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Pets living longer lives
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Dogs and cats are living longer lives and some are reaching age 15 or higher, according to MSNBC News. The claim is based on anecdotal information from veterinarians who say they are seeing more older pets.
Small- to medium-sized dogs have the longest life spans. Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Great Pyrenees and other “giant” breeds have the shortest lives. Dogs are more likely to live longer lives if they are slightly underweight. Cats typically outlive all dog breeds. Indoor cats can live as long as 20 years.
Just as people are living longer lives, so are pets, Martha Smith, director of veterinary services at Boston’s Animal Rescue League told MSNBC news. This may allow more pet owners to spend more time with their beloved furry friends.
A wirehaired dachshund named Chanel was 21 when she died last month. Guiness World Records had called her the world's oldest dog. But there may be a dog that has lived even longer. Max, a terrier mix, from New Iberia, La., is 26 years old, according to his owner. His age has not yet been verified.
There is a downside to pets living longer. Aging pets can show signs of senility. Studies have shown that about one-third of dogs ages 11 to 12 and two-thirds dogs that are ages 15 and above have significantly impaired cognitive abilities. As many as 80 percent of cats could be considered senile.
As pets get older, they are more likely to exhibit signs such as confusion, wandering aimlessly or losing interest in food.
Life expectancy rates for people in the U.S. has been rising over the past decade. It increased from 76.5 years in 1997 to 77.9 in 2007, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sources: MSNBC News, New York Daily News,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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