How Long Do Border Collies Live: 6 Things To Consider

Border collies have a long life span, but the question is how long do border collies live, what affects their lifespan and how do you ensure your border collie gets a good life!

All these questions and more are what we will be discussing in this post, so sit tight and continue reading.

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How Long Do Border Collies Live

With constant regular medical check-ups, good dog food, and basic care, a healthy border collie may expect to live for 12 to 16 years or longer on average.

Border collies are long-living dogs if cared for, this is where you as the owner steps in.

For a border collie to be able to live to a certain age or live longer there are lots of activities involved which we will be discussing.

There are three major factors that influence how long your border collie lives which include:

Quality of dog food they eat.
Genetics factors.
Illnesses (this can be corrected with regular medical check-ups).

Outside these three factors there are other factors but first, let me explain how to increase the life span of a border collie.

How to extend the lifespan of border collies

Here are some typical methods for extending the life of a border collie:

1. Feed your border collie high-quality dog food

High-quality dog food is one of the most important factors in a border collie’s life.

Poor nutrition leads to poor health which in turn leads to shorter life expectancy.

Providing high-quality food to border collies is a simple method to help them live longer lives.

Your border collie needs nutritional food since poor nutrition is one of the leading causes of health problems in dogs.

Ascertain that they eat a diet high in protein, vitamins, and minerals.

You may always ask your veterinarian for guidance on the best meals for your border collie at any age.

Your border collie can eat both dry and wet food since they are both nutritious. But if you have some cash go towards a wet diet.

2. Make frequent medical appointments

When you initially got your Yorkie, make sure he had all of the necessary vaccines and was up to date.

Make your pet’s annual checkups a high priority. This aids in the early diagnosis of possible problems and the provision of preventative treatment.

The best method to be informed about your Yorkie’s health is to take her to the veterinarian for regular exams.

Regular medical examinations will assist in the early detection of any potential health issues, allowing your Yorkie to enjoy a longer life.

3. Certain human foods should be avoided

Border collies are often fed without their owners’ knowledge from their plates.

While it’s a kind gesture, not all foods are suitable for your border collie.

Excessive human food consumption might cause gastrointestinal issues in your border collie, shortening its lifespan.

Follow a skilled veterinarian’s feeding recommendations to the letter.

If you realize your border collie has a health problem, take care of it right away.

Here are human foods to avoid:

Garlic
Onion
Chocolate
Avocado
Candy
Salt
Alcohol, etc.

4. Keep your border collie away from stress and anxiety

Border collies are loyal pets who like spending time with their owners.

A border collie may get unhappy or develop separation anxiety if left alone for a lengthy amount of time.

Your border collie’s life may be cut short due to stress and sadness.

As a consequence, you may be able to extend the life of your border collie by avoiding too much stress.

To keep your border collie happy and active, remember to love and care for them.

You may help your border collie live longer by providing adequate care and attention and avoiding all forms of stress and anxiety.

5. Keep your border collie hydrated

Dehydration is a problem in border collies that some owners contribute to by not making sure their pups have enough and clean water.

Dehydration can limit the lifespan of your border collie by generating health issues that can be avoided.

Place clean water where your border collie can see it to ensure that he or she has access to it.

Dehydration can cause shedding, internal organ damage, and dry skin, all of which are health problems that can be avoided.

6. Provide exercise and mental stimulation

Regular exercise and mental stimulation activities are one of the most important things in the life of every border collie, this is because they are working dogs.

If your border collie eats a well-balanced diet, exercises frequently, and receives adequate cerebral stimulation, he or she will live longer.

Regular movement and mental stimulation activities help Border Collies’ heart muscles pump more efficiently.

Exercise is beneficial to Border Collies because it reduces stress, increases endorphins, and helps them control their emotions.

Read more: 13 Ways On How To Tire Out a Border Collie.

Factors affecting border collie life span

The following are some of the most common factors that impact a border collie’s lifespan:

1. Poor nutrition

If a border collie is fed a bad diet, his or her lifespan is drastically reduced.

Therefore, I recommend that you speak with your veterinarian about getting the correct diet.

Keep in mind that the food you give your border collie pups is not the same as the diet you feed an adult or senior border collie.

Every stage of life necessitates the usage of a certain meal, which a veterinarian should prescribe.

A poor diet causes border collies to develop adverse health issues, which may lead to their deaths.

2. Genetic variations

The longevity of a Border collie, like that of any other living species, is affected in part by inherited factors.

If the parents of the border collie puppy live to be elderly, the youngster will very definitely do the same.

Diseases like heart disease and asthma, as well as genetics, can unfortunately be passed down to puppies.

These disorders, which are handed down from parents to puppies, have a substantial impact on a border collie’s lifetime.

This is why we advocate purchasing or adopting a border collie from a reputable breeder.

Read more: 11 Common Signs A Border Collie Is Dying.

3. Absence of medical check-ups

Border collies are unable to communicate when they are unwell. Border collies are notorious for hiding their bad emotions.

When a border collie owner notices something is wrong with their dog, it is typically too late.

This increases your chances of spotting problems early enough to adequately handle them.

Ensure that your border collie has had all of his or her vaccinations.

Make yearly checkups for your pet a top priority. This assists in the early detection of potential issues and the provision of preventative care.

4. Illnesses

Border collies are known to suffer a variety of health problems, the most of which will shorten their lives.

Progressive retinal degeneration, urinary tract infections, Polycystic Kidney Disease, and other diseases are among the most common health issues.

Border collie also has gastrointestinal and cancer issues, as well as urinary tract infections and gum disorders.

Regular medical check-ups will help early dictation.

Read more: 10 Common Senior Border Collie Problems.

5. Poor living conditions

Border collies on the loose are in more risk than border collies living in a safe and hygienic environment.

There are several reasons why you should never leave your border collie unsupervised outside.

Traffic accidents, pollution, parasites, infections, and animal assaults are all factors that affect how long they live.

Allowing your border collie to spend too much time outdoors without supervision might put him or her in danger.

They might be bitten by dogs or other animals, ingest poison, or suffer from various illnesses that shorten their lives.

6. Fluctuations in hormone

A neutered border collie is more likely to have a healthy and happy life, which may lead to a longer longevity.

Because a non-neutered border collie has greater hormonal fluctuations than a neutered border collie, this is valid.

The reproductive needs of border collies are met by neutering them, which eliminates any difficulties associated with reproduction that might shorten their lifespan.