While the Cane Corso is a big, beautiful dog, many people wonder what their typical lifespan might be.
Cane Corsi, like all dogs, needs a good diet, exercise, and regular check-ups to stay healthy. On average, they live from 10 to 12 years old, depending on their health. You can help them live happily into their old age by keeping them mentally and physically stimulated and feeding them well.
That’s not all there is to it, though. There are a few health concerns to check up on regularly, and having a genetic test can also tell you some things. There are also a few environmental factors to check on. Read on to find out more.
Typical lifespan
The average lifespan of a Cane Corso is between 10 to 12 years. This is around the same average as most large breeds.
Their lifespan is also dictated by their lifestyle, diet, and amount of physical activity. A healthier dog is more likely to live longer.
High-quality dog food and regular exercise are two of the best things you can do. But emotional and mental stimulation also play a role in keeping your Cane Corso happy throughout their life.
Common health problems
Here are the common health concerns that can decrease the life expectancy of your Cane Corso:
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a common health concern for many dog breeds. It occurs when the balls and sockets between the hind legs don’t fit together correctly.
It can appear within the first six months of a Cane Corso’s life, and they may display discomfort and stiffness in the legs.
Thankfully, hip dysplasia is relatively easy to treat with corticosteroids and anti-inflammatories. However, sometimes injections and surgery are necessary.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes seizures through an electrical disturbance in the tissues. Primary epilepsy is a genetic condition inherited from the dog’s parents. Secondary epilepsy is also possible from toxins in the environment or infections.
Ectropion and Entropion
Both of these are eye disorders that are common in Cane Corsi.
Ectropion is an eye disorder common in Cane Corsi. It is when one of the lower eyelids rolls out or droops. This can come from nerve injury or corneal injury of the eye.
Entropion is another eye disorder where the eyelids roll inwards. This brings with it a lot of issues for the eyes, such as pain, conceal ulcers, perforations, and figments of the cornea.
Skin Allergies
Skin allergies are prevalent in Cane Corsi. These can cause various skin issues and disorders, such as Pyoderma, Elbow Hygroma, Skin Skin Dermatitis, and Chin Folliculitis. The skin allergy most common to Cane Corsi is Demodectic Mange, affecting up to 37% of Cane Corsi.
Gastric Torsion
Gastric Torsion is a digestive system disorder related to bloat. It happens when the stomach fills up with a mixture of gases and fluids, usually from high activity levels right after eating. This can cause the stomach to twist inside the abdomen, leading to dangerous conditions that may even require surgery.
This is just a list of some of the more common problems, but other issues can arise. If anything looks really amiss with your Cane Corso, it might be time to call a vet.
Many factors can impact the lifespan of a Cane Corso; we explore 9 things you must know!:
Cane Corsi breeding and genetics
Genetic conditions such as epilepsy, susceptibility to hip dysplasia, and entropion are all health concerns for this breed. They can all be checked by organizing genetic health testing.
You can check with your breeder if the dog’s parents have anything problematic in their medical history you should be aware of. If they can’t provide you with any information, that could be a sign something is amiss.
Healthy diet
A healthy diet can help prolong the lifespan of a Cane Corso. Their diet should consist of food high in protein and relatively low in fat.
All nutrients matter, so make sure the food is well-balanced. In addition, they are a breed that’s prone to obesity, so it’s important to watch their weight whenever switching their food.
This includes when you are changing from puppy food to adult food, which should be balanced differently.
For calories, 20 per pound per day is a good rule of thumb for large breeds. Joint health will be a concern, so look for food that promotes good joint health.
Regular Exercise
Cane Corsi are an active breed and need lots of exercise to stay healthy. Since they are a breed with dense muscles, they can’t be expected to run miles, but they are working dogs.
So you can expect them to be able to do various tasks, plus play around for a long time before getting tired out.
Generally speaking, they should be getting around two hours of exercise per day. That can include walks and playtime. Short training sessions can also help with this. Puzzle games are great for Cane Corsi as they love mental stimulation.
Receiving proper Veterinary and Health Care
Getting regular check-ups is key to your dog’s overall health. Their hips and eyes are especially susceptible to problems, so if something seems to be going wrong with either of these areas, be sure to get it checked out by a vet.
At home, health care, including their diet, exercise, and regular dental hygiene, will play a big role in their overall lifespan.
Brushing their teeth
Brushing your dog’s teeth is the most effective way to prevent dental disease and tooth decay. Not only are dental bills for dogs expensive, but their dental health can have an effect on their physical health too.
Many dogs don’t enjoy having their teeth brushed, so don’t get discouraged when it’s challenging the first few times. With a bit of positive training, they should get used to it in no time.
Also, consider getting dental chew treats to help with their teeth cleaning. These help to clean plaque more regularly than just teeth brushing and are usually easiest to administer periodically.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors can accelerate degenerative joint disease in dogs. Hip dysplasia is the most common of these, but elbow dysplasia can also occur.
Allergies, fleas, and ticks are also problems that occur through the environment. So be careful if it is known that there’s a lot of fleas or ticks in the area. Also, watch out for allergies that can affect your Cane Corso.
Environmental factors can also include diet and obesity problems, which can harm your dog’s heart health along with straining their joints further.
In addition, when a Cane Corso is young, their joints are still developing, and so it’s important not to put too much pressure on them through rigorous running.
Appropriate Mental & Emotional Stimulation
Beyond the physical needs that are met from exercise, Cane Corsi also need mental stimulation.
They get this by smelling things on their walk, so make sure you allow them some time to explore and use their brains while outside.
Other possibilities include learning tricks, practicing obedience training, or training for dog competitions. You can also buy puzzles and toys which stimulate their minds.
Socialization with other dogs and people
Early socialization is beneficial for a Cane Corso later in their life. Exposing them to other people and dogs before they are 16 weeks old will help them not be as nervous around new people and dogs when they grow up.
So-called “puppy parties” are one way to do this, but you can also walk them around and have them meet others as a puppy when they are still small.
Obedience training will also help to make sure you can get in lots of socialization without a problem.
As they grow older, you’ll want to continue socializing to make sure you keep the chances of the aggression down and that they don’t get too uncomfortable around others. Make sure to bring your treat bag on walks to help with the training when there are opportunities for socialization.
Affection and companionship
Cane Corsi are amazing watch dogs for the whole family. They’ll show lots of affection and companionship to their loved ones. But, training is essential to avoid them becoming too aggressive to those outside the family.
Companionship needs to be balanced with socialization for the healthiest overall mental health of the Cane Corso.
Cane Corsi can be very sensitive to even small signs of danger, so training them not to be so jumpy is crucial. Regardless, they are very loyal companions and all they want is to please their owner. This temperament has been bred into them for their long history.
Final thoughts
The Cane Corso is an amazing dog that has a decent lifespan, typically between 10-12 years. That’s a long time to keep them happy and healthy. Following the guidelines above should help keep them on track to living a long life with you.
Watch out for their diet, exercise, and get regular health check-ups, and the rest should follow from just being an attentive pet owner!
