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Top 10 longest-living dog breeds

Your small pup may have an advantage when it comes to life expectancy

Today we learned the sad news that Maggie, an adorable dog from Australia has passed away at the age of 30. Although her owner no longer has the paperwork to prove her age, he promises she is 30 years old, making her the world's oldest dog.

While Maggie's breed isn't known for sure, there are a few breeds that are known for their long life expectancy.

Breeds that reach 10 to 25 pounds as adults tend to live the longest, according to Dr. Jon Woodman, a small-animal vet in the Twin Cities. “Generally small breeds live longer, but it seems that doesn’t hold true for the toy sizes,” Woodman says. “I don't think I can give you a specific reason why smaller breeds live longer, but I would suspect a lower incidence of genetically determined disease and stronger organs,” he adds.

So without further ado, here’s a list of the longest-living dog breeds:

1. Chihuahuas

Image: Statigram

Life span:  18 years

Besides their size, one of the reasons Chihuahuas live that long is that they’re not prone to a lot of genetic illnesses. For example, the list of most common genetic disorders to affect Chihuahuas include luxating patella (or floating kneecap), hypoglycemia and teeth issues — none of which is fatal if addressed properly.

Next: More top 10 longest-living dog breeds: Lhasa apsos

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