Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Long Bulldogs Live. Bulldog Life Expectancy
- Lifespan of the Bulldog Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- Common Causes of Death in Bulldog, and how to Prevent Them.
- How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Bulldogs
- How Old is Your Bulldog in Human Years
- How Long Do Bulldogs Live in Human Years?
- More Ways to Make Your Bulldog Live Long
- Conclusion on Bulldog Life Expectancy
How Long Bulldogs Live. Bulldog Life Expectancy
Generally, the lifespan of the Bulldog is from 8 to 12 years.
Moreover, a few years back, British Veterinarinan researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Bulldog. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 180 pet Bulldogs lived.
From the study, it was found that Bulldogs have a average lifespan of 6.29 years. Furthermore, the study found that Bulldogs can live for as long as 14.4 years.
Furthermore, researchers from the University of Georgia conducted a study to find out what are the top causes of death in Bulldogs.
According to the study, the top 5 causes of death in Bulldogs are:
- Neoplastic Disease: Issues involving tumors
- Respiratory Disease: Problems with lungs and breathing
- Cardiovascular Disease: Encompasses heart problems, blood pressure issues, and bleeding/clotting problems. CV issues may also be related to lung and/or breathing problems.
- Congenital Disease: Issues involving genetics and development
- Musculoskeletal Disease: Refers to any problems with bones or muscles
In this article, we will explain each of these diseases and discuss how to prevent the early occurence of each in your Bulldog to make your Bulldog live a longer.
Also, in this article, we will discuss other things you can do to ensure that your Bulldog have a longer than average lifespan.
Do you want to know how old your Bulldog is in human years? Then, check out our Bulldog age to human years calculator
Lifespan of the Bulldog Compared to Other Dog Breeds
See in the table below how the lifespan of the Bulldog compares to the lifespan of other dog breeds.
| Dog Breed | Average Lifespan (Years) |
|---|---|
| Tibetan Spaniel Lifespan | 14.40 |
| Miniature Poodle Lifespan | 13.90 |
| Manchester Terrier Lifespan | 12.80 |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier Lifespan | 12.70 |
| Pointer Lifespan | 12.40 |
| Tibetan Terrier Lifespan | 12.10 |
| German Shorthaired Pointer Lifespan | 12.00 |
| Kerry Blue Terrier Lifespan | 11.50 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Lifespan | 11.30 |
| Norfolk Terrier Lifespan | 11.00 |
| Boston Terrier Lifespan | 10.90 |
| Havanese Lifespan | 10.20 |
| Akita Lifespan | 9.92 |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdog Lifespan | 9.58 |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Lifespan | 8.00 |
| Irish Wolfhound Lifespan | 7.04 |
| Shiba Inu Lifespan | 7.00 |
| Bulldog Lifespan | 6.29 |
| Miniature Bull Terrier Lifespan | 6.08 |
| Dogue de Bordeaux Lifespan | 3.83 |
Common Causes of Death in Bulldog, and how to Prevent Them.
We will now discuss the common causes of death in Bulldog, according to scientific research. Also we will provide you advice on how to prevent these problems in your Bulldog.
Here are the causes of death, starting from the most common cause
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Neoplastic Disease in Bulldogs
Neoplasms, or tumors, can be benign (like a lipoma), or malignant (cancer).
Neoplastic Disease is responsible for 20.4 percent of all deaths in Bulldogs.
Causes of Neoplastic Disease in Bulldog
Neoplasms in dogs, just like in people, are caused by either a genetic predisposition (like some breast cancers), an environmental factor (like smoking in humans), or a combination of both.
How to Prevent Neoplastic Disease in Bulldogs
Just like in humans, there is little you can do to prevent cancers that are caused by genetic factors. You can, however, reduce the environmental risks that are associated with cancer. The `environmental` causes of neoplasia are chemical agents, infectious agents, and physical agents. An example of a chemical agent that could cause cancer in Bulldogs (and humans) is asbestos. An example of an infectious agent that could cause cancer in Bulldogs is the virus called canine adenovirus. An example of a physical agent that can cause cancer in Bulldogs is UV radiation from the sun, just like in humans.
Another way to prevent neoplasms in Bulldogs is to vaccinate them against harmful viruses, such as canine adenovirus (DHPP vaccine at 8 and 12 weeks and then once a year, every year). As in humans, early diagnosis is the key to supporting Bulldogs with neoplasms, so talk to your veterinarian if you find any new lumps, bumps, or discoloration on your Bulldog. You should also talk to your veterinarian if your Bulldog`s gums look pale.
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Respiratory Disease in Bulldogs
Respiratory diseases includes asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other conditions. May also be related to left-sided heart failure and other cardiovascular issues.
Respiratory Disease is responsible for 18.2 percent of all deaths in Bulldogs.
Causes of Respiratory Disease in Bulldog
Some lung conditions can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Other lung conditions, such as asthma, can be related to allergies and genetic conditions. Some breeds (called brachycephalic breeds) are more susceptible to breathing problems. These breeds appear to have their noses and snouts kind of squished into their faces. Although they are very cute, these breeds can have serious breathing problems throughout their lives which may require surgery. Additionally, dogs and cats can often get colds and other upper respiratory infections because of stress. Common causes of stress in dogs include separation anxiety, thunderstorms and other loud noises, the introduction of other animals into the home, and more.
How to Prevent Respiratory Disease in Bulldogs
Respiratory diseases can be prevented by supporting the immune health of your Bulldog, by making sure you feed your Bulldog a good, nutritious dog food brand, give them plenty of exercises, and help them live in a stress-free environment. There are several options for supplements and therapies that can help reduce stress in your Bulldog. Some Bulldog do really well with thundershirts, which are snug shirts that swaddle the dogs and help them calm down during thunderstorms and other stressful events. Furthermore, Bulldogs that are anxious with loud sounds might also benefit from calming supplements, such as Anxiety TFLN. For general anxiety, the supplement Composure or Composure Pro might help calm your Bulldog`s nervousness. Some Bulldogs do really well with supplements, but just like with people, supplements do not work for everyone. If you are not seeing results after a few weeks of putting your Bulldog on a supplement to calm anxiety, you should talk to your veterinarian about behavioral therapy and stronger medications.
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Cardiovascular Disease in Bulldogs
Cardiac problems may include valvular and vascular disorders, which ultimately lead to the heart`s inability to pump oxygen-rich blood to tissues. Cardiac issues can be acute or chronic, and can lead to progressive heart failure or sudden death.
Cardiovascular Disease is responsible for 15.4 percent of all deaths in Bulldogs.
Causes of Cardiovascular Disease in Bulldog
Heart disease in Bulldogs may be caused by genetic (inherited) factors, lack of exercise, and poor diet. Heart disease can also be caused by infections such as bacteria (endocarditis, myocarditis, and more) as well as viruses, fungi, and parasites (heartworm).
How to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in Bulldogs
You can prevent heart problems in your Bulldog by exercising your Bulldog regularly and feeding your Bulldog a good diet. Heartworm, which causes heart problems, is also very easily avoided by using preventatives. Giving your dog the following supplements can help prevent heart diseases. Here is a good supplement that can prevent heart problems in your Bulldog. The supplement is not only good for your Bulldog`s heart, but it is also good for your Bulldog`s overall health.
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Congenital Disease in Bulldogs
There are hundreds of types of congenital issues, and many of them are breed-specific. Congenital issues are inherited from birth by Bulldog puppies from their parents.
Congenital Disease is responsible for 13.5 percent of all deaths in Bulldogs.
Causes of Congenital Disease in Bulldog
The causes of congenital abnormalities are genetics and abnormal development. There is often not much you can do to prevent these after the puppy is born; however, breeders and those responsible for the care of pregnant females can influence the health and development of her puppies.
How to Prevent Congenital Disease in Bulldogs
Congenital problems in Bulldogs can be prevented by responsible and professional breeding practices. Amateurs are discouraged from breeding Bulldogs, because it is difficult and can be very heartbreaking if something happens to the mother or the puppies. However, if you are an amateur and find yourself caring for a pregnant female Bulldog, you must be sure that her needs are being addressed, including diet and nutrition, stress level, and medical care. Many veterinarians have resources to guide amateurs through the support of the mother during pregnancy, birthing/whelping, and early life care.
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Musculoskeletal Disease in Bulldogs
Musculoskeletal diseases are the common problems associated with bones and muscles. These include arthritis, vertebral issues, loss of skeletal muscle mass, hip dysplasia, trauma and breakages, and more.
Musculoskeletal Disease is responsible for 10.6 percent of all deaths in Bulldogs.
Causes of Musculoskeletal Disease in Bulldog
The causes of many musculoskeletal issues have to do with age, breed, and weight. Older Bulldogs are more prone to musculoskeletal issues, as are large breed dogs, and overweight dogs. Just like people, Bulldogs can get arthritis and other joint-related issues as they get older. Large-breed dogs tend to be prone to a condition called hip dysplasia, which essentially means that their hip joints degrade and get very painful. Overweight dogs tend to put more pressure on their joints, which can cause unnecessary wear and tear as well as serious damage to tendons and ligaments.
How to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disease in Bulldogs
One way that you can help improve your Bulldog`s musculoskeletal health (especially if they are old is by giving your Bulldog joint supplements like this one. You can also help prevent hip dysplasia and slipped discs by not allowing your Bulldog to jump too much, even if they are a puppy. Consider buying young Bulldogs a box or stool like this to help them get on the couch or bed, instead of letting them jump all the way from the ground. The most important way that you can keep your Bulldog`s muscles and bones healthy is by not letting them get overweight. You should avoid letting your Bulldog eat table scraps and make sure that they get plenty of exercise. If your Bulldog is overweight and you know that you are strict with their diet and exercise, you should talk to your vet; they might have hypothyroidism, which is very common. If your Bulldog is overweight and you think you should try managing their diet a little more closely, you can start your Bulldog on a weight-management diet like this to help them get back to a healthier body condition.
How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Bulldogs
Every dog breed has a set of genetic problems to which it is predisposed, and the Bulldog is not an exception.
These disease will reduce your Bulldog`s qualilty of life. Also, these diseases can shorten your Bulldog`s lifespan.
The good news is that these diseases can be prevented in Bulldog offsprings by only breeding Bulldog that have been screened and cleared of genetic defects.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is one the organizations that keep records of which disease to which a dog breed is genetically prone.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Bulldog puppy that will grow up to be healthy and live long, make sure that your Bulldog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
If you do not know if your Bulldog has been screened for genetic health problems, then your can use an at-home genetic screening kit like this one to check your Bulldog for genetic health problems at home. This might help you in deciding whether to get your Bulldog a pet health insurance.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Bulldogs for:
How Old is Your Bulldog in Human Years
The table below shows your human years equivalent age of your Bulldog. This table is based on a dog-to-human age study conducted by researchers from Purdue University.
Learn more about how old your Bulldog is in human years here.
In 1997, researchers from Purdue University developed a method for converting a dog`s age to its human age. Their method was based on the 1953 work of the French Veterinarian, A. Lebeau that we discussed above.
Researchers from Purdue University took Lebeau`s work further by taking into account two important factors to develop a more accurate method for converting a dog`s age into its human equivalent age:
- The size of the dog: Smaller dog breeds live longer than larger breed dogs
- The lifespan of the dog: Dog breeds that live longer lives will age slower than dog breeds that live shorter lives
The average lifespan of the Bulldog is 6.29 years.
Bulldogs are small-sized dogs. Bulldogs weigh 40 to 50 pounds.
The method developed by the Purdue University veterinarian researchers took into account the lifespan and size of Bulldog in converting Bulldog age to human age.
The researchers used data on the lifespan and weight of 5,608 mixed breed dogs and 17,927 purebred dogs to develop their method for converting the ages of dogs (of different breed sizes and lifespans ) to their equivalent human ages.
The calculator below lets you convert your Bulldog`s age to its human age based on the Purdue University method. Just enter your Bulldog`s age in the calculator and it will compute your Bulldog`s human age. If you do not know your Bulldog`s exact age, enter an approximate age in the calculator.
Also, the table below shows how old your Bulldog is in human years based on the method developed by the researchers.
Note that your Bulldog`s human age changes day by day. Therefore, always check back to use the calculator to find your Bulldog`s up-to-date human age.
Bulldog Age to Human Age Calculator (Purdue Uni. Method)
Below is a Bulldog age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from Purdue University.
The calculator will tell your Bulldog`s human age based on your Bulldog`s dog birthday. Also, the calculator will tell you which day is your Bulldog`s human birthday! Try it out!
| Bulldog Age (Years) | Human Age (Years) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12 |
| 2 | 19 |
| 3 | 25 |
| 4 | 30 |
| 5 | 35 |
| 6 | 40 |
| 7 | 44 |
| 8 | 48 |
| 9 | 52 |
| 10 | 56 |
| 11 | 59 |
| 12 | 63 |
| 13 | 67 |
| 14 | 71 |
| 15 | 75 |
| 16 | 79 |
How Long Do Bulldogs Live in Human Years?
The average lifespan of the Bulldog is 6.29 years. In human years, the Bulldog lives for 41 years.
How Old is 1-year-old Bulldog in Human Years?
A 1-year old Bulldog is 12 years old in human years.
How Old is 2-year-old Bulldog in Human Years?
A 2-year old Bulldog is 19 years old in human years.
How Old is 4-year-old Bulldog in Human Years?
A 4-year old Bulldog is 30 years old in human years.
How Old is 5-year-old Bulldog in Human Years?
A 5-year old Bulldog is 35 years old in human years.
More Ways to Make Your Bulldog Live Long
Here are more things your can do to make sure your Bulldog live a long life:
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Regular Exercise: Research studies have shown that one of the very effective ways to make a dog live long is to ensure that a dog is in good shape. Adequate exercise will make your Bulldog fit and make it live longer.
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Good Diet: A poorly-fed, underweight Bulldog does not have a good chance of living a long life. Similarly, an overweight Bulldog will have a shorter lifespan than a Bulldog that is of normal weight. Therefore, it is important that your feed your Bulldog high-quality dog food without overfeeding your Bulldog. Check out our Bulldog feeding guide here. Learn how you can prevent your Bulldog from being overweight here.
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Proper Hydration: Water is essential for your Bulldog existence. Therefore, you should make sure your Bulldog has access to clean water whenever your Bulldog needs water. However, too much water is bad for your Bulldog. See our Bulldog water drinking guide to learn more on how to properly hydrate your Bulldog.
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Spaying/Neutering: Sterilizing your Bulldog might prolong its life. Check out this guideline to know when it is the best time to spay/neuter your Bulldog.
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Routine Vet Care: Regular preventative visits to the vet can help catch diseases early.
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Vaccinations: Always make sure your Bulldog is up to date on its vaccination.
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Dental Hygiene: Your Bulldog’s teeth can get infected, and if the infection goes unnoticed, that infection can spread to other parts of the body and become systemic. This could lead to a shortened lifespan. You must have your Bulldog teeth cleaned professionally at your vet’s office a couple of times in its lifetime. Talk with your vet about the best ages to have these cleanings done.
Conclusion on Bulldog Life Expectancy
We hope the information we have provided will help your in increasing your Bulldog`s life expectancy.
Tate Ackerman contributed to this article. Tate is a second-year veterinary student at Kansas State University. Tate is also a concurrent Ph.D. student. She has a lot of experience reading scientific literature and communicating that information to a non-veterinary audience. Tate was a veterinary technician for a companion animal practice before she applied to veterinary school.