Poodle.....Small poodles

Question
We have tried to find some information as to what is the Average age Poodles usually live.     Our poodle is 15 years old and lately is having problems...seems like his legs freeze up and he collapses......   Would appreciate knowing as to the life-span of small poodles as we have a pup and a human that are very attached to each other.    Thank you

Answer
Hello Marilyn,
It is really hard to tell how old a dog will live in this day and age.  20 years ago, you would see dogs living to a ripe old age, but with chemicals in our water, growth hormones in the food, and the many enviromental factors our pets are now facing; plus taking genetics into account, its very hard to determine just what age our dogs will live to.  Typically, the smaller the size of the dog, the longer their typical lifespan.  But with proper care/good vet care, healthy food, and knowing your dogs family background, you can help increase your dogs lifespan.

Your dog sounds like he could be having some issues with either muscle spasams or arthritis.  You didn't say when this happens, whether its when he first gets up or after he moves around a bit.  If its when he first gets up it sounds more like arthritis, and if its after he has moved around abit, then it could be muscle strain or soreness.  If it gets bad, you can try medicine such as Tramadol or Prednisone.  

The typical lifespan of a Toy Poodle is around 15-18 years, give or take, but like I said; there are alot of factors that determine how long a dog will live, so there is no exact number no matter the dogs size.  

I wish I could give you a better answer, but I hope this has helped you some.  

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Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim