Diverse breeds, diverse lifespans

Importance: This review summarizes current knowledge on factors influencing canine lifespan, focusing on genetic, environmental, and epigenetic elements.Dogs exhibit extraordinary variability in lifespan, uniquely shaped by their evolutionary history, domestication, breed diversification, and close association with human living environments.Exploring these determinants is crucial for understanding aging mechanisms applicable to human health.Observations: Canine lifespan variability primarily results from breed-specific morphological differences, human-related environmental factors, and epigenetic changes.Body size significantly influences lifespan, with smaller breeds typically living longer due to slower aging rates.Genetic studies highlight the insulin-like growth factor 1 pathway and oxidative stress mechanisms as key contributors.Artificial selection has amplified breed-specific health vulnerabilities, particularly evident in extreme morphological traits.Additionally, environmental factors such as social support significantly impact canine health and longevity.Conclusions and Relevance: Dogs are valuable models for aging research due to their genetic diversity, environmental parallels with humans, and natural incidence of age-related diseases.Advances in genomics and epigenetics have clarified breed-specific aging patterns, particularly through epigenetic clocks.However, data limitations remain a challenge, necessitating standardized international efforts for comparative aging research.Clinically, interventions like optimized diet, regular exercise, preventive healthcare, and tailored reproductive management significantly improve canine health and longevity, offering insights applicable to human aging.