Shepherd nutrition is also important in determining the life span of German Shepherds.
A well-balanced and nutritious food for your German Shepherd prevents numerous health issues and preserves their good health. The healthier a German Shepherd’s diet, the longer they live.
The environment is another aspect that influences German Shepherd life expectancy. For example, if your German Shepherd lives in hard or extreme weather conditions, it will suffer in terms of health or life. They require a suitable and secure atmosphere for their well-being.
Meeting with vets regularly will always allow your German Shepherd dogs to be detected for any health issues they were suffering from, which will also boost their chances of living longer. Finally, careful care and attention will allow you to extend your dog’s life.
Let’s also go through the elements that normally affect the lifetime of a German Shepherd or other dog breeds, as well as what you can do to help them live longer.
Factors That Can Affect The Life Span OF German Shepherds
German Shepherd’s life expectancy depends on several factors and every dog owner must know the way to increase it. Here are some of the factors which can also follow to increase the life of your German Shepherd:
Breeding:
The breeding process of a German Shepherd also plays a very significant role in the lifespan of German Shepherds. Some dogs may have a genetic predisposition to some health conditions which can be forwarded to others during the breeding process.
Diet:
A well-balanced and nutritious diet always allows the German Shepherd breed to enjoy a healthy life, which naturally increases their life expectancy. You should always check their nutrition, whether they are in the puppy, adult, or senior phases.
A poor diet plan constantly pushes them to lack important nutrients, which can lead to a variety of health problems such as obesity, joint problems, and other concerns that ultimately decrease their lifespan.
Exercise:
German Shepherds are highly energetic and that’s the reason they require frequent exercise which allows them to be fit and exhaust their energy level. Apart from this exercises also allow them to maintain their weight, strengthen their muscles, and promote avoiding many health issues.
Lack of exercise may give birth to many health issues such as diabetes or heart diseases that will be responsible for a short life span. Your German Shepherd will need both physical and mental exercise to enjoy a healthy life.
Training:
German Shepherds who do not receive training classes may develop a variety of behavioral disorders, which may shorten their lifespan. Less-trained dogs are always tough to handle, making it harder for owners to teach them how to behave appropriately with other people or animals or how to eat properly.
You should try to train your German Shepherd dog for different perspectives; this will make your life easier and your German Shepherd will begin to live a happy life. It should also be noted that it will be easy to train a German Shepherd puppy as they are easy to handle and will learn all the commands more efficiently.
Environmental Factors:
The most important factor which affects the lifespan of German Shepherds is the environment they live. It will always be difficult for them to survive the harsh weather condition.
It is also seen that the dogs living in favorable weather conditions live longer than the dog who live in extremely hot or cold weather. You should also note that exposure to harsh weather conditions will affect their life so it’s important for them to live in moderate climatic conditions.
Also Read: Why Is My German Shepherd Limping? 20 Reasons To Look Out!!
Health Issues That Can Impact German Shepherd’s Life Expectancy
German Shepherds come in the category of large dog breeds and they are also prone to some diseases which affect their life expectancy.
Here are some of the health issues that can impact your German Shepherd’s life expectancy:
Hip Or Elbow Dysplasia
German Shepherds, as a large breed of dogs, are also susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, which damages the joints and causes the dog to limp or have difficulty walking. In the most extreme circumstances, your German Shepherd will be in excruciating discomfort. As a result, dogs suffering from such a terrible illness experience a great deal of stress, which reduces their longevity.
Bloating
Bloat, also known as GDV (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus), is a potentially fatal illness that commonly affects large dog breeds such as German Shepherds. Bloat causes the stomach to twist on its axis, blocking the passage of food and water and restricting circulation to the stomach and intestines.
Though tiny dog types are less susceptible to this disease, larger dog breeds such as German Shepherds are more afflicted due to their deep chests. However, elderly and adult dogs are more vulnerable than younger canines. This also implies that this sickness can strike at any age in a dog’s life and will want quick medical intervention.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is another disease that can shorten the lifespan of a German Shepherd. It is a neurological disorder that is also common among German Shepherds which generally occurs at the age of around 6 months to 6 years.
It is a neurological condition characterized by excessive electron activity in the brain, resulting in uncontrolled and tedious seizures. These seizures are further divided into two parts partial and generalized seizures.
Partial seizures typically affect one limb at a time or another portion of the dog’s body, causing the dog to limb. During generalized seizures, dogs lose consciousness due to involuntary muscle spasms that cause them to jerk or twitch.
Unfortunately, your German Shepherd is also susceptible to this disease; nevertheless, if you detect any strange behavior that causes your dog to limb more frequently, you should immediately consult your veterinarian for additional treatment.
Hemophilia
German Shepherds are well-known for their inbreeding, which results in a variety of genetic disorders, including hemophilia. Because blood clotting is impaired in this illness, even a minor cut can be dangerous for your dog.
This illness is responsible for additional damage to the German Shepherd’s bloodstream. Since it is a dangerous condition that shortens your dog’s life. Though German Shepherds are susceptible to sickness, with careful care and attention, you may extend their life.
What Do German Shepherds Usually Die From?
German Shepherds are generally healthy dogs, except for a few hereditary disorders. Hip or elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, bloat, heart disease, or some spine condition are some of the major ailments that affect the lifetime of German Shepherds and can cause them to die if not treated on time.
Because of its huge size, this breed is prone to stomach, ear, and skin illnesses. Your German Shepherd could die from cancer, degenerative myelopathy, intestinal problems, or other causes. Other reasons for death include old age, accidents, and diseases.
Most diseases in German Shepherds can be healed, however, in severe situations, they will most likely die. As a result, it is critical to provide suitable care for your canine companion. Any indications of their diseases should not be disregarded, and they should see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
How to Extend The Life Expectancy of Your German Shepherd?
Apart from the genetical issues German Shepherds remain healthy most of the time. As a good dog owner, you must be also willing to extend the life expectancy of your German Shepherd.
Here are some of the key points which will allow your dog to extend their life and live happily.
Feeding a healthy and balanced diet:
A healthy diet is always important to German Shepherds to stay healthy and live longer. Feeding them a nutritious diet meets all their body requirement which allow them to fight with all the bacteria and viruses that attack their body and is also good for your German Shepherd’s health.
Regular Exercise:
German Shepherds are highly active breed so providing them with regular physical exercise allow their body to be fit and stay healthy all the time. Daily walks, providing them enough playtime, or engaging them with some entertaining toys provide them sufficient entertainment which is always good for their physical as well as mental health.
Maintaining a Healthy weight:
If you do not care for your German Shepherd and look for their weight they can easily face the issue of obesity which may also lead them to develop many other health issues like heart disease, diabetes, bloating, or other joint issues.
So feeding your dog with a proper nutritious diet will be crucial for maintaining their good health. You can also take it from a nutritionist as they have a better diet plan for your dog’s teeth and their overall weight.
Provide a Favorable Environment:
A favorable and comfortable environment is always crucial to living a healthy life for all living being. If you adopt a German Shepherd in a harsh weather condition, it will be quite difficult for them to maintain their good health as a result they will have a shorter span of life.
So keeping your dog in a moderate climate where they would be comfortable will be good for them as this will also not impact their health.
Provide mental stimulation:
Providing appropriate mental exercises keeps your dog engaged and entertained. You can give your dog puzzles to solve or other toys to keep them entertained; all of these activities improve their mental abilities and keep them entertained.
Regular meetings with vets:
Regular vet visits always provide additional care for your German Shepherd. This enables you to be protective since regular examinations of your dog’s body will assure their fitness, and if they suffer from any sickness, you will be able to immediately give them medical care.
Neutering Your German Shepherd:
Neutering your German Shepherd at the right age is also important for extending its lifespan and avoiding any other health issues that can arise during mating. Remember a German Shepherd can be neutered when they are around 16 to 18 months as this is the time they are fully grown and are ready for mating.
Owners may help lengthen their German Shepherd’s lifespan and ensure they live a happy and healthy life with their family by offering proper care and attention, such as frequent veterinary check-ups, preventative healthcare, and a healthy lifestyle.
Final Thoughts:
Aside from some genetic disorders passed down from their parents, German Shepherds live healthy life. Their average life span ranges from 9 to 13 years and can be extended if you take initial preventive measures like meeting the vets regularly, providing them with enough exercise, and a healthy lifestyle.
You should also look for heredity diseases such as hip dysplasia, bloating, Epilepsy, heart disease, or others, and take all the preventive measures for their cure so that they live healthy. Always meet the vets at regular intervals and try to keep your dog entertained with various activities which also provide them a healthy environment that can also help you keep your German Shepherd healthy and increase their life.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):
Q1. Can a German Shepherd live 20 years?
The average life span of a German Shepherd is 9 to 13 years, which can be increased up to one to two years if they get proper care and medication. So living for 20 years will be too far for them to survive. However, in some cases some dogs may cross 13 years but they will be special care and attention from their owners.
Q2. Is 10 years old for a German Shepherd?
When German Shepherds reach the age of 10 they come in the category of senior dogs, so yes 10 years is old for a German Shepherd.
Q3. How long does a healthy German Shepherd live?
The average life expectancy of a healthy German Shepherd is 9 to 13 years, however, they can live one or more years extra but will need proper care and attention from their owners.
Q4. Can a German Shepherd live more than 13 years?
Yes, it can be possible for your German Shepherd to live more than 13 years. However, they will need proper care and attention from their owners, There are some conditions like meeting with vets regularly, providing enough physical and mental activities, proper diet plan to ensure they live a healthy life.