How long do Rottweilers live and what does it depend on?
The ancestors of the Rottweilers are the oldest animals with more than a thousand years of history, but modern individuals are directly related to the selection of German shepherds and molossians, originating from the regions of Ancient Rome. They are intelligent, powerful and loyal dogs with many outstanding working qualities and are suitable for virtually any service. Sadly, their lifespan is not as long as their owners would like.
What does longevity depend on?
Unfortunately, like other types of large breed dogs, the animal does not have a long lifespan.
The main adverse factors affecting this aspect are the presence of hereditary diseases transmitted to puppies from parents. Therefore, when buying, it is important to have an idea of the health status of the dog's mother and father, their conditions of maintenance, immunity and other indicators. If the baby is purebred, this partly reduces the risk of acquiring a sick animal, since the pedigree provides for the presence of medical examinations and relevant documents.
The predisposition to certain diseases, some of which can shorten the already short lifespan of dogs, includes such ailments as:
- disorders of the kidneys and liver;
- tumor diseases;
- spine disease;
- tendency to allergic manifestations;
- various disorders of the digestive tract, including diarrhea and flatulence;
- metabolic disorders and diabetes mellitus;
- congenital pathology of the hip joint - dysplasia.
The most common in relation to the breed are vascular and heart diseases.
And these are not all the reasons leading to a reduction in the life of a pet. A prerequisite for this may be poor-quality and unbalanced nutrition, inattention to the hygienic care of the animal, inappropriate treatment, which can lead the dog to anxiety and stress. Additionally - this is the lack of an active lifestyle, the Rottweiler's living in unsuitable climatic conditions.
If such negative influences are eliminated or minimized, the dog can live a happy and long life by the standards of the breed.
average life expectancy
Naturally healthy Rottweilers with a good pedigree and, accordingly, heredity, having the ability to move a lot, play and help people, as well as provided with the right diet, live up to 10-12 years at home. Sometimes the selfless love of the owner and optimal care gives the animal the opportunity to significantly exceed these periods, but, alas, such cases are quite rare, although according to statistics, some individuals lived up to 15-18 years.
It is undesirable to keep the Rottweiler outside, unless it is a spacious aviary in which he can run, giving the necessary physical activity to the muscles. The animal is absolutely not suitable for life in a booth, on a chain, and when it is used as a watchman, it withers very quickly and dies just as quickly.
This is due to low mobility, due to which the muscles lose their tone and atrophy, in addition, the dog is gaining excess weight, which complicates the work of the naturally weak heart muscle.
Other disadvantages of outdoor content - climatic conditions:
- in cold periods of the year, the dog catches cold easily and can get pneumonia;
- too dry and hot weather often causes heatstroke, heart attack or acute cerebrovascular accident.
The climate of temperate latitudes is most suitable for the animal, and if the region is northern, the dog should have a heated kennel and ample space for an active pastime. In the southern regions, pets live much less - no more than 5-6 years, as they can hardly tolerate the heat.
Lack of proper care and a well-designed menu also affects the length of the life span, and the animal rarely reaches 8 years old.
What does not in any way affect life expectancy is the sex of the Rottweiler, therefore, the main responsibility for the fate of the pet is borne by the person - its immediate owner.
How to increase the number of years?
A Rottweiler can live for over 12 years if you take your diet seriously. Many diseases occur in a pet due to metabolic disorders and unsatisfactory digestion, so you should think about the gradual introduction of high-quality premium dry food into the puppy's menu, or about teaching the animal to homemade, natural food.
In this case, the main products for him should be:
- lean meats, including beef, turkey, chicken, beef liver and heart - raw;
- fish fillet;
- 20% of the diet should be vegetable side dishes (stewed, boiled), sometimes fresh vegetables and fruits are allowed;
- cereals, with the exception of barley and semolina, make up 30% of the menu - mostly rice and buckwheat.
And also Rottweilers need lactic acid products in a limited amount - cheese, cottage cheese and low-fat sour cream, occasionally pamper a pet with boiled yolk.
An adult dog should receive at least 700 g of meat, 300 g of vegetables and 2 kg of cooked cereal dishes per day. 800 g of fresh fish without bones are given once every 7 days... Animals on a natural diet need additionally give vitamins, it is better if these are vitamin and mineral complexes. In cold weather, portions are doubled. Feeding takes place twice, puppies, depending on age, require more frequent meals, and in winter they must introduce vitamin D into the menu to prevent rickets.
Important: most owners claim that the lifespan of dogs of this breed increases markedly on high-quality natural food.
Adequate care will undoubtedly affect the lifespan of Rottweilers. To avoid skin diseases and infections, your dog needs a thorough grooming, which includes brushing twice a week, and occasional trimming will help him get rid of dead hair and impurities that can cause irritation, inflammation and allergic reactions. If you experience alarming symptoms, you should immediately contact your veterinarian for professional medical help.
Eyes, ears, teeth and paw pads require regular examination and cleaning. The eyes can be gently wiped with chamomile infusion, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, once a month the claws of the animal are trimmed. You can bathe your dog once every 30 days, or less often as it gets dirty. When staying in a Rottweiler apartment you need to walk at least twice a day for 2 hours, with a small puppy they walk little by little up to 6 times a day.
It is important to know that heavy loads for the baby are unacceptable, as they can lead to diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In order not to undermine the health of the dog, the use of any weighting agents is allowed only when the pet reaches 1.5 years.
Elderly animals need special attention, which need a balanced diet and small portions, at this moment you need to carefully monitor the condition of the dog's teeth. Since a pet of advanced years is prone to colds, inflammation and injuries, it is necessary to exclude dampness, drafts, intense physical activity - running, jumping.
A puppy that appears in the house, inquisitive and mobile, needs to be brought up, but it is not recommended to punish corporally for misconduct. The dog is smart, and if it is gentle but strict to explain to her what not to do, she will understand. Any use of brute physical force leaves non-healing wounds on the animal's psyche, which can subsequently shorten its life.
Long-lived dogs
Many Rottweiler owners are recklessly in love with their animals, and some of them are lucky as their pet is over 12 years old.
Here are just a few touching examples.
- Girl Tara did not live up to her 18th birthday for three months, she died of old age.
- The drama, 16 years old, can no longer see and hear poorly, but continues to move actively with the help of the hostess.
- Boy Lord reached the age of 15, was kept in a comfortable aviary of a country house, in winter he lived on a warmed veranda.
- Rottweiler Dariss did not live 3 days before his 14th birthday. An absurd trauma took his life - the dog fell on its paws.
- Boy Benka lived for 15 years, despite a difficult surgery for gastric volvulus (after which he lived for 4 more full years).
Unfortunately, not all animals, even those who survived to old age, died of old age - the cause of death for many is diseases such as pneumonia, stroke, bowel cancer, heart attack. However, many dogs owe their life extension to their loving owners.
Apparently the main thing is the attitude of the owner to the lesser friend and family member. If he really loves his pet, he will never allow the animal to suffer, and will do everything to prolong its life.This is especially important, since Rottweilers have high intelligence and intuition, and are able to feel both love, affection and indifference towards themselves.
It is known that the breed can be susceptible to such a human ailment as depression, which can lead not only to a number of diseases, seemingly unrelated to a mental disorder, but also to an unwillingness to live.
All about the dog breed, see below.
