Tuesday, September 7 2010

05-21-2008, 05:42 AM

Health surveys of Bernese Mountain Dogs in USA/Canada show that this breed is very short-lived compared to breeds of similar size and purebred dogs in general.

Berners have a median longevity of 7 years in USA/Canada

Why is this the case?

05-21-2008, 11:47 AM

Part of the reason is because Bernese dogs are a big breed, so there is more strain on their skeletal structures. Their bones and joints break down easier because of the weight they support.

05-21-2008, 07:32 PM

Thanks for your post. What are ways to prolong their lives or strengthen their bones. Or can we cut down on their body weight?

05-25-2008, 11:20 AM

That's scary to think of and something that I'd be really interested in knowing more about as well. If there is anything that can be done I would be happy to do it. Seven years is so young!

05-25-2008, 09:35 PM

I never knew it was that short! I wonder what the shortest is among all dog breeds. I always thought 10 years was a given... I guess it isn't.

05-26-2008, 05:42 AM

Yeah, it's very sad. I always thought that around ten years was the shortest life expectancy as well so it's sort of depressing to find out that that's not true.

05-26-2008, 08:20 AM

The life expectancy scared us off at first too. But I did a lot of reading (on the internet of course) and there are Berners out there that have lived to be 12 or I even saw one that was 15! We had chows before, and there life expectancy is 9 or 10 years, ours lived to be 13 and 14.

05-27-2008, 07:59 AM

That's good to know. Even the Labradors I grew up with only live to around 12 or 13 but ours carried on in good health until she was about 14. I just feel sad already about getting attached to a dog that has such a short life expectancy.

05-28-2008, 09:28 PM

Then again, I think nothing is impossible when it comes to raising a dog. If you care for it a lot and keep it very healthy, the life expectancy will probably not apply. I've seen a lot of dogs live around 5 years longer than they were 'supposed to' without any problems. It's all about the way you raise them.

06-03-2008, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by tina

Then again, I think nothing is impossible when it comes to raising a dog. If you care for it a lot and keep it very healthy, the life expectancy will probably not apply. I've seen a lot of dogs live around 5 years longer than they were 'supposed to' without any problems. It's all about the way you raise them.

I agree with you, its the way you care the dog. Its not only a dog, it applies to any pet, if its happy with the owner then it lives long.

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05-21-2008, 05:42 AM	#1 (permalink) Mortality
Junior Member	Health surveys of Bernese Mountain Dogs in USA/Canada show that this breed is very short-lived compared to breeds of similar size and purebred dogs in general. Berners have a median longevity of 7 years in USA/Canada Why is this the case?

05-21-2008, 11:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Junior Member	Part of the reason is because Bernese dogs are a big breed, so there is more strain on their skeletal structures. Their bones and joints break down easier because of the weight they support.

05-21-2008, 07:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Junior Member	Thanks for your post. What are ways to prolong their lives or strengthen their bones. Or can we cut down on their body weight?

05-25-2008, 11:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
Member	That's scary to think of and something that I'd be really interested in knowing more about as well. If there is anything that can be done I would be happy to do it. Seven years is so young!

05-25-2008, 09:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Junior Member	I never knew it was that short! I wonder what the shortest is among all dog breeds. I always thought 10 years was a given... I guess it isn't.

05-26-2008, 05:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
Member	Yeah, it's very sad. I always thought that around ten years was the shortest life expectancy as well so it's sort of depressing to find out that that's not true.

05-26-2008, 08:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Administrator	The life expectancy scared us off at first too. But I did a lot of reading (on the internet of course) and there are Berners out there that have lived to be 12 or I even saw one that was 15! We had chows before, and there life expectancy is 9 or 10 years, ours lived to be 13 and 14.

05-27-2008, 07:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
Member	That's good to know. Even the Labradors I grew up with only live to around 12 or 13 but ours carried on in good health until she was about 14. I just feel sad already about getting attached to a dog that has such a short life expectancy.

05-28-2008, 09:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
Junior Member	Then again, I think nothing is impossible when it comes to raising a dog. If you care for it a lot and keep it very healthy, the life expectancy will probably not apply. I've seen a lot of dogs live around 5 years longer than they were 'supposed to' without any problems. It's all about the way you raise them.