AnAge entry for Canis familiaris
Classification (HAGRID: 02073)
- Taxonomy
-
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
- Species
- Canis familiaris
- Common name
- Domestic dog
Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
- IMR
- 0.02/year
- MRDT
- 3 years
- Maximum longevity
- 27 years (captivity)
- Source
- ref. 1330
- Sample size
- Large
- Data quality
- Acceptable
- Observations
Dogs descend from the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and technically are not an individual species, being often classified as /Canis lupus familiaris/. Herein, they are classified as /Canis familiaris/ for practical reasons. Dogs could prove an ideal model to study ageing as they share many of the same illnesses, medical treatments and environments that humans do. Additionally they have a well annotated genome and can be studied in their natural environment [1208].
There is considerable variation in life history among the different dog breeds, including differences in longevity. In general, smaller breeds of dogs tend to live longer and may age slower [0423], though some have argued this might be due to artificial selection for high growth rates [0726]. One study in England reported the longest-lived pure breeds were Miniature poodle, Bearded collie, Border collie and Miniature dachshund. The shortest-lived were the Dogue de Bordeaux and Great Dane. Longevity in crossbred dogs exceeded purebred dogs by 1.2 years [1141].
Dogs are considered old after they are about 12 years old, though a few can live over 20 years [0434]. There are anecdotal reports of dogs living around 30 years, including one Australian cattle dog named "Bluey" living 29.5 years. These records are unverified and the maximum longevity of dogs is currently 27 years [1330]. A Shiba Inu mix breed male called "Pusuke" was reportedly 26.7 years of age when it died, which is unconfirmed but plausible.
Older dogs are affected by a variety of degenerative conditions and age-related diseases that are also observed in humans; larger breeds are often affected by conditions that may be related to their rapid growth, such as cancer; smaller breeds can also suffer from cancer as well as from cardiac disease. Hearing loss, cataracts and senile dementia have also been observed [0981]. Neoplastic, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders have been found to be the most frequently attributed causes of death [1141]. Caloric restriction in Labrador Retrievers has been reported to increase median lifespan and improve physiological function [0521]. Similarly to humans, dogs have also been shown to have a cognitive decline and accumulation of amyloid plaques with age [1326]. Older dogs suffer from subfertility due to a decrease in sperm motility, vigour, viability and an increase in morphological defects [1328].
Aging dogs have been shown to also suffer from inflammaging, experiencing similar changes to those found in humans. Consequently to these changes, there is an increase of inflammation and in oxidative stress damage with age [1327].
Studies comparing ageing-associated differentially methylated positions (aDMPs) between mouse, dog, naked mole-rat, rhesus monkey, humpback whale and human, have shown that lifespan in these mammalian species is strongly correlated with the rate of change of methylation levels in aDMPs. Additionally, these methylation dynamics are a measure of cellular ageing [1315]. Telomere length has been shown to be a strong predictor of longevity in these animals [1329]. Furthermore, there might be a connection between extremely-aged dogs and the mechanisms around the regulation of gene transcription/translation [1330].
Life history traits (averages)
- Female sexual maturity
- 510 days
- Male sexual maturity
- 510 days
- Gestation
- 63 days
- Weaning
- Litter size
- 6 (viviparous)
- Litters per year
- Inter-litter interval
- Weight at birth
- Weight at weaning
- Adult weight
- 40,000 g
- Postnatal growth rate
- 0.0244 days-1 (from Gompertz function)
- Maximum longevity residual
- 109%
Metabolism
No information on metabolism is available.
References
- [1330] Jonas et al. (2020), A Preliminary Study to Investigate the Genetic Background of Longevity Based on Whole-Genome Sequence Data of Two Methuselah Dogs (PubMed)
- [1315] Lowe et al. (2018), Ageing-associated DNA methylation dynamics are a molecular readout of lifespan variation among mammalian species (PubMed)
- [1328] Bhanmeechao et al. (2018), Reproductive aging in male dogs: The epididymal sperm defects and expression of androgen receptor in reproductive tissues (PubMed)
- [1327] Alexander et al. (2018), Understanding How Dogs Age: Longitudinal Analysis of Markers of Inflammation, Immune Function, and Oxidative Stress (PubMed)
- [1326] Mazzatenta et al. (2017), The companion dog as a unique translational model for aging (PubMed)
- [1242] Marck et al. (2017), Age-Related Changes in Locomotor Performance Reveal a Similar Pattern for Caenorhabditis elegans, Mus domesticus, Canis familiaris, Equus caballus, and Homo sapiens (PubMed)
- [1256] Hua et al. (2016), Assessment of frailty in aged dogs (PubMed)
- [1270] Jin et al. (2016), Multiple morbidities in companion dogs: a novel model for investigating age-related disease (PubMed)
- [1264] Holder et al. (2016), An Age-Associated Decline in Thymic Output Differs in Dog Breeds According to Their Longevity (PubMed)
- [1208] Gilmore and Greer (2015), Why is the dog an ideal model for aging research? (PubMed)
- [1141] O'Neill et al. (2013), Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England (PubMed)
- [1121] Hoffman et al. (2013), Reproductive capability is associated with lifespan and cause of death in companion dogs (PubMed)
- [1329] Fick et al. (2012), Telomere length correlates with life span of dog breeds (PubMed)
- [0931] Chambers et al. (2012), White matter myelin loss in the brains of aged dogs (PubMed)
- [1136] Gomes et al. (2011), Comparative biology of mammalian telomeres: hypotheses on ancestral states and the roles of telomeres in longevity determination (PubMed)
- [1132] Fleming et al. (2011), Mortality in north american dogs from 1984 to 2004: an investigation into age-, size-, and breed-related causes of death (PubMed)
- [0981] Wolf and Austad (2010), Introduction: Lifespans and Pathologies Present at Death in Laboratory Animals
- [0872] Waters et al. (2009), Exploring mechanisms of sex differences in longevity: lifetime ovary exposure and exceptional longevity in dogs (PubMed)
- [0901] Head et al. (2009), Effects of age, dietary, and behavioral enrichment on brain mitochondria in a canine model of human aging (PubMed)
- [0758] Sutter et al. (2007), A single IGF1 allele is a major determinant of small size in dogs (PubMed)
- [0765] Greer et al. (2007), Statistical analysis regarding the effects of height and weight on life span of the domestic dog (PubMed)
- [0726] Galis et al. (2007), Do large dogs die young? (PubMed)
- [0983] Pugliese et al. (2006), Canine cognitive deficit correlates with diffuse plaque maturation and S100beta (-) astrocytosis but not with insulin cerebrospinal fluid level (PubMed)
- [0742] Miller and Austad (2006), Growth and aging: why do big dogs die young?
- [0715] Lorenzini et al. (2005), Cellular replicative capacity correlates primarily with species body mass not longevity (PubMed)
- [0787] Lawler et al. (2005), Influence of lifetime food restriction on causes, time, and predictors of death in dogs (PubMed)
- [0481] Austad (2005), Diverse aging rates in metazoans: targets for functional genomics (PubMed)
- [0199] Speakman et al. (2003), Age-related changes in the metabolism and body composition of three dog breeds and their relationship to life expectancy (PubMed)
- [0200] Washizu et al. (2003), Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in an aged dog (PubMed)
- [0521] Kealy et al. (2002), Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs (PubMed)
- [0488] Nasir et al. (2001), Telomere lengths and telomerase activity in dog tissues: a potential model system to study human telomere and telomerase biology (PubMed)
- [0486] Zaucha et al. (2001), Hematopoietic responses to stress conditions in young dogs compared with elderly dogs (PubMed)
- [0201] Gonzalez-Soriano et al. (2001), Age-related changes in the ventricular system of the dog brain (PubMed)
- [0202] Crespeau et al. (2000), Vascular and parenchymal Abeta deposition in the aging dog: correlation with behavior (PubMed)
- [0203] Torp et al. (2000), Ultrastructural evidence of fibrillar beta-amyloid associated with neuronal membranes in behaviorally characterized aged dog brains (PubMed)
- [1140] Michell (1999), Longevity of British breeds of dog and its relationships with sex, size, cardiovascular variables and disease (PubMed)
- [0018] Miller (1999), Kleemeier award lecture: are there genes for aging? (PubMed)
- [0204] Borras et al. (1999), Age-related changes in the brain of the dog (PubMed)
- [0434] Ronald Nowak (1999), Walker's Mammals of the World
- [0431] Patronek et al. (1997), Comparative longevity of pet dogs and humans: implications for gerontology research (PubMed)
- [0423] Li et al. (1996), Cellular proliferative capacity and life span in small and large dogs (PubMed)
- [0205] Coli and Marroni (1996), Dog retinal ganglion cells: a morphological and morphometrical study in aging (PubMed)
- [0206] Reul et al. (1991), Age-related changes in the dog hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system: neuroendocrine activity and corticosteroid receptors (PubMed)
- [0002] Caleb Finch (1990), Longevity, Senescence, and the Genome
- [0207] Mosier (1989), Effect of aging on body systems of the dog (PubMed)
- [0208] Dhem et al. (1988), Induced acute ischaemia in dog bones: age-related effects (PubMed)
- [0209] Gonzalez and Quadri (1988), Effects of aging on the pituitary-thyroid axis in the dog (PubMed)
- [0075] Selkoe et al. (1987), Conservation of brain amyloid proteins in aged mammals and humans with Alzheimer's disease (PubMed)
- [0210] Williams and Kelly (1984), Age-related changes in bone in the dog: calcium homeostasis (PubMed)
- [0731] Zullinger et al. (1984), Fitting sigmoid equations to mammalian growth curves
- [0436] Cutler (1979), Evolution of human longevity: a critical overview (PubMed)
- [0121] Deyl et al. (1971), Aging of the connective tissue: collagen cross linking in animals of different species and equal age (PubMed)
- [0980] Kelly Cassidy, Breed Longevity Data
External Resources
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System
- ITIS 183815
- Animal Diversity Web
- ADW account (if available)
- Encyclopaedia of Life
- Search EOL
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Entrez
- Search all databases
- Ageing Literature
- Search Google Scholar or Search PubMed
- Images
- Google Image search
- Internet
- Search Google