How long do Bologneses live?

The median lifespan of the Bolognese is 14.9 years, based on the 2024 McMillan et al. study of 584,734 UK dogs.

What health problems do Bologneses have?

Commonly reported conditions in the Bolognese include Patellar luxation, Hip dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes, Progressive retinal atrophy.

Is the Bolognese a healthy breed?

On the Breed Health Score the Bolognese scores 97 out of 100 (grade A), compared with an average of 71 across 155 breeds.

97/ 100

Bolognese Grade A

Median lifespani 14.9 yr · size n/a

⇆ Compare Bolognese

The Bolognese is a breed with a median lifespan of 14.9 years, which places it among the longest-lived third of the 155 breeds we rank for longevity. Commonly reported health conditions include Patellar luxation, Hip dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes, Progressive retinal atrophy. Its overall Breed Health Score is 97/100 (grade A), against an average of 71/100 across all breeds.

Score breakdown

Longevityi 65%

Conformationi 20%

100

Hereditary burdeni 15%

Higher is healthier. See methodology.

Common & hereditary conditions

Patellar luxation Hip dysplasia Legg-Calve-Perthes Progressive retinal atrophy

Red marks a life-threatening or major-welfare condition. Click a condition to see which breeds it affects. This list reflects commonly reported conditions, so better-studied breeds may show more; hereditary burden is the lightest-weighted part of the score. Source: RVC VetCompass / AKC / PDSA (indicative).

Thinking of a Bolognese? A breed's health profile affects insurance cost. Comparing pet insurance early, before any conditions become pre-existing, usually gets the best cover.

Compare with similar-size breeds

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<div style="font:12px -apple-system,Segoe UI,Roboto,sans-serif;margin-top:4px"><a href="https://breedhealthscore.com/breed/bolognese/">Bolognese health score on Breed Health Score</a></div>

Data & citation. Median lifespan: McMillan, K.M. et al. (2024) "Longevity of companion dog breeds", Scientific Reports (584,734 UK dogs). Data CC-BY 4.0. Source. Machine-readable: developer API. These are independent estimates for comparing breeds, not veterinary advice. Photo: Alexander Nadrilyanski via Pexels.