How many years does a chihuahua live and what does it depend on?

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

As with any breed of dog, the chihuahua's lifespan 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. Toddlers can stand on their hind legs and lead an active lifestyle, but they often suffer from jumping and can get under the feet of the owner or family members. You have to walk them with great attention. The life span of dogs is influenced by the sex of individuals. According to statistics, chihuahua girls live on average 2-3 years longer than fellow boys.

Current data show that on average, individuals of this breed live for about 15 years. However, among them there are long-livers, whose age can reach up to 20 years. And yet, due to the small size of all processes in the body occur rapidly. Therefore, if the breeder’s reaction to a health problem isn’t fast, it will shorten the life of the pet.

Representatives of the standard breed are considered to be sought after by breeders. However, it is from the owner himself that the maximum use of the pet’s life resource depends. Unlike fellow mini, these dogs are more endurance. Their susceptibility to various diseases is due to genetics. Representatives of this category weigh from 1.5 to 3 kg.

Speaking of miniature dogs, you should immediately make a reservation: according to official data, the mini-Chihuahua breed does not stand out in a separate species. These dogs include the smallest representatives of the breed. Moreover, in most cases, they have underdeveloped any internal organs. Over time, this can develop into malfunctions with the functioning of the body systems, which has an impact on the life expectancy.

Such dogs weigh very little: often their weight hardly reaches 1 kg, other babies weigh 500 g. At the same time, such factors as heredity, conditions of detention, diet and exercise can reduce this period. They are not adapted to the loads, are subject to many diseases and injuries. These dogs are weak, although they can be born absolutely 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 one year old baby is comparable to the age of a 15-year-old. The organism of an individual at 2 years of age is developed approximately the same as that of a person at 21 years of age. In the future, each year of dog life will be equal to 4 years of human life. For example, 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, mini dogs die at a young age, while a long-lived person who reaches the age of 20 is comparable to retirees who are 93 years old. By their standards, they live longer than a person. Some individuals can boast that they cross a hundred-year human frontier. The data of a more detailed comparison can be viewed in the table, in which the ratios of each year of life of the animal are indicated.

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 who keeps track of heredity, provides the animal with proper nutrition and proper care. But if the mating is not sanctioned, the parents could be mongrel. And it is quite likely to leave an imprint on the physiology of the puppy, which may affect the life expectancy.

Chihuahuas belong to dog breeds that are subject to various kinds of stress. To extend the life of the resource, the breeder must protect the pet from stress, which to a greater extent shortens the life span. As for diseases that shorten life expectancy, they include such health problems as:

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

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

To ensure a pet a long life, the owner must take into account many factors. For example, you need to start with the correct choice of a dog. When you purchase it, you must necessarily require a pedigree and related documents about vaccinations. Parent health is the key to good offspring.

With proper breeding of dogs decreases the degree of influence of hereditary diseases from generation to generation. It is necessary to buy a dog in a specialized kennel, where breeders carefully monitor the viscous 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 looking, but also his parents.

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

It is impossible not to take into account the fact that chihuahuas do not have a stable mind. They react sharply to changes in the atmosphere in the house. They can not be offended, they can not stand the cry.

It is important to regularly show your pet to a veterinarian and conduct daily visual examinations. All vaccinations must be delivered on time, as well as it is important to ensure timely antihelminthic treatment. Dogs of this breed need standard vaccination. They are given a vaccine to prevent problems such as rabies, distemper, dog flu and parvovirus.

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

As for the chihuahua staying 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 the immune system, maintain muscle tone and gain skills of socialization. Dogs must be physically active, otherwise they will be attacked by disease. However, walks in bad weather are undesirable.

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

It will promote hardening and be a measure for the prevention of ailments. Neglect walking shortens lifespan. No excuses can isolate themselves from this fact. The tray will not replace the walk, as well as airing the room. The dog can not play by itself, it needs the attention of the breeder.

As for walks in the cold season, there are some nuances. To prevent the animal from freezing, you need to buy special clothes for it. For example, it can be a sweater or a jacket. On particularly cold days, you should not go outside, but if the weather is favorable, you can allow your pet to frolic (provided that he underwent a routine vaccination course).

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

The dog should not be too thin or, conversely, too fat. And in fact, and in another case, this is considered a violation of the norm, which leads to problems of the work of internal organs and, as a consequence, a reduction in vital resources.

For example, pet depletion weakens the immune system. Such animals need meat (beef, chicken, horse meat and turkey will do). They need and fish (you can give them a low-fat sea). At least once a week it is necessary to include a liver, heart or kidneys in a nutritious diet of a puppy of four months of age.

Dogs also need cereals, such as rice or buckwheat. In addition, if a specialist considers it necessary, in the diet will have to add millet or rolled oats. You can not ignore the use of vegetables. The animal should receive carrots, pumpkins, zucchini and, in rare cases, cabbage.

You can not feed puppies factory feed, regardless of its type and brand of 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. With regard to the choice of a particular product, it is discussed with a specialist based on the weight of the pet and its health.

To extend the life of a pet, you can observe all the rules of care for his coat and condition of the oral cavity. By the way, the second factor is its vulnerable point. 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, wetting them in warm boiled water.Comb and bathe dogs more often than cats. When washing, use mild zooshampooes. You can not bathe dogs in cold weather, leave after swimming at the open vents or on the ground drafts. Wool can be dried with a warm dryer.

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

About the features of the breed, see below.