How long do Norwegian Elkhounds live?

The median lifespan of the Norwegian Elkhound is 12.9 years, based on the 2024 McMillan et al. study of 584,734 UK dogs.

What health problems do Norwegian Elkhounds have?

Commonly reported conditions in the Norwegian Elkhound include Progressive retinal atrophy, Hip dysplasia, Fanconi syndrome, Hypothyroidism, Sebaceous cysts.

Is the Norwegian Elkhound a healthy breed?

On the Breed Health Score the Norwegian Elkhound scores 78 out of 100 (grade A), compared with an average of 71 across 155 breeds.

78/ 100

Norwegian Elkhound Grade A

Median lifespani 12.9 yr · medium · 20-25 kg

⇆ Compare Norwegian Elkhound

The Norwegian Elkhound is a medium breed with a median lifespan of 12.9 years, which places it around the middle of the 155 breeds we rank for longevity. Commonly reported health conditions include Progressive retinal atrophy, Hip dysplasia, Fanconi syndrome, Hypothyroidism. Its overall Breed Health Score is 78/100 (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

Progressive retinal atrophy Hip dysplasia Fanconi syndrome Hypothyroidism Sebaceous cysts

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 Norwegian Elkhound? 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/norwegian-elkhound/">Norwegian Elkhound 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: William Sutherland via Pexels.