Want your dog to live a longer life? Here are 6 science-backed tips
We asked scientists from the Dog Aging Project for practical tips to improve your dog’s lifespan—from what to feed them to exactly how often they need a walk.
What if walking your dog every day could extend their life? What if playing games with them, brushing their teeth, or taking them to the park could give them a few more years?
These are the questions scientists at the Dog Aging Project, a scientific endeavor investigating healthy aging in dogs, are racing to answer. While the researchers eventually hope to be able to extend a dog’s lifespan using cutting-edge longevity drugs, they’re uncovering plenty of simple, practical things you can do to help keep your pup spry in the meantime.
Audrey Ruple, a veterinary epidemiologist at Virginia Tech who is involved with the project, isn’t surprised people are increasingly determined to help their dogs live as long as possible. In a relatively short period, society has moved away from chaining dogs in the backyard to co-sleeping with them, pushing them around in strollers, and hand-feeding them a home-cooked dinner.
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“As humans have become individually bonded to their dogs, we’re thinking about their lifespan in the same way we think about our own,” Ruple says.
While certain factors, such as genetics and environmental exposures, are out of our control, there are a handful of things we can do to help our dogs live longer.
1. Give them plenty of exercise—and be consistent
By and large, one of the most effective things you can do to help your pup live a long, healthy live is to exercise them regularly. Kate Creevy, a professor at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and researcher with the Dog Aging Project, says the body of evidence overwhelmingly shows that physical activity is linked to better cognitive health, and fewer owner-reported medical diagnoses. That’s because exercise lowers rates of obesity, which is linked to a higher risk of diseases like diabetes, osteoarthritis, urinary incontinence, and impaired respiratory function that can shorten a dog’s life.
As for how much activity your dog needs? The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention recommends at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity a day but the amount largely depends on your buddy’s breed and disposition. Sporting and herding breeds, like heelers and spaniels, need far more activity than, say, a French bulldog or Maltese.
The key, no matter the breed, is to be consistent. Weekend warriors—dogs that are largely sedentary then do short bursts of excessive activity like an intense hike or long run on the weekends—can experience a whole host of health issues. “Just like people, that kind of intermittent extreme activity is more likely to cause injuries,” says Creevy.
Walking may be the most obvious solution, but you can also jog, hike, swim, enroll them in agility classes, or play fetch, frisbee, and tug-of-war. If you’re time-crunched, hide treats in your home and encourage your dog to look for them or go on a quick 10-minute trot around the block. “The best exercise is the one you and your dog will do,” Creevy says.
2. Help your dog make friends
Dog Aging Project researchers have further discovered that social connectedness can have a profound impact on a dog’s well-being. Dogs that had more human and animal friends (cats, birds, and rodents included) had fewer owner-reported medical diagnoses like osteoarthritis, allergies, and gastrointestinal diseases, a 2023 study found.
These friendships stimulate dogs and keep them cognitively engaged, according to Creevy. “Dogs are a social species, just like people,” she says.
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The findings add to older research showing that dogs living in enriched environments (think: stimulating toys and lots of playtime) were mentally sharper later in life. Those researchers posited that enrichment promotes the generation of new neural pathways that keep a canine’s brain healthy and adaptable, Creevy says.
The takeaway? Play games with your dog, take them on excursions, and let them hang out with their furry friends if they get along with other animals. “If you do these kinds of things throughout their life, you might be able to postpone cognitive decline in your dog later on,” Creevy says.
3. Get your dog neutered or spayed
Studies have consistently shown that dogs who are spayed or neutered live longer than dogs who are not.
Why? In female dogs, spaying dramatically reduces the risk of mammary cancer and eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. In males, neutering prevents testicular cancer and lowers the risk of prostate disorders. Neutered dogs also tend to be less aggressive and less likely to roam in pursuit of a mate, ultimately reducing the odds they’d be hit by a car or fight with another animal.
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If you adopt your dog from a shelter, they’ve likely already been spayed or neutered so you may not need to think about this tip, but vets generally recommend getting your dog fixed by the time they are skeletally mature, says Creevy. Again, the timing varies between breeds so the best bet is to check in with your vet and get their input.
4. Follow the science—not trends—when feeding them
From kibble to home-cooked meals and raw food to freeze-dried, there are numerous options when it comes to feeding your dog. But many carry a range of health risks.
Raw foods, for example, may contain microorganisms that cause infections like salmonella. Home-cooked meals often don’t meet the protein, fat, and micronutrient needs of dogs and have been linked to higher rates of gastrointestinal and renal diseases. And excess table scraps, especially fatty ones, can lead to life-threatening issues like hemorrhagic gastroenteritis and pancreatitis, says Erik Olstad, assistant professor of primary care at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
The biggest issue vets see is overfeeding. People often underestimate how much they feed their pups, says Olstad. Obesity can trigger a cascade of negative health effects—it accelerates arthritis and joint diseases, makes it harder for dogs to recover from injuries, and contributes to kidney and liver problems. Obese dogs may lose the ability to exercise, and with it, all those associated health benefits. “It becomes a vicious cycle,” says Creevy.
That’s why obesity has been linked to a shorter lifespan to the tune of about 2.5 years less, per some estimates, while having a lean body mass is linked to a longer lifespan. “That’s something we see across all breeds, weights, and life stages,” says Ruple.
Like all things, your dog’s nutritional needs depend on their age, breed, activity levels, and personality. Olstad’s advice? Keep it simple. Both Creevy and Olstad recommend choosing a pet food that meets the nutritional standards established by AAFCO, an organization that provides assessment and standards for animal feed. Look for AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements on the packaging, which guarantees the food is complete and balanced.
5. Go to the vet at least once a year—and more as they age
Scheduling routine exams for your pet can help you catch diseases earlier, start treatment sooner, and improve your dog’s long-term health outcomes and lifespan.
A 2023 paper found dogs regularly evaluated by a vet were 30 percent less likely to develop chronic diseases. It also found that vaccinated dogs had 40 percent fewer cases of transmittable diseases, while access to flea, worm, and tick medications cut the risk of parasitic infections by about 35 percent.
How often should you take your dog to the vet? After the puppy visits are through, dogs should (ideally) see a vet once a year then twice when they reach their senior years.
6. Brush their teeth
Dental care, too, has been linked to reduced mortality rate in dogs. Dental diseases can trigger inflammation in the body, cause life-threatening infections, and exacerbate preexisting health conditions like heart disease, according to Olstad. “It’s like putting gasoline on a fire that’s already present,” he says.
Daily brushing is ideal, but even a handful of quick swipes across their teeth a few times a week is beneficial. “It is not a heavy lift compared to how we have to brush our own teeth,” Creevy says.
The goal isn’t to make your dog live forever. Rather, it’s to maximize your dog’s health span — the length of a dog’s life they’re active and disease-free. “An animal can live to 20 but if those last three years are hell for that dog? That’s not what we’re looking for,” Olstad says. “The most important thing is for them to live as long and healthy as possible.”
