How long do Irish Wolfhounds live?

The median lifespan of the Irish Wolfhound is 9.9 years, based on the 2024 McMillan et al. study of 584,734 UK dogs.

What health problems do Irish Wolfhounds have?

Commonly reported conditions in the Irish Wolfhound include Dilated cardiomyopathy, Osteosarcoma, GDV (bloat), Portosystemic shunt, Hip dysplasia.

Is the Irish Wolfhound a healthy breed?

On the Breed Health Score the Irish Wolfhound scores 41 out of 100 (grade D), compared with an average of 71 across 155 breeds.

41/ 100

Irish Wolfhound Grade D

Median lifespani 9.9 yr · giant · 48-70 kg

⇆ Compare Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound is a giant breed with a median lifespan of 9.9 years, which places it among the shortest-lived third of the 155 breeds we rank for longevity. Commonly reported health conditions include Dilated cardiomyopathy, Osteosarcoma, GDV (bloat), Portosystemic shunt. Its overall Breed Health Score is 41/100 (grade D), against an average of 71/100 across all breeds.

Score breakdown

Longevityi 65%

Conformationi 20%

Hereditary burdeni 15%

Higher is healthier. See methodology.

Common & hereditary conditions

Dilated cardiomyopathy Osteosarcoma GDV (bloat)Portosystemic shunt Hip dysplasia

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 Irish Wolfhound? 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/irish-wolfhound/">Irish Wolfhound 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: Josef Holub via Pexels.