How many years do Chihuahuas live and what does it depend on?

Chihuahuas are classified as decorative breeds of dogs, which according to statistics are considered long-livers. However, their lifespan varies, while animals require a lot of attention. What affects the life expectancy of funny pets and how to extend it, the material in this article will tell.

As with any dog ​​breed, the life span of a chihuahua varies depending on various factors. Some of them are subject to human control, others are not subject to our influence. According to general data, the physiological characteristics of a particular animal can affect life expectancy.

In addition, representatives of the breed have a predisposition to diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Kids can stand on their hind legs and lead an active lifestyle, but they often suffer from jumping and can fall under the feet of the owner or family members. They have to walk with great attention. The life span of dogs is affected by the gender of the individuals. According to statistics, Chihuahua girls on average live 2-3 years longer than fellow boys.

Current data show that On average, individuals of this breed live about 15 years. However, among them there are centenarians, whose age can reach up to 20 years. And yet, due to the small size, all processes in the body occur rapidly.And therefore, if the reaction of the breeder to a health problem is not fast, it will shorten the life of the pet.

Representatives of the standard breed are considered in demand by breeders. However, it is precisely on the owner himself that the maximum use of the pet's life resource largely depends. Unlike fellow mini-dogs, these dogs are more durable. Their predisposition to various diseases is explained by genetics. Representatives of this category weigh from 1.5 to 3 kg.

Speaking of miniature dogs, it’s worth mentioning right away: according to official data, the breed of mini-chihuahua does not stand out in a separate form. These dogs include the smallest representatives of the breed. Moreover, in most cases, any internal organs are underdeveloped. Over time, this can develop into malfunctions with the work of the body systems, which affects the life expectancy.

Such dogs weigh very little: often their weight barely reaches 1 kg, other babies weigh 500 g. At the same time, such factors as heredity, conditions of detention, diet and loads can reduce this period. They are not adapted to the loads, prone to many diseases and injuries. These dogs are weak, although they can be born completely healthy (you need to handle them as carefully as possible).

Dogs have their own age gradation, according to which, their age is estimated. For example, the age of a one-year-old baby is comparable to the age of a 15-year-old teenager. The body of an individual at 2 years old is developed approximately the same as that of a person at 21 years old. In the future, each year of the dog’s life will be equal to 4 years of human life. Say, a ten-year-old dog will be considered elderly, because its body will correspond to the body of a 53-year-old person.

If we draw a parallel with human standards, then mini-dogs die at a young age, while long-livers who reach their twenties are comparable to pensioners who are 93 years old. By their standards, they live longer than humans. Some individuals boast that they cross a hundred-year human line. A more detailed comparison can be seen in the table, which shows the ratio of each year of the animal's life.

One of the most significant problems is the choice of an animal from a dubious breeder. It is one thing when dogs are taken from a good producer that monitors heredity, provides the animal with proper nutrition and proper care. But if mating is not authorized, parents could be unclean. And this is likely to leave an imprint on the physiology of the puppy, which may affect life expectancy.

Chihuahuas are classified as dog breeds subject to various stresses. In order to prolong the life resource, the breeder must protect the pet from stresses, which shorten the life span to a greater extent. As for diseases that reduce life expectancy, they include such health problems as:

• hypoglycemia;
• urolithiasis disease;
• epilepsy;
• retinal atrophy;
• mitral valve dysplasia.

Another negative factor affecting life expectancy is accelerated sexual development. It differs from dogs of large breeds, and this leads to the fact that chihuahua males have undescended testes by the age of 3-5 years, and females experience difficulties with childbirth. Diseases shorten the life of small animals. Signs worth paying attention to are not only loss of appetite or high fever, but also enuresis, frequent sneezing and vomiting. All of them, to one degree or another, shorten the dog's life.

To ensure the pet a long life, the owner must consider many factors.For example, you need to start with the right dog choice. When buying it, you must necessarily require a pedigree and related vaccination documents. Parental health is the key to good offspring.

With proper breeding of dogs, the degree of influence of hereditary diseases from generation to generation is reduced. You need to buy a dog in a specialized kennel, where breeders carefully monitor the mating and do not allow unsuitable and sick individuals to it, which leads to the degeneration of the breed. When buying, you need to be interested in the health of not only the puppy being watched, but also of its parents.

Of course, the level of activity also matters. You need to choose a puppy who can subsequently perform a certain amount of exercises per day to maintain active form and health. As for gender, everything here is individual and depends on the preferences of the buyer.

We can not ignore the fact that Chihuahuas do not have a persistent psyche. They react sharply to a change in the atmosphere in the house. They can not be offended, they can not stand the scream.

It is important to regularly show the pet to the veterinarian and conduct daily visual examinations. All vaccinations should be delivered on time, as it is important to ensure timely anthelmintic treatment. Dogs of this breed need standard vaccination. They are given a vaccine to prevent problems like rabies, plague, canine flu and parvovirus.

Health monitoring should be regular. This will identify the problem in the early stages of its occurrence. In order not to shorten the dog's life, it is important to ensure that it is not attacked by ticks and fleas. Inspect the animal for small parasites daily after walking. The frequency of visits to a specialist depends on the age of the pet: babies are brought to him more often, adult dogs are enough to show the doctor 1-2 times a year.

As for the stay of a Chihuahua in the fresh air, it is important to note for yourself: the dog needs daily walks, without them it loses activity and becomes lethargic. They help strengthen immunity, maintain muscle tone and acquire socialization skills. Dogs must be physically active, otherwise they will be attacked by disease. However, walking in bad weather is undesirable.

Of course, no extreme is unacceptable, we can’t talk about any strength exercises and exhausting running. However, the animal can perform some exercises, for example, it can be a short run or an active game. Due to such mobility, it will be possible to ensure constant burning of excess body fat.

It will contribute to hardening and be a measure of the prevention of ailments. Neglecting walking reduces life expectancy. No excuses can isolate themselves from this fact. A tray does not replace a walk, nor does a room airing. The dog cannot play on its own, it needs the attention of the breeder.

As for walking in the cold season, there are some nuances here. To prevent the animal from freezing, it is necessary to buy special clothes for it. For example, it can be a sweater or a jacket. On especially frosty days, you should not go outside, but if the weather is nice, you can let the pet frolic (provided that he has taken a course of routine vaccination).

Proper feeding is the key to the health of the pet and its good mood. Chihuahua needs food rich in animal proteins. The diet should not contain fillers, preservatives or artificial colors. These dogs are not suitable for food from the owner's table, it leads to obesity of individuals.

The dog should not be too thin or, conversely, too obese. And in that, and in another case, this is considered a violation of the norm, which leads to problems in the functioning of internal organs and, as a result, a reduction in life resource.

For example, pet depletion weakens the immune system. Such animals need meat (beef, chicken, horse meat and turkey are suitable). They also need fish (you can give them low-fat sea). At least once a week, the liver, heart or kidneys must be included in the nutritional diet of a four-month-old puppy.

Dogs also need cereals, for example, rice or buckwheat. In addition, if the specialist considers it necessary, millet or hercules will have to be added to the diet. You can not ignore the use of vegetables. The animal should receive carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, and in rare cases cabbage in food.

It is impossible to feed puppies with factory food, regardless of its type and brand of the manufacturer. Neither dry nor wet industrial food contributes to the normal growth and development of these dogs. Food for them should be fresh and natural, cooked with their own hands. As for the choice of a specific product, it is discussed with a specialist based on the weight of the pet and its health.

You can extend the life of a pet by observing all the rules for caring for its hair and oral condition. By the way, it is the second factor that is its vulnerability. Almost all dogs of this breed suffer from diseases such as caries, tartar deposits and gum disease. For the oral hygiene of these babies, a special toothpaste has been developed. It is necessary to clean it every day, removing plaque formed after eating.

It is important to monitor the condition of the ears and claws. Ears are cleaned with cotton pads, moistening them in warm boiled water. Comb and bathe dogs more often than cats. When washing use soft shampoos. You can not bathe dogs in cold weather, leave after bathing in open window leaves or in places of drafts. Wool can be dried with a warm hairdryer.

For combing, special combs are selected that do not injure the skin and correspond to the length of the coat of a particular individual. Claws are cut about 2 times a month. In order to reduce the duration of the procedure, they use a special device - a clipper for small breeds of animals. At the same time, you need to cut off the claws little by little so as not to injure the soft tissues. The hair between the paw pads is cut.

About the features of the breed, see below.