How Long Do Chihuahuas Live? What the Research Really Says

By Rev. T. Stringer, Lead Researcher, SIPGS

"How long do Chihuahuas live?"

It is one of the most searched questions about our breed.

Some websites say 8 years.

Others say 18.

Both can point to real studies.

Here is what the science shows, why the numbers differ, and what helps a Chihuahua live a long life.

Live long and prosper, little ones.

The Short Answer

A healthy Chihuahua who gets safely through its early years often lives into its teens.

In our own program, we have Chihuahuas who are 14 and 15 years old with no health issues.

The lower numbers you see online are real too.

They come from how studies count.

What the Studies Found

Five studies have looked at Chihuahua lifespan.

• UK, 2024 (Dogs Trust): median lifespan 11.8 years
• Japan, 2018 (pet cemetery records): average 11.8 years
• UK, 2020 (Royal Veterinary College): median age at death 8.2 years
• UK, 2022 (Royal Veterinary College): life expectancy at birth 7.91 years
• Italy, 2024: life expectancy 8.5 years

So the studies land in two groups:

about 8 years,

or about 12 years.

Why the Numbers Differ

The difference comes down to who gets counted.

Early deaths pull averages down.

A puppy lost at 3 months counts the same as a dog who lived to 16.

A few early losses can drop an average by years.

The 2022 study found that Chihuahuas had a higher chance of dying before adulthood than many breeds.

It also found that Chihuahuas who reached old age kept going.

They were the last breed in that study to reach the oldest age band, at 15 to 16 years.

Young populations look short-lived.

The 2020 study looked at UK Chihuahuas in 2016, right after a popularity boom.

Most of the dogs were young.

The authors warned that the 8.2-year number is likely too low for that reason.

The record source matters.

Cemetery records often miss young puppies, so they may run high.

Vet records catch more early deaths, so they may run low.

The takeaway:

Most of the risk comes early.

Get a Chihuahua safely through its early years, and a long life is very possible.

Risk Changes With Age

When you sort losses by age, a clear pattern shows up.

Young adults: accidents

In young adult Chihuahuas, injury is a leading cause of loss.

In the 2020 UK study, injury was 13.8% of recorded deaths.

In our own program, every adult loss under 8 years old that owners have reported to us was from an accident.

More than once, a dog of about 3 pounds died after being dropped.

A fall from standing height can kill a dog this size.

Other common accidents:

• Falls from furniture
• Being stepped on or sat on
• Run-ins with bigger dogs
• Getting out a door or gate

Seniors: the illnesses of age

Heart disease was the top cause of death in the 2020 UK study, at 18.8% of recorded deaths.

But this is mainly a senior dog issue.

The common heart disease in small dogs is degenerative mitral valve disease (MMVD).

The valve slowly thickens and leaks.

The first sign is often a heart murmur.

We interviewed five veterinary cardiologists for this post.

All five said they see valve disease in Chihuahuas older than about 8 to 10 years.

They almost never see it in young Chihuahuas.

So heart disease on a death list does not mean young Chihuahuas have weak hearts.

It means many Chihuahuas live long enough to reach the age when valves wear.

A murmur is not a death sentence. Many dogs live for years with a mild one.

Our own program shows the same pattern.

Adult losses over 10 years old that owners have reported to us:

• One heart valve problem
• One fast liver illness with no cause found
• Two viral illnesses
• One 13-year-old with a skin infection that spread to the blood (sepsis)

This is a small group, not a formal study.

But it matches what the cardiologists see.

What Helps a Chihuahua Live Longer

Safe handling

This is the biggest one for young adults.

• Hold your Chihuahua with two hands, close to your body.
• Sit or kneel to pick up or put down a small dog.
• Have children sit on the floor to hold a puppy.
• Use ramps or steps for beds and couches.
• Check doors and gates.
• Supervise play with large dogs.

Healthy weight

Keeping a Chihuahua lean is one of the most important parts of responsible care.

Extra weight strains the windpipe, heart, joints, and knees.

On a 7-pound dog, even half a pound matters.

• Measure food.
• Count treats and table scraps.
• You should feel the ribs easily, without seeing them.

Airway care

A Chihuahua's windpipe is tiny, with thin cartilage rings.

That makes it easier for it to flatten (tracheal collapse).

A "honking" cough is a common sign.

• Use a harness, not a collar.
• Keep your dog lean. The University of Tennessee vet school reports about 70% of overweight toy dogs with tracheal collapse improve a lot after weight loss.
• Keep smoke away. A study of Yorkshire Terriers found more airway inflammation in dogs living with smokers.

What about vaping?

We could not find good research on vape aerosol and dog airways yet.

Until we know more, the kind choice is to smoke and vape outside, away from your dog.

Teeth

Dental disease was the most common health problem in the 2020 UK study, seen in 13.5% of Chihuahuas.

Small mouths crowd teeth, and baby teeth often stay in.

• Brush often.
• Ask about professional cleanings.
• Have retained baby teeth checked.

Regular vet checks

• Yearly visits, twice a year for seniors.
• Ask your vet to listen for a murmur every visit.
• Catching heart changes early lets treatment start at the right time.

What Breeders Can Do

Health testing.

The Chihuahua Club of America lists three tests for a CHIC number: cardiac exam, eye exam, and patella (kneecap) exam.

Results are public on the OFA website (ofa.org).

A yearly cardiac exam matters, because a valve that is clear at 2 may change at 9.

Healthy, moderate size.

A sound, moderate Chihuahua is often a sturdier one.

Genetic diversity.

Using many sires, not one popular dog, keeps hidden problems from spreading.

See our post on popular sire syndrome.

Lifelong follow-up.

Hearing how dogs are doing at 10, 12, and 15 is how we learn what truly works.

Help With the SIPGS Lifespan Study

Lifespan is hard to study.

It takes a dog's whole life to get one answer.

If you have a senior Chihuahua, or one who has passed, your information can help.

Age, cause of passing if known, and health test results are all useful.

We never publish names of dogs or owners.

Email: healthresearchataa@gmail.com

The Bottom Line

The 8-year and 12-year numbers are both real.

They count different things.

Most of the risk comes early, and much of it is preventable.

Handle with care, keep them lean, protect their airways, and keep up with vet checks.

Then a Chihuahua's teens are a very reachable goal.

Sources

• McMillan KM, Bielby J, Williams CL, et al. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports. 2024;14:531.
• Teng KT, Brodbelt DC, Pegram C, Church DB, O'Neill DG. Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom. Scientific Reports. 2022;12:6415.
• O'Neill DG, Packer RMA, Lobb M, Church DB, Brodbelt DC, Pegram C. Demography and commonly recorded clinical conditions of Chihuahuas under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2016. BMC Veterinary Research. 2020;16:42.
• Inoue M, Kwan NCL, Sugiura K. Estimating the life expectancy of companion dogs in Japan using pet cemetery data. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science. 2018;80(7):1153-1158.
• Roccaro M, et al. Factors related to longevity and mortality of dogs in Italy. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 2024.
• Keene BW, Atkins CE, Bonagura JD, et al. ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2019;33(3):1127-1140.
• Roza MR, Viegas CAA. The dog as a passive smoker: effects of exposure to environmental cigarette smoke on domestic dogs. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2007;9(11):1171-1176.
• University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Tracheal Collapse (client brochure).
• Chihuahua Club of America and AKC Canine Health Foundation. Chihuahua Breed Health Statement.
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), ofa.org.

© 2026 A & A's Chihuahuas and Rev. T. Stringer. All rights reserved.

This educational content may not be reproduced without permission.