Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Long Chow Chows Live. Chow Chow Life Expectancy
- Lifespan of the Chow Chow Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- Common Causes of Death in Chow Chow, and how to Prevent Them.
- How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Chow Chows
- How Old is Your Chow Chow in Human Years
- How Long Do Chow Chows Live in Human Years?
- More Ways to Make Your Chow Chow Live Long
- Conclusion on Chow Chow Life Expectancy
How Long Chow Chows Live. Chow Chow Life Expectancy
Generally, the lifespan of the Chow Chow is from 12 to 15 years.
Moreover, a few years back, British Veterinarinan researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Chow Chow. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 80 pet Chow Chows lived.
From the study, it was found that Chow Chows have a average lifespan of 9.38 years. Furthermore, the study found that Chow Chows can live for as long as 14.1 years.
Furthermore, researchers from the University of Georgia conducted a study to find out what are the top causes of death in Chow Chows.
According to the study, the top 5 causes of death in Chow Chows are:
- Neoplastic Disease: Issues involving tumors
- Gastrointestinal Disease: Any problems that affect the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, or rectum.
- Trauma: Issues involving injury
- Musculoskeletal Disease: Refers to any problems with bones or muscles
- Neurologic Disease: Refers to problems with the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
In this article, we will explain each of these diseases and discuss how to prevent the early occurence of each in your Chow Chow to make your Chow Chow live a longer.
Also, in this article, we will discuss other things you can do to ensure that your Chow Chow have a longer than average lifespan.
Do you want to know how old your Chow Chow is in human years? Then, check out our Chow Chow age to human years calculator
Lifespan of the Chow Chow Compared to Other Dog Breeds
See in the table below how the lifespan of the Chow Chow compares to the lifespan of other dog breeds.
| Dog Breed | Average Lifespan (Years) |
|---|---|
| Swedish Vallhund Lifespan | 14.40 |
| Italian Greyhound Lifespan | 13.50 |
| Basenji Lifespan | 13.50 |
| Bedlington Terrier Lifespan | 13.30 |
| Vizsla Lifespan | 12.90 |
| Brittany Lifespan | 12.80 |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier Lifespan | 12.70 |
| Welsh Terrier Lifespan | 12.60 |
| Sealyham Terrier Lifespan | 12.20 |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi Lifespan | 12.10 |
| Irish Setter Lifespan | 12.00 |
| German Pinscher Lifespan | 11.30 |
| Hamiltonstovare Lifespan | 10.10 |
| Maremma Sheepdog Lifespan | 10.00 |
| Great Pyrenees Lifespan | 9.58 |
| Chow Chow Lifespan | 9.38 |
| Irish Water Spaniel Lifespan | 9.33 |
| Bernese Mountain Dog Lifespan | 8.00 |
| Leonberger Lifespan | 7.08 |
| Mastiff Lifespan | 6.83 |
Common Causes of Death in Chow Chow, and how to Prevent Them.
We will now discuss the common causes of death in Chow Chow, according to scientific research. Also we will provide you advice on how to prevent these problems in your Chow Chow.
Here are the causes of death, starting from the most common cause
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Neoplastic Disease in Chow Chows
Neoplasms, or tumors, can be benign (like a lipoma), or malignant (cancer).
Neoplastic Disease is responsible for 20.6 percent of all deaths in Chow Chows.
Causes of Neoplastic Disease in Chow Chow
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 Chow Chows
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 Chow Chows (and humans) is asbestos. An example of an infectious agent that could cause cancer in Chow Chows is the virus called canine adenovirus. An example of a physical agent that can cause cancer in Chow Chows is UV radiation from the sun, just like in humans.
Another way to prevent neoplasms in Chow Chows 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 Chow Chows with neoplasms, so talk to your veterinarian if you find any new lumps, bumps, or discoloration on your Chow Chow. You should also talk to your veterinarian if your Chow Chow`s gums look pale.
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Gastrointestinal Disease in Chow Chows
Gastrointestinal diseases includes vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach upset, blockages, toothache, constipation, and more.
Gastrointestinal Disease is responsible for 17.4 percent of all deaths in Chow Chows.
Causes of Gastrointestinal Disease in Chow Chow
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 Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow stops eating or eats less than usual. This can be caused by many things; sometimes it could be that your Chow Chow is feeling nauseous, sometimes it could be that your Chow Chow 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 Chow Chows
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 Chow Chow`s teeth. However, if your dog will not allow you to do that, dental treats like these are a good second option.
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Trauma in Chow Chows
These includes cuts, bites, bruises, broken bones, wounds, scratches, and more.
Trauma is responsible for 16.6 percent of all deaths in Chow Chows.
Causes of Trauma in Chow Chow
One of the most common causes of trauma in Chow Chows is getting hit by cats. Another common cause is bites and scratches from fighting or play with other dogs.
How to Prevent Trauma in Chow Chows
The best way to keep your Chow Chow from getting hit by a car is by having them on a fixed leash. Veterinarians do not recommend retractable leashes for dogs. This is because, oftentimes, dogs on retractable leashes will bolt into the road before their owners can lock the leash and get hit by cars, even though they were technically on a leash. Having a normal, fixed leash is also a good way to prevent your Chow Chow from bolting on walks and getting into fights with other dogs before you can lock the leash.
Here is a good fixed leash that can save your Chow Chow from traumatic accidents.
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Musculoskeletal Disease in Chow Chows
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 12.7 percent of all deaths in Chow Chows.
Causes of Musculoskeletal Disease in Chow Chow
The causes of many musculoskeletal issues have to do with age, breed, and weight. Older Chow Chows are more prone to musculoskeletal issues, as are large breed dogs, and overweight dogs. Just like people, Chow Chows 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 Chow Chows
One way that you can help improve your Chow Chow`s musculoskeletal health (especially if they are old is by giving your Chow Chow joint supplements like this one. You can also help prevent hip dysplasia and slipped discs by not allowing your Chow Chow to jump too much, even if they are a puppy. Consider buying young Chow Chows 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 Chow Chow`s muscles and bones healthy is by not letting them get overweight. You should avoid letting your Chow Chow eat table scraps and make sure that they get plenty of exercise. If your Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow is overweight and you think you should try managing their diet a little more closely, you can start your Chow Chow on a weight-management diet like this to help them get back to a healthier body condition.
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Neurologic Disease in Chow Chows
These problems include canine cognitive disfunction, dementia, stroke, Lyme disease, and more.
Neurologic Disease is responsible for 12.7 percent of all deaths in Chow Chows.
Causes of Neurologic Disease in Chow Chow
Neurological issues can be caused by vascular disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, metabolic disease, cancer, and developmental disorders.
How to Prevent Neurologic Disease in Chow Chows
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.
How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Chow Chows
Every dog breed has a set of genetic problems to which it is predisposed, and the Chow Chow is not an exception.
These disease will reduce your Chow Chow`s qualilty of life. Also, these diseases can shorten your Chow Chow`s lifespan.
The good news is that these diseases can be prevented in Chow Chow offsprings by only breeding Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow puppy that will grow up to be healthy and live long, make sure that your Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow has been screened for genetic health problems, then your can use an at-home genetic screening kit like this one to check your Chow Chow for genetic health problems at home. This might help you in deciding whether to get your Chow Chow a pet health insurance.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Chow Chows for:
How Old is Your Chow Chow in Human Years
The table below shows your human years equivalent age of your Chow Chow. This table is based on a dog-to-human age study conducted by researchers from Purdue University.
Learn more about how old your Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow is 9.38 years.
Chow Chows are large-sized dogs. Chow Chows weigh 40 to 70 pounds.
The method developed by the Purdue University veterinarian researchers took into account the lifespan and size of Chow Chow in converting Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow`s age to its human age based on the Purdue University method. Just enter your Chow Chow`s age in the calculator and it will compute your Chow Chow`s human age. If you do not know your Chow Chow`s exact age, enter an approximate age in the calculator.
Also, the table below shows how old your Chow Chow is in human years based on the method developed by the researchers.
Note that your Chow Chow`s human age changes day by day. Therefore, always check back to use the calculator to find your Chow Chow`s up-to-date human age.
Chow Chow Age to Human Age Calculator (Purdue Uni. Method)
Below is a Chow Chow age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from Purdue University.
The calculator will tell your Chow Chow`s human age based on your Chow Chow`s dog birthday. Also, the calculator will tell you which day is your Chow Chow`s human birthday! Try it out!
| Chow Chow Age (Years) | Human Age (Years) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 16 |
| 2 | 22 |
| 3 | 28 |
| 4 | 34 |
| 5 | 39 |
| 6 | 43 |
| 7 | 48 |
| 8 | 52 |
| 9 | 57 |
| 10 | 61 |
| 11 | 66 |
| 12 | 70 |
| 13 | 75 |
| 14 | 80 |
| 15 | 86 |
| 16 | 92 |
How Long Do Chow Chows Live in Human Years?
The average lifespan of the Chow Chow is 9.38 years. In human years, the Chow Chow lives for 58 years.
How Old is 1-year-old Chow Chow in Human Years?
A 1-year old Chow Chow is 16 years old in human years.
How Old is 3-year-old Chow Chow in Human Years?
A 3-year old Chow Chow is 28 years old in human years.
How Old is 5-year-old Chow Chow in Human Years?
A 5-year old Chow Chow is 39 years old in human years.
How Old is 7-year-old Chow Chow in Human Years?
A 7-year old Chow Chow is 48 years old in human years.
More Ways to Make Your Chow Chow Live Long
Here are more things your can do to make sure your Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow fit and make it live longer.
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Good Diet: A poorly-fed, underweight Chow Chow does not have a good chance of living a long life. Similarly, an overweight Chow Chow will have a shorter lifespan than a Chow Chow that is of normal weight. Therefore, it is important that your feed your Chow Chow high-quality dog food without overfeeding your Chow Chow. Check out our Chow Chow feeding guide here. Learn how you can prevent your Chow Chow from being overweight here.
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Proper Hydration: Water is essential for your Chow Chow existence. Therefore, you should make sure your Chow Chow has access to clean water whenever your Chow Chow needs water. However, too much water is bad for your Chow Chow. See our Chow Chow water drinking guide to learn more on how to properly hydrate your Chow Chow.
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Spaying/Neutering: Sterilizing your Chow Chow might prolong its life. Check out this guideline to know when it is the best time to spay/neuter your Chow Chow.
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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 Chow Chow is up to date on its vaccination.
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Dental Hygiene: Your Chow Chow’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 Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow Life Expectancy
We hope the information we have provided will help your in increasing your Chow Chow`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.