As with any breed, a Chihuahua’s lifespan varies depending on several different factors. Some of these factors are controllable, for instance, a healthy lifestyle, good veterinary care, a healthy diet, and activity levels. On the other hand, there are those which are outside an owner’s control, like gender and genetics.
Owners should familiarize themselves with these factors, so they give their chihuahua the longest, fullest life possible. Regardless of size or breed, a dog has a good chance of living a longer life if given proper care. We will discuss the factors that influence a chihuahua’s lifespan, the major causes of illness and death, and measures you can take to keep your chihuahua healthy and lengthen its life.
Chihuahua Lifespan
Although there is no infallible method for estimating how long chihuahuas live, current data from studies indicate that when properly cared for by a loving owner, chihuahuas could live an average of 15 to 20 years.
Females tend to live 1 to 2 years longer than males on average. This is a few years longer than the average lifespan of domesticated dogs, which is 12.8 years. Small toy breeds generally have longer lives than larger dogs. The chihuahua is a fairly healthy breed with few catastrophic inherited health concerns compared to others.
Does this mean that all chihuahuas will live 15 to 20 years? No, but it’s a decent rule of thumb.
Factors That Impact a Chihuahua’s Lifespan
- Diet: The food a chihuahua eats has a direct impact on its lifespan. Owners should feed their pets with premium dog food that is well balanced, nutritional, and free of fillers, artificial colors, and preservatives. Feeding your chihuahua leftover supper is not a good idea as it can lead to toxicosis, obesity, and other health issues.
- Weight: Weight also has a great impact on a chihuahua’s longevity. Obese chihuahuas are at risk for various health problems, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, both of which could reduce your dog’s years. In addition, due to a compromised immune system and hunger, underweight chihuahuas also tend to live shorter.
- Genetics: Good genes can extend a chihuahua’s lifespan. Therefore, if you’re seeking to adopt, you should find out any available information about the puppy’s parents. Puppies are more likely to enjoy a long and healthy life if their parents are lively, healthy, and joyful.
- Gender: Females live longer than their male counterparts, according to statistics. The specific reason for the greater average longevity of female chihuahuas is unknown, but studies show that females live 1 to 2 years longer than males.
- Activity levels: It’s critical to keep your chihuahua active if you want your pooch to live a long and healthy life. Expose them to lots of daily exercises by playing fetch, tug-of-war, or taking a walk in the neighborhood. As a result, muscle will be built, excess fat will be burned, their immune system will be strengthened, and they will be able to ward off disease, all of which will help them live longer.
Why Do Chihuahuas Live So Long?
Chihuahuas are the smallest dog breed. But, ironically, they are also one of the oldest. Megabyte, who almost survived for 21 years, is the longest-living chihuahua ever documented.
So why do chihuahuas live so long? Some people believe that chihuahuas lead a long life because they are immune to several fatal dog illnesses. The chihuahua is a lively, bold, and intelligent dog. These little canines are highly loyal to their owners, particularly children. Because of their diminutive stature, chihuahuas only need a little exercise, an important factor in increasing the lifespan of a dog.
How Do Chihuahuas Die?
Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to worry about the possible death of your pet? But, sadly, that’s not the case, and you have to take great care of your dog. Here are the top causes of death among chihuahuas.
Infection
- Parvovirus: Although there is a vaccine for this disease, many dog owners don’t vaccinate their dogs against it, and the dogs succumb to it. When your chihuahua is infected, the immune system and gastrointestinal tract are attacked, resulting in serious vomiting and diarrhea. It is usually transferred through direct contact with an infected dog or its excrement.
- Distemper: A distemper is a highly contagious sickness that affects the digestive and respiratory systems of a dog. The first visible symptoms are coughing and weakness, and your dog could get diarrhea as the infection worsens. After that, the distemper targets the dog’s central nervous system and could cause seizures or paralysis as the brain and spinal cord are affected.
- Leptospirosis: There are several forms of leptospirosis. It is not always fatal, but in some cases, it results in kidney failure and liver damage. The majority of lethal leptospirosis strains are spread through the urine of wild animals. These include skunks, raccoons, and rats. Dogs contract the disease through the intake of contaminated water and sniffing urine that contains the virus.
Trauma
Trauma is a major cause of death in chihuahuas. It could be caused by being accidentally stepped on, falling from great heights, or getting hit by a car.
This cause is, however, preventable. Monitor your dog more closely and ensure the environment doesn’t favor any factors that could traumatize your dog. Out of 82 purebred canines, the chihuahua ranks 7th in high probability of dying due to trauma.
Cardiovascular Disease
Adult dogs, especially those above the age of 14, are the most likely to get this condition. Dogs who die of heart failure are generally labeled as “old” because the heart can only function for a certain number of years.
There are three types of categories for this disease:
- Heart failure: This occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood as efficiently as it should. As a result, blood and oxygen are unable to circulate as needed in the dog’s body.
- Arrhythmia: An aberrant heartbeat rhythm. If severe, it could result in death due to a decrease in the heart’s pumping function.
- Heart valve problems: These include stenosis, regurgitation, and valve prolapse. Stenosis refers to when the heart valves do not open fully to allow blood to flow as it should. On the other hand, regurgitation and valve prolapse occur when the heart valves do not close properly, allowing blood to seep through.
Common Chihuahua Health Problems
These charming small dogs, like all breeds, are vulnerable to certain unpleasant health problems. But have no fear! The majority of these ailments are completely curable, and many chihuahuas enjoy long and happy lives.
Luxating Patella
A luxating patella, also called patellar luxation, is a genetic condition that often manifests four months after a puppy is born. It causes kneecap dislocation, and a chihuahua may limp or entirely avoid using the affected leg. You may observe your chihuahua holding its hind legs in the air for several minutes.
It does this to ease the kneecaps into their rightful place and relax the muscles in the affected legs. Fortunately, patellar luxation won’t take your dog through a long, painful journey. It will only be in pain when the kneecap dislocates for the first time.
Extreme cases of patellar luxation are treated with surgery. More often than not, your veterinarian will want to keep an eye on the disease to see if there are any consequential issues.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar levels. Your chihuahua may appear dizzy, weak, disoriented, or it could pass out. If you observe these symptoms, take your dog to the vet right away.
In order to stay healthy, chihuahuas may require a new diet or other treatments. Hypoglycemia can indicate a more serious illness, such as liver disease or diabetes, which can only be diagnosed by a veterinarian.
Ensure that your chihuahua eats enough food. Small dog breeds can have a dip in blood sugar levels after missing one or two meals, which can lead to severe effects such as seizures.
Tooth and Gum Disease
All small breeds have inherently small mouths, which increases their chances of having overcrowded and difficult-to-clean teeth. Gum disease develops when plaque and tartar build-up on a dog’s teeth.
Food gets stuck in between a Chihuahua’s teeth daily. Therefore brushing their teeth carefully and frequently is essential. Between brushings, snacks, and dental chew toys could help keep your chihuahua’s teeth clean. You can also make healthy, low-calorie natural chews for your dog.
Reduce the number of sugary treats you give your dog, and always remember to take your pet to their veterinarian for a dental checkup.
Tracheal Collapse
The trachea transports air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. If it collapses, it could lead to breathing problems, and your chihuahua could develop a chronic cough.
Because it can’t breathe properly, your dog may develop blue gums or pass out. This is a medical emergency, and you need to take your dog to the vet immediately.
Collapsed tracheas are fairly frequent, but when treated early, your chihuahua’s health could quickly be restored. In order to open up your dog’s airway as much as possible, your veterinarian may prescribe a steroid or cough suppressant.
How to Keep Your Chihuahua Healthy
Vaccinations
It is possible to immunize a chihuahua against diseases that are fatal to its breed. However, never assume that a dog that stays indoors for a better part of the time does not require inoculations. It can contract the disease in as little as a few seconds through a brief contact with an infected dog or sniffing infected urine.
Compulsory vaccines include vaccinations for adenovirus cough and hepatitis, parainfluenza, distemper, rabies, and parvovirus. Optional vaccines, on the other hand, include vaccines for coronavirus, leptospirosis, and Lyme disease.
Because the chihuahua breed does not react well to the leptospirosis vaccine, it is only advisable for dogs that have a high risk of exposure to the disease. A large amount of wildlife in the area would probably warrant the vaccination.
In addition, booster injections are required for many adult chihuahuas. They don’t have to be administered every year because antibodies can linger for several years. Nevertheless, you might want to talk to your veterinarian about doing titer tests regularly. This is a blood-based way of testing antibodies for certain diseases. Your chihuahua will only require a booster shot if their antibodies count is low.
Regular veterinary checkups
Annual wellness exams are an essential aspect of keeping a dog healthy and play a critical role in the longevity of your dog. The vet will use a variety of procedures, including a full blood count, stool sample testing, and a physical exam, to detect any early indicators of potential problems. Wellness checks are performed twice a year on adult dogs.
Exercise
A dog’s overall health benefits greatly from regular exercise. Regular exercise helps a dog maintain good blood flow and muscle mass, regulates metabolism and appetite, stimulates the immune system, and helps fend off diseases like cancer and diabetes.
There should be at least two 20-minute walks per day for your chihuahua to meet the breed’s exercise requirements, and they should be done at a reasonably quick speed that keeps your dog jogging along without hard breathing. You can also have frequent sessions of fetch or other cardiac activity.
Healthy diet
Throughout a dog’s life, what you feed them has a direct impact on its health. While no dog can live indefinitely, with heart failure being the top cause of death in this breed, maintaining a balanced diet will maintain the body–especially the heart–in good form.
Avoid kibbles that contain fillers like soy, corn, or grains. Chemical preservatives, by-products, artificial coloring and flavoring, and generic oils and meats should also be avoided. Instead, invest in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics to promote immunological health. Grain counts that are too high, especially low-value grains, are bad for most dogs.
Proper dental care
With infection being a major cause of death and particularly oral infections spreading throughout the body, regular dental cleanings and care are essential.
You should aim to have a professional checkup at least once a year which will include a thorough examination for probable problems and, if necessary, a tarter scraping at the gum line. You can also brush your chihuahua’s teeth at home or use a dental spray to help remove plaque and freshen its breath.
Furthermore, providing a daily dental chew can aid in the removal and prevention of plaque formation, which is the first step toward tooth decay.
Conclusion
Take good care of your Chihuahua, and you won’t have to worry about them leaving you any time soon. Visit your vet regularly to always be in check of your pet’s condition.