Cute chihuahua dogs are not only rightfully recognized as the most small among dwarf dogs, but also the most long-lived. The life expectancy of a Chihuahua is believed to be provided quality care for at least 15-16 years, and some of these kids can even cross the 20-year mark. how determine how long a miniature pet will live? Let’s try to find the answer to this question, which certainly interests any owner chihuahua.
What affects the life expectancy of a chihuahua
As we found out, at least 15 years old Chihuahuas live with favorable living conditions when they are fed with wholesome, varied foods, protect from dangers, regret. But even with caring owners Chihuahuas can not cross the 10-year threshold. Consider какие факторы влияют на срок жизни этих субтильных собак:
Фото: Длинношерстная чихуахуа |
- Genetics. To determine what the duration will be life in a particular dog of the Chihuahua breed, sometimes just look at her parents. Mom dog had a bunch severe illnesses and died early? It is likely that her children are not live long;
- Health status. Generally Chihuahuas are not painful dogs, however, representatives of the breed often there are heart ailments, problems with the skeletal system, vision, breathing. Moreover, they are not always transmitted by heredity. Naturally, the more ailments, the less will live. animal;
- The number of pregnancies in bitches. Those chihuahua girls who often give birth, unfortunately, have a short age, sometimes they live up to a maximum of 8-10 years. By the way, do not differ by long term lives and those chihuahuas that are simply kept at home during estrus are not letting me meet the dog. They also live not so long because of hormonal and gynecological problems;
- The atmosphere of the house. Chihuahuas are dogs with enough steady psyche. But if the owner belongs to the dog of this breed not enough affectionately (screams, or even beats), spends little time with her pet, is absent for a long time at home, then a Chihuahua can pass the nerves. That is, the more stress, the less life term;
- Food. Often hosts rush from one extreme to another one. Some overfeed their dogs, others – poured into a bowl of low-quality, poor in nutrients feed. Than not the more correct the diet of a chihuahua, the worse the level of health, and therefore, less time spent on Earth;
- Accommodations. It’s clear that such fragile nobody will keep dogs on the street, however there is a difference in which apartment the animal lives in. Pet from warm and without drafts apartments may have better health than one that spends his days in a damp and cold house whose walls are dotted mold;
- Health monitoring by the owner. there is people who rush to the vet if the dog just sneezes a couple time. And there are those who will save on a visit to the doctor if the animal will have obvious problems (diarrhea, pus from the nose or eyes, bleeding, etc.). Those who are used to warning or timely treat their chihuahua diseases, dogs live longer. In addition, Chihuahuas live at home longer if their vaccinated in a timely manner, they remove internal and external parasites;
- Reasonable physical activity. The owners longevity dogs unanimously claim that their pets lead (or led) a fairly active lifestyle. Naturally chihuahua do not load like, for example, German shepherds. But count them home toys, constantly dragging his armpit, also should not be. The less movement, the weaker the bones and muscles, the worse it works heart, weight grows faster, it becomes harder to breathe;
- Place of residence Unfortunately, the fresh air that so little in megacities, becomes a real luxury and for dogs, and for people. If you compare a rural (rural) dog with the one who lives in a large city, then the first will have better health due to long walks on fresh, not gassed air;
- Weight category of the dog. The breed standard states that the mass of a chihuahua should be 1.5 to 3 kg. But there is also called mini chihuahua, whose weight often does not exceed 1 kilo. As a rule, these crumbs have a number of serious diseases caused by weak skeleton, improperly formed internal organs. And sometimes mini-dogs live very briefly, delighting their owners about 5-7 years;
- The possibility of an accident. Chihuahua even during adulthood is extremely small, let alone puppies. Them you can easily not notice in the apartment at night, pin down, sitting on the sofa where the dog nodded. If there are kids in the house, they can it’s not easy to explain that such a fragile pet cannot be squeezed (toss, wrap, etc.). That is, shorten the age of the pet (albeit unconsciously) the owner himself can, inflicting injury on him.
Why do chihuahuas live longer than large dogs
So how many Chihuahuas live on average, we found out. But why are these outwardly flimsy animals can live as long as 15 to 20 years, and Can healthy dogs be considered old at the age of 8-10? The fact, that in large dog breeds, firstly, the body is more likely to wear out. They move more intensively, spend more energy, completing tasks the owner. 
Secondly, big dogs sometimes die in brawls, participating in fights with other dogs. And Chihuahuas are more likely to perform the role of favorites, and domestic. Thirdly, in dogs of giant breeds short life is genetically determined. It is considered that their aging begins earlier than in small dogs. Here why a 12 year old chihuahua can still be playful and agile, and a mastiff of the same age will lie more on a comfortable bedding. In short, Chihuahuas and more have been living for more than 15 years. To centenarians and toy terriers, and Chinese crested, and Pekingese, and Bichonov. That is, those dogs whose mass ranges from 2 to 5 kg But the chihuahua still has the palm.
