How Long Bullmastiffs Live. How to Make Bullmastiffs Live Long

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How Long Bullmastiffs Live. Bullmastiff Life Expectancy

Generally, the lifespan of the Bullmastiff is from 8 to 10 years.

Moreover, a few years back, British Veterinarinan researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Bullmastiff. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 96 pet Bullmastiffs lived.

From the study, it was found that Bullmastiffs have a average lifespan of 7.46 years. Furthermore, the study found that Bullmastiffs can live for as long as 13.5 years.

Furthermore, researchers from the University of Georgia conducted a study to find out what are the top causes of death in Bullmastiffs.

According to the study, the top 5 causes of death in Bullmastiffs are:

  1. Neoplastic Disease: Issues involving tumors
  2. Gastrointestinal Disease: Any problems that affect the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, or rectum.
  3. Musculoskeletal Disease: Refers to any problems with bones or muscles
  4. Neurologic Disease: Refers to problems with the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
  5. Hematopoietic Disease: Problems having to do with platelets, blood vessels, or clotting factors.

In this article, we will explain each of these diseases and discuss how to prevent the early occurence of each in your Bullmastiff to make your Bullmastiff live a longer.

Also, in this article, we will discuss other things you can do to ensure that your Bullmastiff have a longer than average lifespan.

Do you want to know how old your Bullmastiff is in human years? Then, check out our Bullmastiff age to human years calculator

The average lifespan (in green) of the Bullmastiff compared to the lifespans of other dog breeds (in red)

Lifespan of the Bullmastiff Compared to Other Dog Breeds

See in the table below how the lifespan of the Bullmastiff compares to the lifespan of other dog breeds.

Dog Breed Average Lifespan (Years)
Silky Terrier Lifespan 14.20
Miniature Poodle Lifespan 13.90
Bearded Collie Lifespan 13.50
Italian Greyhound Lifespan 13.50
Norwich Terrier Lifespan 13.30
Hovawart Lifespan 12.90
Belgian Sheepdog Lifespan 12.50
Tibetan Terrier Lifespan 12.10
Australian Terrier Lifespan 12.00
Pharaoh Hound Lifespan 11.80
Lancashire Heeler Lifespan 11.70
Pekingese Lifespan 11.40
Irish Red & White Setter Lifespan 11.40
German Spitz Lifespan 11.30
Sussex Spaniel Lifespan 11.10
German Wirehaired Pointer Lifespan 10.00
Flat-Coated Retriever Lifespan 9.83
Estrela Mountain Dog Lifespan 9.75
Bullmastiff Lifespan 7.46
Miniature Bull Terrier Lifespan 6.08
Bullmastiff Lifespan

Common Causes of Death in Bullmastiff, and how to Prevent Them.

We will now discuss the common causes of death in Bullmastiff, according to scientific research. Also we will provide you advice on how to prevent these problems in your Bullmastiff.

Here are the causes of death, starting from the most common cause

  1. Neoplastic Disease in Bullmastiffs

    Neoplasms, or tumors, can be benign (like a lipoma), or malignant (cancer).

    Neoplastic Disease is responsible for 44.0 percent of all deaths in Bullmastiffs.

    Causes of Neoplastic Disease in Bullmastiff

    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 Bullmastiffs

    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 Bullmastiffs (and humans) is asbestos. An example of an infectious agent that could cause cancer in Bullmastiffs is the virus called canine adenovirus. An example of a physical agent that can cause cancer in Bullmastiffs is UV radiation from the sun, just like in humans.

    Another way to prevent neoplasms in Bullmastiffs 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 Bullmastiffs with neoplasms, so talk to your veterinarian if you find any new lumps, bumps, or discoloration on your Bullmastiff. You should also talk to your veterinarian if your Bullmastiff`s gums look pale.

  2. Gastrointestinal Disease in Bullmastiffs

    Gastrointestinal diseases includes vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach upset, blockages, toothache, constipation, and more.

    Gastrointestinal Disease is responsible for 14.9 percent of all deaths in Bullmastiffs.

    Causes of Gastrointestinal Disease in Bullmastiff

    GI problems can be caused by a lot of different things. Often, GI problems like vomiting and diarrhea are caused by things that were eaten. It is best not to let your Bullmastiff eat human food or anything it finds outside, including garbage, plants and berries, fecal matter from other animals, and more. Vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach upset can also be caused by bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. Another important sign of GI problems is when your Bullmastiff stops eating or eats less than usual. This can be caused by many things; sometimes it could be that your Bullmastiff is feeling nauseous, sometimes it could be that your Bullmastiff has mouth pain, and more. In these cases, it is best to see a veterinarian to get to the root of the problem.

    How to Prevent Gastrointestinal Disease in Bullmastiffs

    An easy way to protect your dog from gastrointestinal problems is to make sure they are on heartworm, flea, and tick medicine all year long (no matter where you live). Many heartworm medications can also de-worm your dog every time you give a dose. This can prevent nasty parasites from settling into your dog`s intestines and causing pain, anemia, and other serious issues. Another way you can keep your dog feeling good is by taking good care of their teeth! This is especially an issue in small dogs. The best way to care for dog teeth is by cleaning them a few times a week. Here is a great brush for cleaning your Bullmastiff`s teeth. However, if your dog will not allow you to do that, dental treats like these are a good second option.

  3. Musculoskeletal Disease in Bullmastiffs

    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 13.4 percent of all deaths in Bullmastiffs.

    Causes of Musculoskeletal Disease in Bullmastiff

    The causes of many musculoskeletal issues have to do with age, breed, and weight. Older Bullmastiffs are more prone to musculoskeletal issues, as are large breed dogs, and overweight dogs. Just like people, Bullmastiffs 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 Bullmastiffs

    One way that you can help improve your Bullmastiff`s musculoskeletal health (especially if they are old is by giving your Bullmastiff joint supplements like this one. You can also help prevent hip dysplasia and slipped discs by not allowing your Bullmastiff to jump too much, even if they are a puppy. Consider buying young Bullmastiffs 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 Bullmastiff`s muscles and bones healthy is by not letting them get overweight. You should avoid letting your Bullmastiff eat table scraps and make sure that they get plenty of exercise. If your Bullmastiff 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 Bullmastiff is overweight and you think you should try managing their diet a little more closely, you can start your Bullmastiff on a weight-management diet like this to help them get back to a healthier body condition.

  4. Neurologic Disease in Bullmastiffs

    These problems include canine cognitive disfunction, dementia, stroke, Lyme disease, and more.

    Neurologic Disease is responsible for 11.9 percent of all deaths in Bullmastiffs.

    Causes of Neurologic Disease in Bullmastiff

    Neurological issues can be caused by vascular disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, metabolic disease, cancer, and developmental disorders.

    How to Prevent Neurologic Disease in Bullmastiffs

    Some neurological problems can be caused by infectious agents, like Lyme disease. You should always get your dog vaccinated with the course recommended by your veterinarian.

  5. Hematopoietic Disease in Bullmastiffs

    Normally, the body can regulate its own blood pressure and fluid volume without outside help. However, issues in hematopoesis can cause high or low blood pressure, blood clots, edema (fluid where it`s not supposed to be, like in the lungs), and even shock.

    Hematopoietic Disease is responsible for 10.4 percent of all deaths in Bullmastiffs.

    Causes of Hematopoietic Disease in Bullmastiff

    The causes of hematopoietic problems usually involve inflammation and immune responses gone wrong. This can cause congestion, hemorrhage, and many more problems.

    How to Prevent Hematopoietic Disease in Bullmastiffs

    Talk to your veterinarian if your dog`s gums or skin look very pale or very red. It`s also a good idea to talk to your vet if your dog is experiencing exercise intolerance. Many parasites can cause internal bleeding, so you should have your dog on flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives all year round. Here is a good flea and tick prevention medication (buy the box associated with your pet`s weight!).

How long Bullmastiffs live

How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Bullmastiffs

Every dog breed has a set of genetic problems to which it is predisposed, and the Bullmastiff is not an exception.

These disease will reduce your Bullmastiff`s qualilty of life. Also, these diseases can shorten your Bullmastiff`s lifespan.

The good news is that these diseases can be prevented in Bullmastiff offsprings by only breeding Bullmastiff 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 Bullmastiff puppy that will grow up to be healthy and live long, make sure that your Bullmastiff 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 Bullmastiff has been screened for genetic health problems, then your can use an at-home genetic screening kit like this one to check your Bullmastiff for genetic health problems at home. This might help you in deciding whether to get your Bullmastiff a pet health insurance.

The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Bullmastiffs for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Kidney Disease

  • Bullmastiff Life Expectancy

    How Old is Your Bullmastiff in Human Years

    The table below shows your human years equivalent age of your Bullmastiff. This table is based on a dog-to-human age study conducted by researchers from Purdue University.

    Learn more about how old your Bullmastiff 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:

    1. The size of the dog: Smaller dog breeds live longer than larger breed dogs
    2. 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 Bullmastiff is 7.46 years.

    Bullmastiffs are giant-sized dogs. Bullmastiffs weigh 100 to 130 pounds.

    The method developed by the Purdue University veterinarian researchers took into account the lifespan and size of Bullmastiff in converting Bullmastiff 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 Bullmastiff`s age to its human age based on the Purdue University method. Just enter your Bullmastiff`s age in the calculator and it will compute your Bullmastiff`s human age. If you do not know your Bullmastiff`s exact age, enter an approximate age in the calculator.

    Also, the table below shows how old your Bullmastiff is in human years based on the method developed by the researchers.

    Note that your Bullmastiff`s human age changes day by day. Therefore, always check back to use the calculator to find your Bullmastiff`s up-to-date human age.

    Bullmastiff Age to Human Age Calculator (Purdue Uni. Method)

    Below is a Bullmastiff age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from Purdue University.

    The calculator will tell your Bullmastiff`s human age based on your Bullmastiff`s dog birthday. Also, the calculator will tell you which day is your Bullmastiff`s human birthday! Try it out!






    Bullmastiff Age (Years) Human Age (Years)
    1 20
    2 26
    3 31
    4 37
    5 42
    6 47
    7 51
    8 56
    9 61
    10 66
    11 71
    12 77
    13 83
    14 89
    15 96
    16 103

    How Long Do Bullmastiffs Live in Human Years?

    The average lifespan of the Bullmastiff is 7.46 years. In human years, the Bullmastiff lives for 54 years.

    How Old is 1-year-old Bullmastiff in Human Years?

    A 1-year old Bullmastiff is 20 years old in human years.

    How old 1 year old Bullmastiff is in human years.

    How Old is 2-year-old Bullmastiff in Human Years?

    A 2-year old Bullmastiff is 26 years old in human years.

    How old 2 year old Bullmastiff is in human years.

    How Old is 3-year-old Bullmastiff in Human Years?

    A 3-year old Bullmastiff is 31 years old in human years.

    How old 3 year old Bullmastiff is in human years.

    How Old is 4-year-old Bullmastiff in Human Years?

    A 4-year old Bullmastiff is 37 years old in human years.

    How old 4 year old Bullmastiff is in human years.

    More Ways to Make Your Bullmastiff Live Long

    Here are more things your can do to make sure your Bullmastiff live a long life:

    • 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 Bullmastiff fit and make it live longer.

    • Good Diet: A poorly-fed, underweight Bullmastiff does not have a good chance of living a long life. Similarly, an overweight Bullmastiff will have a shorter lifespan than a Bullmastiff that is of normal weight. Therefore, it is important that your feed your Bullmastiff high-quality dog food without overfeeding your Bullmastiff. Check out our Bullmastiff feeding guide here. Learn how you can prevent your Bullmastiff from being overweight here.

    • Proper Hydration: Water is essential for your Bullmastiff existence. Therefore, you should make sure your Bullmastiff has access to clean water whenever your Bullmastiff needs water. However, too much water is bad for your Bullmastiff. See our Bullmastiff water drinking guide to learn more on how to properly hydrate your Bullmastiff.

    • Spaying/Neutering: Sterilizing your Bullmastiff might prolong its life. Check out this guideline to know when it is the best time to spay/neuter your Bullmastiff.

    • Routine Vet Care: Regular preventative visits to the vet can help catch diseases early.

    • Vaccinations: Always make sure your Bullmastiff is up to date on its vaccination.

    • Dental Hygiene: Your Bullmastiff’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 Bullmastiff 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 Bullmastiff Life Expectancy

    We hope the information we have provided will help your in increasing your Bullmastiff`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.