Every mammal has it relative lifespan, with the longest one being that of the elephant that can almost turn 70 years. With a dog, the story is a little different with the longest lifespan being, in normal cases, fifteen to sixteen years. There are situations where the lifespan can improve dramatically under some special circumstances, especially in the 21 century. Since the turn of the millennium, breakthroughs in nutrition and widespread awareness to proper care have enhanced life expectancy.
Normally, age in canines is determined by the species. While some breeds stay more than a decade alive, others do not make it to the age of ten. As with breeds, the proportions of the pet also determine how long it will live. The hugest ones, like mastiffs, barely make it to the age of eight before they die. The less bulky types, on the other hand, have a capacity for living up to the ripe age of thirteen. The tiny ones have the longest lifespan of any of the above, often making it to the age of sixteen.
The 21st century has brought some improvements into the aging equation. There are some dedicated owners who have resorted into special meals for their canines. These rely mostly on meat-free products and other green supplements that have a decreased calorie capacity. There are instances where such a dietary routine has earned the pet about twenty seven years of age. This is almost double the standard of expectancy in the world. There is yet another instance where an owner merely provided a meal made up of a certain steak from a rare herbivore. Similarly, the pet lived for the same period as the one that persisted on a meat-free routine to die at twenty-seven.
Be it as it may, dogs’ age does not alter the patterns of change on its sensory and physical make up, even in the current century. As the canine advances in years, it goes through transformation in its senses. The eyes dim, as the ears lose some of their abilities. Just like with the human race, these domestic animals also undergo a period of adding up their pounds. This is why they become less able to move or perform hunting, as they hit the tenth-year, since they are fatter than before. This implies when they expire of known causes rather than from accidents.
From the turn of the millennium to the current year, man’s best friend matures quite fast. This is due to proper care and also exclusive diet. The animal only requires about a year to mature. This often extended, in earlier times, to almost a year and a half. The same case applies to slow developing bulky breeds that take almost twenty four months to become adults. There are many reasons why the capacity to live long depreciates. One of these includes terminal disorders. However, these have dramatically reduced nowadays and it is possible for the pet to live exclusively for twenty seven years. This is however, when there are special rearing conditions.