The animal abandonment is a drama faced by many dogs and also suffered by those of us who consider ourselves lovers of these animals, although unfortunately we do not have all the necessary resources to eradicate this situation.
A stray dog is still man's best friend, but in exchange, he has been deprived of our company, good food, the necessary veterinary care and the social environment he requires to be happy.
We do not have a miraculous tool to end this lack of humanity, but it is possible to raise awareness about this situation if we ask ourselves How long does a stray dog live? ? In this AnimalWised article we try to offer you an indicative answer.
Breed and size influence longevity
There are numerous factors that determine the life expectancy of a dog, although for now we are going to refer to two of them, which, although they are not linked to abandonment, must be taken into account as well.
It is evident that many dogs have been treated as toys and not as living beings, what does this mean? That on the street now we not only find mestizo dogs, but purebred dogs that have been bought on a whim without taking into account that this fact entailed a Big responsibility.
Based on this devastating situation, we can differentiate that stray dogs can have one life expectancy or another depending on their breed and size:
- Large, purebred dogs live fewer years.
- Small and mongrel dogs are likely to live longer.
A life expectancy shortened by various diseases
Stray dogs live in a situation where it is not possible for them to enjoy good he alth, they are very susceptible to suffering the following diseases:
- Leptospirosis: This is a disease that affects the kidneys, can cause kidney failure and death, and is also transmissible to humans.
- Distemper: It is only transmitted between dogs and does not have a specific treatment to apply. It affects the he alth of the digestive and respiratory systems.
- Rabies: This disease is deadly and can also be transmitted to people and cats.
- Fleas and ticks: The presence of these parasites is very common in stray dogs, in addition to this, it is possible that ticks act as vectors of serious diseases.
- Mange: This is a disease caused by a mite that greatly reduces the quality of life of the dog and can cause dermatological disorders of high gravity.
The presence of these diseases, which are very common in stray dogs, dramatically decreases their longevity. Their situation of abandonment brings them inevitably closer to death.
How long does a stray dog live?
There is no single answer to this question, since, for example, a dog born on the street may not even survive his puppyhood, while other dogs may be abandoned when they are adults and have the good fortune to be adopted by a good human family that is able to restore their he alth.
On other occasions the dog lives on the street but in an urban area and obtaining food is easier for him, on other occasions, this same situation can lead to him being run over.
We know that you don't have the solution to end all the problems that stray dogs suffer, but surely something, no matter how small, you can do, even if it's just create awareness.
So what are you waiting for? Please do it.
