Have you wondered what a corgi lifespan or corgi life expectancy is? Corgis are wonderful pets and fortunately have a fairly good life expectancy. Better at least than that of large dogs. But not as long as some smaller dogs. Read on for the average life expectancy of a corgi and some way to help assure that your corgi lives a long and healthy life.
How Long Do Corgis Live?
The average lifespan of a corgi is between 12 and 15 years. I recently lost my heart dog Ty at age 12 and Eve is 11 1/2.
The average lifespan is also about the same for both Pembroke corgis and Cardigan Corgis. According to a 2004 survey by the UK Kennel Club, the median death age for Cardigans was 12 years, 2 months and the Pembroke 12 years and 3 months.
I have fairly commonly seen some corgis on Facebook in the age range of 15 years. I have also seen one that was 20! And then there is this corgi documented at age 21!
While corgis are prone to some genetic issues that you cannot control, such a degenerative myelopathy (DM), a disease that is similar to ALS in humans, some things can be watched for and controlled to some extent.
Top causes of corgi death
How to Increase Corgi Life Expectancy
So, how to avoid some of these issues and perhaps increase corgi life expectancy? Here are some tips.
1. Research Corgi Breeders and Choose Carefully
Because corgis are one of the primary breeds that can suffer from DM, and because they can be prone to genetic eye diseases, ask breeders about genetic testing. Genetic testing has come a long way since when I first got Eve, who has DM, and breeders now can test and know if their puppies are at risk for it and for other genetic diseases.
While a dog at risk for DM is not guaranteed to get it, and in fact only a small percentage do, breeders are increasingly taking DM into account in breeding and you can find breeders who can guarantee that your puppy will not be at risk for the disease.
So, ask breeders about their genetic testing and the types of genetic guarantees that they offer. Be very wary of a breeder that does no testing at all.
Also ask the breeder about medical history in general. Do they know if there is a history of illnesses in their line? Do they know the average lifespan of corgis that they have bred? A good breeder will take such things into account in his or her breeding program.
Check for reviews of the breeder as well. Often breeders have Facebook pages and will have reviews from puppy owners. If the breeder has a website, she or he will probably have information about their breeding practices and perhaps testimonials on there as well.
If the breeders is a member of Pembroke clubs, that can also be a good sign as it signals more personal and in depth involvement in the breed.
2. Do Not Buy From a Pet Store
Reputable corgi breeders do not sell their puppies in pet stores. Pretty much every puppy in a store is from a puppy mill.
Pet store puppies and puppy mill puppies often have a history of health problems and most likely have had no thought put into their genetic predisposition for various diseases.
3. Have rescued Corgis tested and checked by a vet
If your corgi is a rescue, take the dog to the vet for complete checkup, including blood work. You may be able to catch health problems more quickly that way.
Consider getting genetic testing done on your rescued corgi to see if you need to be on the lookout for genetic diseases. Embark (affiliate link) offers full testing that not only tests for genetic issues, but will tell you if your corgi is mixed with any other breeds and will show you any family members that have been tested. I enjoy getting new family notifications from Embark on my dogs!
4. Feed Your Corgi Healthy Food
Research the best dog food for your corgi and look into alternative diets such as raw and homecooked.
I won’t try to tell you the best diet in this post, but keep food in mind as it can be a big factor in your corgi’s health and lifespan.
Since I do get asked, I will say that I feed Primal Turkey and Sardine and Honest Kitchen (rotating between proteins) to my dogs.
5. Keep Your Dog in Shape
Keep your corgi at a healthy weight and give him or her plenty f regular exercise. Just like with humans, obesity in pets is a common cause of health problems.
6. Visit the Vet regularly
Take your corgi to the vet regularly and do blood testing regularly, particularly as your dog ages. Senior corgis may need more frequent vet visits.
Follow your vet’s advice on vaccinations and flea and tick prevention. Regular dentals as your corgi ages can also be key to preventing health problems.
Finally, if something seems “off” about your corgi, see the vet. We caught a splenic mass with my corgi Eve very early simply because she was not being herself and I asked for abdominal x-rays. She is fine now after emergency surgery to remove her spleen and it was not cancer! Having lost my Ty suddenly to a tumor rupture, I was very sensitive to that being a potential issue. In the future I plan to ask that my older dogs get annual or semi annual imagining done.
Corgi Lifespan Summary
In sum, you can expect many good years with your corgi. By exercising caution with where you get a corgi and by keeping your corgi in top shape, you can maximize the potential for a long lifespan and enjoy senior years with your healthy older corgi.