How Long Do Chihuahuas Live? I’m More Confused Than Ever!

Filed in Dog Health by on August 5, 2023

how long do chihuahuas liveYou may be wondering “How long do Chihuahuas live?” It’s an ancient question that has plagued philosophers for thousands of years. Cave men were writing the same question on stone walls when running from woolly mammoths.

Not only are Chihuahuas the smallest breed dog, but they have one of the longest lifespans out of most dog breeds. While cats normally live longer than dogs, the Chihuahua competes with the best of them.

I had every intention of writing a factual post on this topic, but I read so many conflicting statements that I couldn’t get a definitive answer. Like Peter Gibbons in Office Space, “It’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I just don’t care.”

So How Long Do Chihuahuas Live?

Instead of giving you one answer, I’m going to give you eight answers that I found, and ultimately confuse you so much that you won’t care how long they live anymore.

  1. According to Rachel Barrack, DVM, CVA, CVCH who was quoted in Reader’s Digest, she states “A chihuahua’s life span is typically 12 to 20 years.”
  2. The American Kennel Club states that the Chihuahua’s average lifespan is 14-16 years.
  3. According to Wikipedia, the Chihuahua lives 12-20 years.
  4. WebMD states that they live as long as 14 to 18 years.
  5. According to Chihuahua Wardrobe, they live an average of 15 to 20 years when cared for by their owners.
  6. As stated on Yahoo.com, their life expectancy is 14 to 16 years.
  7. According to Gallant.com, they live anywhere from 12 – 20 years, but their general lifespan tends to be from 15 – 20 years.
  8. In a research article in BMC Veterinary Research, they state that the Chihuahua’s life expectancy spans over 12 years, but cite to an article on The Kennel Club (UK) that no longer exists.

Based on the above findings, chihuahuas live anywhere from zero to a hundred years old. In all seriousness, your Chihuahua should live a very long time if kept in good health.

If anyone has any more definitive answer on “How long do Chihuahuas live?”, please leave your comments below.

Comments (4)

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  1. My chihuahua (albeit mixed with some kind of terrier) Whidby lived to be 18 years of age. Eventually his heart failed him but if he could have had a heart transplant I believe that country boy from Georgia could have gone on and on! I miss him.

  2. Pam says:

    My chi, Baby Badass is a rescue from California. They listed her age as 6-8, our vet said 8-10. She is in good health but had to have all her teeth pulled right before I adopted her. In the year I have had her facial and neck hair has gotten considerably more plentiful. Is that a sign she might be older ??

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