Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Long Dalmatians Live. Dalmatian Life Expectancy
- Lifespan of the Dalmatian Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- Common Causes of Death in Dalmatian, and how to Prevent Them.
- How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Dalmatians
- How Old is Your Dalmatian in Human Years
- How Long Do Dalmatians Live in Human Years?
- More Ways to Make Your Dalmatian Live Long
- Conclusion on Dalmatian Life Expectancy
How Long Dalmatians Live. Dalmatian Life Expectancy
Generally, the lifespan of the Dalmatian is from 13 to 16 years.
Moreover, a few years back, British Veterinarinan researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Dalmatian. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 199 pet Dalmatians lived.
From the study, it was found that Dalmatians have a average lifespan of 12.5 years. Furthermore, the study found that Dalmatians can live for as long as 17 years.
Furthermore, researchers from the University of Georgia conducted a study to find out what are the top causes of death in Dalmatians.
According to the study, the top 5 causes of death in Dalmatians are:
- Neoplastic Disease: Issues involving tumors
- Urogenital Disease: Problems with the kidneys, urinary tract, and/or reproductive organs
- Gastrointestinal Disease: Any problems that affect the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, or rectum.
- Neurologic Disease: Refers to problems with the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
- Infectious Disease: Problem caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi.
In this article, we will explain each of these diseases and discuss how to prevent the early occurence of each in your Dalmatian to make your Dalmatian live a longer.
Also, in this article, we will discuss other things you can do to ensure that your Dalmatian have a longer than average lifespan.
Do you want to know how old your Dalmatian is in human years? Then, check out our Dalmatian age to human years calculator
Lifespan of the Dalmatian Compared to Other Dog Breeds
See in the table below how the lifespan of the Dalmatian compares to the lifespan of other dog breeds.
| Dog Breed | Average Lifespan (Years) |
|---|---|
| Lhasa Apso Lifespan | 14.30 |
| Bearded Collie Lifespan | 13.50 |
| Dalmatian Lifespan | 12.50 |
| Pointer Lifespan | 12.40 |
| Border Collie Lifespan | 12.20 |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi Lifespan | 12.20 |
| Tibetan Terrier Lifespan | 12.10 |
| Irish Setter Lifespan | 12.00 |
| Australian Terrier Lifespan | 12.00 |
| Afghan Hound Lifespan | 11.90 |
| Field Spaniel Lifespan | 11.60 |
| Cocker Spaniel Lifespan | 11.10 |
| Briard Lifespan | 11.10 |
| Pug Lifespan | 11.00 |
| Anatolian Shepherd Dog Lifespan | 10.70 |
| Airedale Terrier Lifespan | 10.70 |
| Curly-Coated Retriever Lifespan | 10.70 |
| Otterhound Lifespan | 10.20 |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdog Lifespan | 9.58 |
| Scottish Deerhound Lifespan | 8.67 |
Common Causes of Death in Dalmatian, and how to Prevent Them.
We will now discuss the common causes of death in Dalmatian, according to scientific research. Also we will provide you advice on how to prevent these problems in your Dalmatian.
Here are the causes of death, starting from the most common cause
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Neoplastic Disease in Dalmatians
Neoplasms, or tumors, can be benign (like a lipoma), or malignant (cancer).
Neoplastic Disease is responsible for 18.1 percent of all deaths in Dalmatians.
Causes of Neoplastic Disease in Dalmatian
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 Dalmatians
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 Dalmatians (and humans) is asbestos. An example of an infectious agent that could cause cancer in Dalmatians is the virus called canine adenovirus. An example of a physical agent that can cause cancer in Dalmatians is UV radiation from the sun, just like in humans.
Another way to prevent neoplasms in Dalmatians 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 Dalmatians with neoplasms, so talk to your veterinarian if you find any new lumps, bumps, or discoloration on your Dalmatian. You should also talk to your veterinarian if your Dalmatian`s gums look pale.
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Urogenital Disease in Dalmatians
Urogenital problems most often involve infections and blockages, which various degrees of seriousness.
Urogenital Disease is responsible for 16.2 percent of all deaths in Dalmatians.
Causes of Urogenital Disease in Dalmatian
Probably, the most important urogenital issue seen in intact female Dalmatians is the pyometra. A pyometra is an enlarged, pus-filled uterus caused by a severe bacterial infection. A pyometra is several times larger than a regular uterus and is a life-threatening condition. To treat a pyometra, the Dalmatian`s uterus must be removed, which is a difficult and expensive surgery. Another urogenital infection seen in both female and male dogs is urinary tract infections, which are very similar to human UTIs. If left untreated, UTIs can ascend up the urinary tract and infect the kidneys, which can also be life-threatening. If you notice that your Dalmatian is urinating much more or less frequently than usual, or if the color or smell of the urine seems different from normal, you should talk to your veterinarian. Another common urogenital issue in male Dalmatians is urinary blockages, which (as the name suggests) is when there is something stuck in the urinary tract which prevents the Dalmatian from urinating. If you see your Dalmatian lifting its leg and trying to urinate but nothing is coming out, you should call your veterinarian. Cancer is also a major urogenital issue in Dalmatians, just like it is in humans. Urinary incontinence can also be an issue in both male and female Dalmatians, just like in humans.
How to Prevent Urogenital Disease in Dalmatians
The only way to completely prevent a pyometra is by getting your female Dalmatian spayed. Another major benefit to spaying your Dalmatian is that it dramatically reduces her risk of breast cancer. A spay is a major surgery and does tend to be a bit more expensive than a neuter, but a pyometra surgery is probably 3-4 times more expensive and dangerous than a regular, routine spay. Neutering your male Dalmatian will also dramatically reduce his risk of prostate cancer and urinary blockages, especially as he gets older. If the spay and neuter estimates from your regular veterinarian are a little out of your price range, low-cost high-volume (LCHV) spay and neuter clinics are also an excellent option. If you find that your Dalmatian is prone to blockages even though they are sterilized, there are many diets and supplements like this that can help. There are also diets like this and supplements that can help with urinary incontinence, but if these don`t work, your veterinarian can also prescribe prescription medications.
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Gastrointestinal Disease in Dalmatians
Gastrointestinal diseases includes vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach upset, blockages, toothache, constipation, and more.
Gastrointestinal Disease is responsible for 16.0 percent of all deaths in Dalmatians.
Causes of Gastrointestinal Disease in Dalmatian
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 Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian stops eating or eats less than usual. This can be caused by many things; sometimes it could be that your Dalmatian is feeling nauseous, sometimes it could be that your Dalmatian 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 Dalmatians
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 Dalmatian`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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Neurologic Disease in Dalmatians
These problems include canine cognitive disfunction, dementia, stroke, Lyme disease, and more.
Neurologic Disease is responsible for 12.5 percent of all deaths in Dalmatians.
Causes of Neurologic Disease in Dalmatian
Neurological issues can be caused by vascular disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, metabolic disease, cancer, and developmental disorders.
How to Prevent Neurologic Disease in Dalmatians
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.
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Infectious Disease in Dalmatians
There are many types of infectious diseases: bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections. Different diseases have different causes and they affect different parts of the body. For example, E. coli causes an infection in the intestines which can cause diarrhea in humans and dogs, whereas Demodex is a parasite on dog skin.
Infectious Disease is responsible for 10.4 percent of all deaths in Dalmatians.
Causes of Infectious Disease in Dalmatian
All infectious agents fall into two categories: the ones that invade the body from the outside, and the ones that are living in or on the body that experience an overgrowth. For example, staphylococcus aureus is a normal bacteria found on the skin; however, it can cause skin infections if its growth gets out of hand. Both types of infectious agents can be stopped by the body`s immune response. Internal infectious agents can also be prevented by probiotics.
How to Prevent Infectious Disease in Dalmatians
If your Dalmatian seems like they are not doing well, you should take them to the veterinarian so they can decide if your dog needs antibiotics, fluids, a dewormer, or other therapies. When your Dalmatian is well, you can support their immune health through nutrition, probiotics like this and vitamins.
How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Dalmatians
Every dog breed has a set of genetic problems to which it is predisposed, and the Dalmatian is not an exception.
These disease will reduce your Dalmatian`s qualilty of life. Also, these diseases can shorten your Dalmatian`s lifespan.
The good news is that these diseases can be prevented in Dalmatian offsprings by only breeding Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian puppy that will grow up to be healthy and live long, make sure that your Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian has been screened for genetic health problems, then your can use an at-home genetic screening kit like this one to check your Dalmatian for genetic health problems at home. This might help you in deciding whether to get your Dalmatian a pet health insurance.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Dalmatians for:
How Old is Your Dalmatian in Human Years
The table below shows your human years equivalent age of your Dalmatian. This table is based on a dog-to-human age study conducted by researchers from Purdue University.
Learn more about how old your Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian is 12.5 years.
Dalmatians are medium-sized dogs. Dalmatians weigh 48 to 55 pounds.
The method developed by the Purdue University veterinarian researchers took into account the lifespan and size of Dalmatian in converting Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian`s age to its human age based on the Purdue University method. Just enter your Dalmatian`s age in the calculator and it will compute your Dalmatian`s human age. If you do not know your Dalmatian`s exact age, enter an approximate age in the calculator.
Also, the table below shows how old your Dalmatian is in human years based on the method developed by the researchers.
Note that your Dalmatian`s human age changes day by day. Therefore, always check back to use the calculator to find your Dalmatian`s up-to-date human age.
Dalmatian Age to Human Age Calculator (Purdue Uni. Method)
Below is a Dalmatian age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from Purdue University.
The calculator will tell your Dalmatian`s human age based on your Dalmatian`s dog birthday. Also, the calculator will tell you which day is your Dalmatian`s human birthday! Try it out!
| Dalmatian Age (Years) | Human Age (Years) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 14 |
| 2 | 21 |
| 3 | 26 |
| 4 | 32 |
| 5 | 37 |
| 6 | 42 |
| 7 | 46 |
| 8 | 50 |
| 9 | 54 |
| 10 | 58 |
| 11 | 62 |
| 12 | 66 |
| 13 | 71 |
| 14 | 75 |
| 15 | 80 |
| 16 | 85 |
How Long Do Dalmatians Live in Human Years?
The average lifespan of the Dalmatian is 12.5 years. In human years, the Dalmatian lives for 68 years.
How Old is 1-year-old Dalmatian in Human Years?
A 1-year old Dalmatian is 14 years old in human years.
How Old is 2-year-old Dalmatian in Human Years?
A 2-year old Dalmatian is 21 years old in human years.
How Old is 5-year-old Dalmatian in Human Years?
A 5-year old Dalmatian is 37 years old in human years.
How Old is 9-year-old Dalmatian in Human Years?
A 9-year old Dalmatian is 54 years old in human years.
More Ways to Make Your Dalmatian Live Long
Here are more things your can do to make sure your Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian fit and make it live longer.
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Good Diet: A poorly-fed, underweight Dalmatian does not have a good chance of living a long life. Similarly, an overweight Dalmatian will have a shorter lifespan than a Dalmatian that is of normal weight. Therefore, it is important that your feed your Dalmatian high-quality dog food without overfeeding your Dalmatian. Check out our Dalmatian feeding guide here. Learn how you can prevent your Dalmatian from being overweight here.
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Proper Hydration: Water is essential for your Dalmatian existence. Therefore, you should make sure your Dalmatian has access to clean water whenever your Dalmatian needs water. However, too much water is bad for your Dalmatian. See our Dalmatian water drinking guide to learn more on how to properly hydrate your Dalmatian.
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Spaying/Neutering: Sterilizing your Dalmatian might prolong its life. Check out this guideline to know when it is the best time to spay/neuter your Dalmatian.
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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 Dalmatian is up to date on its vaccination.
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Dental Hygiene: Your Dalmatian’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 Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian Life Expectancy
We hope the information we have provided will help your in increasing your Dalmatian`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.