Pudgy dogs die more than two-and-a-half years earlier than pets of a healthy weight, a study of 20 years of veterinary records has shown.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool examined the lifespan of 50,000 dogs from 12 popular breeds taken to 900 Banfield Pet Hospitals in the US between 1994 and 2015. They discovered that in all breeds being overweight reduced longevity, from a minimum of five months in German Shepherds to two years and six months for male Yorkshire Terriers.

Dogs that are overweight are more likely to suffer problems such as joint disease, breathing issues, and cancer, as well as having a poorer quality of life, which could impact lifespan, researchers believe.

Source: Fat dogs could die up to two years, six months earlier than healthy pets