Most dogs die of cancer. According to statistics, more than one in three dogs is affected. However, the most common cause of death also depends heavily on age, race, place of residence and individual size.
On average, dogs live 13.4 years. Smaller breeds often reach 15-16 years, large breeds often only 7-8 years and medium-sized dogs usually between 10 and 13 years. [1]
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What do dogs most often die from?
Around 28% of all dogs die from cancer, 21% from injuries, 16% from infectious diseases, 9% from metabolic diseases, 8% from congenital diseases and 18% from other diseases.
At least that was the result of the largest study on the subject to date. Almost 75,000 dogs were examined over a period of 20 years. [2]
There have already been studies on dogs in which the probability of death from cancer was over 50%. [3]
Image may be used under these guidelines. [4]
Cancer and injuries alone are responsible for around 50% of deaths. In many cases, the exact cause of death is unclear.
In humans, cancer is the second most common cause of death with a probability of around 21%. Only cardiovascular diseases top this at a whopping 23%. [5]
The gastrointestinal tract (14%), the musculoskeletal system (13%) and the neurological system (12%) are most commonly affected by the above diseases.
Image may be used under these guidelines. [6]
However, one cause of death was always neglected in the above studies. In the USA alone, around 670,000 dogs (10.8%) are euthanized in animal shelters every year. [7]
In fact, “death from an overdose of sleeping pills” should also be one of the most common causes.
At around 21%, injuries are the second most common cause of death for dogs. These are often triggered by accidents. Typical reasons here are:
- Jump from height (e.g. during a chase)
- Drowning (e.g. in pools)
- Constipation (e.g. swallowing large indigestible objects)
- Electric shock (e.g. gnawing on power cables)
- Predators (e.g. wolves, bears or snakes)
- Car accident (e.g. being hit and run over)
- Suffocation (e.g. from getting stuck in a trash can)
- Weather (e.g. heat and cold death)
- Poisoning (e.g. from swallowing cleaning products)
Cause of death by age
Depending on the age group, some causes of death occur more frequently or less frequently. For this reason, the researchers divided the dogs into 3 different age groups.
Dogs under 2 years old
Puppies and young dogs under 2 years of age most commonly die from infectious diseases (31%), injuries (28%), congenital diseases (18%) and cancer (9%).
In the remaining 14% for whom the cause of death is known, metabolic diseases, inflammation, poisoning, degenerative diseases and vascular diseases are the cause of death. [8]
Image may be used under these guidelines. [9]
The gastrointestinal tract, the neurological system and the musculoskeletal system of dogs are by far the most commonly affected.
Dogs between 2 and 10 years old
37% of all dogs between 2 and 10 years old die from cancer, 19% from injuries, 10% from metabolic diseases and 8% each from infectious diseases and inflammation.
All remaining dogs (18%) with a known cause of death die from degenerative diseases, vascular diseases, poisoning and congenital diseases. [10]
Image may be used under these guidelines. [11]
What is striking here is that no single specific organ is most frequently affected. Rather, the diseases are spread throughout the entire body.
Dogs over 10 years old
Around 4 out of 10 dogs over 10 years old die from cancer. In 15%, injuries are the cause, 12% die from metabolic diseases, 10% from degenerative diseases and 9% from infectious diseases.
In the remaining 15%, inflammation, vascular diseases, congenital diseases and poisoning are the cause of death. [12]
Image may be used under these guidelines. [13]
As dogs age, the cardiovascular system, hormones and urogenital organs are increasingly affected by diseases.
Cause of death by age at a glance
Cause of death dog
dog with
2-10 years dog
>10 yearsCancer9%37%39%Injuries28%19%15%Metabolic diseases4%10%12%Degenerative diseases2%7%10%Infectious diseases31%8%9%Inflammation3%8%5%Vascular diseases2%5%4%Congenital diseases18%3% 3%Poisonings3%3%3%[Quelle]
Cause of death by place of residence
The following studies are significantly smaller in comparison and therefore have less significance. And yet it clearly shows that the causes of death vary depending on the living situation.
USA
The above study of 75,000 dogs took place in the USA. The five most common causes of death in dogs are:
- Cancer: 28%
- Injuries: 21%
- Infectious diseases: 16%
- Metabolic diseases: 9%
- Congenital diseases 8% [14]
Unfortunately, a study in Germany is still pending. However, the results should not be much different from the above. Because our lifestyle has a lot in common with that of the USA.
Italy
In an Italian study of 870 dogs, the two most common causes of death were:
- Infectious diseases (23%)
- Poisoning (17%)
Not only family dogs were examined, but also some strays. Cancer was the cause of death in only 7% of the dogs. [15]
Great Britain
In a study from Great Britain, almost 5,700 dogs were examined. On average, the dogs were 10.3 years old.
The three most common causes of death here were old age, cancer and heart failure. In many dogs, the exact cause could not be found. [16]
It is still unclear why there are such large local differences. In total, over 100 factors have already been identified that contribute to longevity. [17]
Cause of death by size
Not only do small dog breeds have a longer life expectancy than large breeds, but the causes of death also differ.
Large dog breeds statistically die more frequently:
- Cancer
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
- Gastrointestinal diseases
Small dog breeds On the other hand, they die more often:
- Degenerative diseases
- Metabolic diseases
Injuries, however, occur equally in all sizes. [18]
Cause of death per race
The cause of death varies greatly depending on the underlying breed. Before we look at all the breeds together, here is a brief summary.
Most frequently The following breeds die from cancer:
- Bernese Mountain Dog (55%)
- Golden Retrievers (50%)
- Scottish Terriers (48%)
- Bouvier des Flandres (47%)
- German boxer (44%)
Least common The following breeds die from cancer:
- Miniature Pinscher (4%)
- Miniature Dachshund (6%)
- Chihuahua (7%)
- Pomeranian (8%)
- Pekingese (8%)
What is striking here is that these are exclusively very small dog breeds.
Of injuries The following breeds die most often:
- Miniature Pinscher (20%)
- Jack Russell Terriers (20%)
- Australian Cattle Dog (20%)
- Chihuahua (17%)
- Yorkshire Terriers (13%)
In mixed races, the most common cause of death is cancer (28%) and the most common affected area is the musculoskeletal system (14%).
Most common cause of death per race
Dog BreedMost Common
Cause of deathMost common
Affected areaAfghan GreyhoundCancer (35%)Respiratory tract (16%)Airedale TerrierCancer (40%)Genitourinary system (16%)AkitaCancer (21%)Gastrointestinal tract (21%)Alaskan MalamuteCancer (34%)Musculoskeletal system (15%)American Eskimo DogCancer (24%)Gastrointestinal tract (14%)American Staffordshire TerrierCancer (22%)Gastrointestinal tract (16%)American Cocker SpanielCancer (20%)Blood system (15%)Australian Cattle DogInjuries (20%)Musculoskeletal system (13%)Australian ShepherdCancer (24%)Musculoskeletal system (13%)BorzoiCancer (34%)Musculoskeletal system (16%)Basset HoundCancer (38%)Neurological system (15%)BeagleCancer (23%)Neurological system (13%)Bernese Mountain DogCancer (55%)Cardiovascular system (10%)St %)Black and Tan CoonhoundCancer (23%)Gastrointestinal tract (15%)BobtailCancer (36%)Gastrointestinal tract (14%)Border CollieCancer (26%)Musculoskeletal system (14%)Boston TerrierCancer (30%)Neurological system (22%)Bouvier des FlandresCancer (47%)Gastrointestinal tract (14 %)Brittany SpanielCancer (27%)Musculoskeletal System (13%)BullmastiffCancer (44%)Gastrointestinal tract (15%)Bull TerrierCancer (22%)Gastrointestinal tract (15%)Cairn TerrierCancer (32%)Neurological system (15%)Chesapeake Bay RetrieverCancer (29%)Blood system (17% )ChihuahuaInjuries (17%)Cardiovascular system (19%)Chow ChowCancer (21%)Gastrointestinal tract (17%)DachshundInjuries (12%)Neurological system (40%)DalmatianCancer (18%)Genitourinary system (16%)German ShorthairCancer (27%)Musculoskeletal system (15%)Great DaneCancer (23% )Gastrointestinal tract (26%)German BoxerCancer (44%)Neurological system (18%)German German ShepherdCancer (28%)Gastrointestinal tract (15%)Doberman Cancer (26%)Cardiovascular system (17%)English BulldogCancer (20%)Respiratory tract (18%)English Cocker SpanielCancer (26%)Gastrointestinal Tract (15%)English PointerCancer (13%)Neurological System (12%)English SetterCancer (25%)Neurological System (12%)English Springer SpanielCancer (34%)Gastrointestinal system (12%)Finnish SpitzCancer (27%)Neurological system (17%)Fox TerrierCancer (24%)Cardiovascular system (16%)Golden RetrieverCancer (50%)Blood system (15%)Gordon SetterCancer (38%)Gastrointestinal tract (23%)GreyhoundCancer (22%)Musculoskeletal system (21%)Standard PoodleCancer (27%)Gastrointestinal tract (17%)Irish WolfhoundCancer (32%)Musculoskeletal system (22%)Irish Red SetterCancer (41%)Musculoskeletal system (18% )Jack Russell TerrierInjuries (20%)Neurological System (21%)KeeshondCancer (28%)Gastrointestinal tract (15%)Toy PoodleCancer (19%)Neurological system (14%)Labrador RetrieverCancer (34%)Musculoskeletal system (15%)Long-haired CollieCancer (27%)Gastrointestinal tract (12%)Lhasa ApsoCancer (17%)Neurological system (17%)MalteseCongenital diseases (10%)Cardiovascular system (21%)MastiffCancer (30%)Musculoskeletal system (18%)PugCancer (18%)Neurological system (27%)NewfoundlandCancer (20%)Cardiovascular system (24%)Norwegian ElkhoundCancer (38%)Genitourinary system (16%) PekingeseInjuries (13%)Neurological system (15%)Pyrenean mountain dogCancer (36%)Musculoskeletal system (26%)Rhodesian RidgebackCancer (37%)Neurological system (18%)RottweilerCancer (30%)Musculoskeletal system (17%)SamoyedCancer (26%)Gastrointestinal tract (13%)SchnauzerCancer (25%)Genitourinary system (15%) Scottish Terrier Cancer (48%)Genitourinary System (17%)Shar-Pei Cancer (23%)Gastrointestinal tract (20%)Shetland SheepdogCancer (30%)Urogenital system (14%)Shih TzuCancer (15%)Urogenital system (14%)Siberian HuskyCancer (30%)Gastrointestinal tract (13% )Treeing Walker CoonhoundInfectious Diseases (26%)Respiratory System (15%)VizslaCancer (36%)Respiratory System (14%)WeimaranerCancer (25%)Gastrointestinal tract (15%)Welsh Corgi CardiganCancer (22%)Neurological system (17%)Welsh Corgi PembrokeCancer (30%)Neurological system (16%)West Highland White…