How Long Do Maltipoos Live? (Lifespan Increase)

One of the greatest fears of any dog owner is the uncertainty of losing their pet. Suppose you know about your Maltipoo’s average lifespan AND how to keep them healthy. In that case, you can give your pet a wholesome life ahead. 

Some factors can increase or decrease the lifespan of your Maltipoo. For instance, diet and meal plans, health maintenance, and inherited diseases can influence your Maltipoo’s life. 

Let’s find out the basic lifespan and discover how you can increase your Maltipoo’s longevity. 

How Long Do Maltipoos Live?

The average lifespan for a Maltipoo is 12 to 15 years of age. Sometimes, Maltipoos have even lived for 17+ years. 

•  Mini and Toy Maltipoo live longer than larger sizes
•  Some sources report that female Maltipoos have a longer lifespan, but more research needs to be conducted as these reports are largely anecdotal

Maltipoos are a mixed breed of Poodles and Maltese dogs. Both of these breeds are smaller AND generally healthy (though you can have larger Poodles).

The good news here is that smaller dogs have a better lifespan compared to bigger dogs (giant breeds like the Bernedoodle for example have much shorter lifespans). So, as both the Poodle and Maltese dogs have a healthy and great lifespan, you cannot expect any less from Maltipoos. 

However, if you want your Maltipoo to live longer and stay more robust, you need to consider the following. 

Factors That Can Shorten a Dog’s Life

No matter which dog breed it is, certain factors can definitely shorten your dog’s life, such as:

1. Obesity Kills Dogs

One of the primary reasons why dogs’ lifespan gets shorter is because it is common for dogs to become obese and develop severe health problems. 

It is because many pet owners aren’t aware of the weight limit of the dog. So, it becomes necessary to know the proper weight for your dog’s breed, size, and age. 

Over 30% (and some estimate 50%+) of dogs in the USA are obese or overweight.

Additionally, many owners give a lot of treats to their dogs, even for little things. You need to keep in mind that you should only give them treats when they accomplish something and always keep track of how much they have consumed in a day. 

A great general guideline is that no more than 10% of the Maltipoo diet should be calories from treats.

2. Bad Nutrition and Neglecting Exercise Time

When you give your dog food that may not be rich in nutrients or contains many additional flavors and colors, you may be risking your dog’s life. 

You must look out for healthy and nutrient-rich food. You also need to keep track of the meal timings to ensure a healthy diet plan. 

Keep in mind that you need to keep your dog active to protect them from obesity and other disorders along with rich food. Neglecting your dog’s walking and exercising time may affect them badly. 

Maltipoo are indeed small, but still will most likely need a short daily walk.

3. Irregular Vet Visits

It is always necessary to visit your dog’s Vet. For many dogs, this will be twice per year or more.  Health checks are often neglected due to time and monetary cost. This can impact your Maltipoos lifespan. 

Irregular vet visits can get very harmful to your Maltipoo. As dogs cannot speak up, they may experience some symptoms, they may not be able to tell you. However, by the time you realize, it may get too late. 

4. Ignoring Their Mental Health 

Along with physical health, taking care of your dog’s mental health is also essential. 

Your Maltipoo may be experiencing feelings of anxiety, stress, and fear during specific situations. So, if you notice any behavioral changes in your dog, you need to understand their problem rather than ignoring them. These can present in Maltipoo as growling when being held, or just by straight up aggression.

Remember that mental health problems may lead to physical ones. 

Certain other factors contribute to lesser longevity in dogs, such as isolating them from other dogs, letting them go anywhere unsupervised, etc. 

Factors That Can Increase Your Dog’s Lifespan 

On the other hand, if you take care of a few things, you can increase your dog’s lifespan, such as: 

1. Healthy and Controlled Diet 

You can control your dog from getting obese or sick by giving them nutrient-rich and healthy food. Most Maltipoo thrive with a primarily dry food diet with healthy natural ingredients.

Along with it, you need to make sure that you don’t overfeed them and only feed them during the dedicated mealtime. 

2. Regular Check-ups and Vaccinations

You need to make sure you take your dog to the Vet at least once or twice a year. 

Moreover, don’t forget to get your dog vaccinated to keep them safe from deadly viruses such as Adenovirus.

3. Exercising and Socializing 

Each day, make sure you have at least 30 minutes of active play with your Maltipoo. This may include anything such as walking or indoor dog games. 

Exercising can reduce various problems such as obesity and cardiac diseases in your dog. It can allow you to teach some commands and control to your dog too. 

Lastly, it can also help in letting your dog socialize with other dogs. 

This was all about a general dog. Now, what about Maltipoos? Well, the information given below is specifically for Maltipoos. So, continue reading. 

Most Common Fatal Causes for Maltipoos

Some of the most common fatal causes for both Maltipoo puppies and dogs are:

For Maltipoo Puppies These are the Causes of Short Lifespan:

1. Trauma 

Trauma by accident is one of the most common reasons for death in Maltipoo’s. 

Accidents such as being stepped on, dropped, fallen down, and similar things could result in fatal injuries. 

The one secret killer of Maltipoo dogs is motor vehicles. That’s why you need to always keep them on a leash and train them to follow your commands.  

2. Congenital Diseases

This includes the health problems that exist with the puppy since birth. 

Liver shunts should be your top concern since it is the most common fatal congenital disease in puppies. Maltipoo puppies are bred from healthy parent breeds so this is not common.

These kinds of issues present obviously and early – and your Vet will be all over this during initial puppy visits.

3. Infection

Viral infections can get fatal for young puppies since their immunity is not strong enough to face the disease. Their vaccination is not done yet. 

Common infections include leptospirosis, parvovirus, distemper, parasitic diseases, and other bacterial infections. 

For Adult Maltipoo:

1. Heart Diseases 

This is the number one leading cause of death in adult Maltipoos. Among all the heart diseases, mitral valve disease is the most common and fatal one for Maltipoos. 

2. Cancer

Cancer is one of the scariest and most fatal diseases in dogs. The likelihood of developing deadly cancer rises dramatically after the age of 10

3. Congenital Diseases

Congenital diseases are another severe reason for the premature death of Maltipoos. 

They include hydrocephalus, Colitis, liver shunts, and more. 

How to Help Your Maltipoo Live Longer 

Here are a few tips to help you increase the lifespan of your lovely Maltipoo:

1. Vaccination

Vaccinations are vital for the health and wellbeing of your Maltipoo. You need to make sure they take every single one of their vaccination shots. 

In case you live in an area with a lot of wildlife around, you need to check with your Vet for the leptospirosis vaccine.

Additionally, never take your puppy out in public for at least 14 days before their last vaccine shot. 

You can also talk with your Vet about booster shots. They will decide whether your Maltipoo needs them or not based on the titer test and the number of antibodies in the dog’s blood. 

2. Avoid Cheap Food

Food is the most expensive thing you will spend your money on as a dog parent. That’s why a lot of people resort to cheap options. However, choosing natural, high-quality food can be a game-changer for your dog’s health. 

Such premium food options will not have chemicals that may cause cancer and congenital diseases for your dog. 

So, you should choose the best food for your Maltipoo that you can afford. 

3. Take the Necessary Measures 

Since trauma is one of the leading causes of death for puppy Maltipoos, you should take all the necessary measures to avoid serious injuries. 

You need to carry your puppy carefully all the time to prevent injuries from falling down. 

Warn everyone around the house, especially new visitors, that you have a small dog at home. In that case, they will stay cautious and not step on the puppy accidentally. 

When you go out for a car ride, always ensure that your puppy is buckled up very well. Remember to always connect the inner buckle to the harness instead of the collar. 

If you have children, teach them the correct dog handling techniques. Puppies are at higher risk of falling down when they are in children’s hands. 

4. Don’t Forget Playtime 

This should be the easiest and most fun part of the list. Exercising and playing with your Maltipoo is critical for long and healthy life. 

Take your dog out for a walk regularly every day to prevent a lot of diseases. This will also ensure that your dog’s heart will stay healthy. 

5. Filter the Water

A lot of areas have poor-quality tap water that contains a lot of carcinogenic agents and various toxins. 

Make sure you and your dog drink clean water. There are a lot of affordable water filter options out there to choose from. 

Final Thoughts

Every dog parent wants their dog to stay around for as long as possible. Fortunately, you can increase their life span and avoid premature death with a few easy tips. 

So, follow this guide to help your dog lead a happy and healthy life!