why do dogs die before people do?

Question

please answer i am about to die

Answer 1

Your question is really about lifespans. Why is a dog's lifespan so much shorter than a human's?

This is all about genetics. While all species on this planet share quite a bit of similar DNA, the differences are huge. These small changes in genes are what determines the species, the size, the hair color, the eye color, and sometimes, even the lifespan. These small changes are also why a dog cannot mate with a monkey - the DNA will not mix.

A dog's DNA is designed such that a dog will rapidly mature. Note that it takes a full year, on average, for most human babies to walk and even longer before they are steady and can walk freely on their own. In contrast, some animals can walk mere moments after birth. A puppy is bouncing around very shortly after birth. A human mother may nurse her child for 1 to 2 years on average. A dame will nurse her pups for ~6 weeks. All small dogs and most mid-sized dogs are fully grown within one year of birth. A very large dog may take 18 months. In contrast, most humans continue growing until their late teens or even early 20's! A dog can reproduce sometimes a mere 6 months after birth, but definitely by 1 year. In contrast, humans don't reach puberty until 11-14 years of age.

In other words, human DNA has us maturing at a far slower rate. As such, we are designed to live longer. An average dog will live 10-14 years. If a human only lived that long, he/she might not even reach puberty! In other words, nature designed humans such that we could live long enough to reproduce several times and properly care for our young. The same is true for a dog. But given how much faster dogs mature, their DNA also encodes for a shorter lifespan. If a dog lived 70 years, but was able to mature at 1 year, that would mean too many litters of pups! Not only would that mean a ridiculous overpopulation of pups, but it may also mean a lot of in-breeding and less selectivity. Nature likes to have the DNA mixed up. This is part of evolution - it allows for a stronger species. By living too long, one genre of the species may dominate - and it might be a weak one, meaning it could be easily wiped out in a time of catastrophe. Shorter lifespans mean more mixing and ultimately a better species.

This is also true for humans. If we lived too long, we could actually hurt ourselves more than help.

Of course, nature took care of that too. Some scientists argue we could live to 120 years or more. But nature has supplied us with teeth that won't last that long. One could wear dentures, but nature counters that too. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's weren't dominant centuries ago. Why? Because most humans didn't live long enough to even encounter those illnesses. People then died due to infections. Once we created vaccines and anti-bacterial medicines, our lifespans grew. But then came cancer and heart problems and increased dementia.

Bottom line: As heart-breaking as it is to lose a cherished pet (and I know, because I lost my dear friend just last year, at 13 years, 9 months of age), it is part of nature's design.

I wish you the best during these difficult times. When your beloved pet does pass, please go to petloss.com (link below). They have a wonderful forum there where you can post about your pet, sharing stories, your grief, even pictures. The forum is heavily moderated, so no negative posts allowed. And you'll be surrounded by those who fully understand you. That site helped me a lot last year (and still does).

Edited to add one thing: The person below me wrote that 14 dog years equals 2 human years. This is incorrect on many, many levels. First, the usual assumption is 2 dog years is equal to 14 human years, not the reverse. Second, most dogs are the equivalent to 14 years old after just one year. Some argue that a dog may be equivalent to a 21 year old person after one year! This is because, as I wrote, dogs are often fully mature by one year, just as people are usually fully mature by 21. As dogs age, that "seven year rule" (1 human year = 7 dog years) is a bit more true, but not initially.

Answer 2

Not all dogs die first....
I have an old doggies home. I take in old dogs who's mommas and poppas have died before them and nobody wanted them.....so they come here.
I really like it. They are just kick back and eat and sleep and have little accidents on the floor hahaha
But, I wouldn't do anything else but this.

Answer 3

Because a human's life span on average is about 70 years (don't know for sure). A dogs is like 15. You do the math.

Answer 4

I don't know but it sucks. My dog is 13 and probably doesn't have too many more summers. The Vikings used to kill the dogs of a man who died and creamated them together so they would be with one another in the next life. I kind of want to do that to myself when my dog passes on so we can be together. I don't want him to be somewhere scared and alone. I need someone to toss me on the funeral pyre though.

Answer 5

Dogs are 14 years old in dog years, but only 2 in people years

Answer 6

Why is there lifespan shorter? I do not know, but will keep checking your question. Maybe someone will give a good answer.

Answer 7

Dogs have a shorter life span than humans, that is just nature. sorry you are dying.

Answer 8

They don't always, my dog's previous owner died before the dog did.

Answer 9

shorter life spain

Answer 10

Because their lifespans are far shorter.