Healthspan vs lifespan: the years that actually matter

Two different numbers

Lifespan is simply the number of years your pet is alive. Healthspan is the part of that life in which they are active, comfortable and free of chronic disease such as arthritis, kidney disease or diabetes.

A dog that lives to fourteen but spends the last four years stiff and in pain has a long lifespan and a much shorter healthspan. Veterinary research increasingly looks at the gap between the two.

Why pets are a special case

Dogs and cats age in our homes. They share our environment, and almost everything that shapes their health is chosen by us: what they eat, how much, how they move and how often a vet sees them.

That is why large projects such as the Dog Aging Project follow tens of thousands of companion dogs. Their ageing is visible within a decade, and the choices that influence it are ours to make.

What you can influence

You cannot change your pet's genes. You can influence the factors with the strongest evidence behind them:

• Body condition: keeping your pet lean is the best-proven lever (see the next module).
• Diet quality: complete, balanced food with good animal protein.
• Movement: regular exercise that keeps muscle and joints working.
• Early detection: noticing small changes before they become big problems.