Chihuahua life span

Chihuahua life span

How long should your Chihuahua live? There are several factors that contribute to the life span of this small breed. For starters, spaying and neutering your dog are important. However, your Chihuahua’s diet and exercise are also important. Your veterinarian should recommend routine wellness exams at least once a year. If your vet doesn’t recommend annual exams, he can do a biannual wellness exam. This will significantly affect your pet’s life span.

Spaying and neutering

The benefits of spaying and neutering Chihuahus are many. Depending on the breed, they may help lower medical costs and lower your Chihuahua’s risk of developing some types of disease. Despite all the benefits, there are also some risks to early spaying, which should be discussed with a veterinarian. Here are some of them:

First of all, spaying and neutering Chihuas is a great way to prevent overpopulation in Chihuahua shelters. As a result of a lack of spaying and neutering, thousands of Chihuahuas are put down every year. The average shelter admits between five and seven million animals each year, and 4-6 million of them are euthanized. The vast majority of these animals end up in shelters because their owners do not make the effort to fix them.

Proper diet

There’s a direct correlation between the diet you feed your Chihuahua and its life span. To increase your dog’s lifespan, use a well-balanced premium dog food. Avoid foods laced with artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Your dog should not be eating your leftover dinner, as this can lead to obesity and toxicosis.

This breed has a moderate prey drive. Though they’re too small to hunt most animals, they still love to hunt things like balls, toys, and other objects. Because of this, they tend to be very protective of their family members. Although Chihuahuas don’t require a large space, they do need adult supervision if they’re around children.

Exercise

Like humans, your Chihuahua needs exercise to stay healthy. Physical activity not only helps keep your dog fit and healthy, it also improves their immune system and metabolism. Not only that, but exercise is a preventive measure against diseases like diabetes and some forms of cancer. To extend your Chihuahua’s life, you should walk him at least twice a day. A twenty-minute walk is the ideal amount of time, and a regular cardio activity is also beneficial.

Moreover, exercising daily will make your Chihuahua look and feel younger. Excess weight will make your Chihuahua vulnerable to various diseases. Obesity will reduce your dog’s lifespan, while an underweight dog will be more susceptible to malnutrition and weakened immune system. Getting your Chihuahua plenty of daily exercise will improve his health and extend his life.

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Infectious diseases

Infectious diseases are common in dogs, but Chihuahuas are especially susceptible to certain ones. Certain infections can shorten your dog’s life span and decrease its quality of life. A veterinarian can determine if your pet needs therapeutic treatments and prescribe the right diet for his or her needs. Using probiotics and nutrition to support the immune system is also important. Genetic diseases can affect any dog breed and can also shorten a Chihuahua’s life span.

Many common infectious diseases affect small dogs, including chihuahuas. Periodontal disease, for example, causes infection in the mouth, which is fatal. Besides infectious diseases, chihuahuas can also succumb to heart problems. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in these dogs, especially among puppies and older dogs. Luckily, early detection and treatment can prevent heart failure and extend the dog’s life.

Tracheal (windpipe) collapse

Although there are no unique clinical signs of tracheal collapse in dogs, veterinarians often diagnose the condition by performing a full physical examination and taking a complete health history. If a dog’s windpipe narrows due to collapse, a veterinarian can attempt to trigger a cough by pressing it. X-rays of the dog’s windpipe may also be taken, which show the collapsed trachea. Alternatively, a veterinarian may use a procedure called bronchoscopy to look inside the dog’s airways and identify whether the windpipe has collapsed.

Treatment for tracheal collapse in dogs almost always includes medications, although some patients only require short-term or long-term therapy. Antitussives are prescribed to suppress coughing, and are often used in combination with other medications. Cough suppressants can be effective, but may only mask symptoms and not correct the underlying collapse. This means that dogs with collapsing tracheas require more than one type of antitussive to achieve success.

Overindulgence

Chihuahuas are a fun-loving breed that loves to be around people. They often follow their people around the house and ride in tote bags when their owners run errands. While they make excellent companions, overindulgence can shorten their lifespan. Overindulgence also affects their behavior. Overeating can make Chihuahuas hyperactive.

Overindulgence in this breed can cause hypoglycemia, a condition that can lead to convulsions, collapse, and even death. When a Chihuahua is severely undernourished, he may have grayish blue gums and tongue. Hypoglycemia can also result in coma and heart failure, so it’s important to check for this condition early.

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How long should your Chihuahua live? There are several factors that contribute to the life span of this small breed. For starters, spaying and neutering your dog are important. However, your Chihuahua’s diet and exercise are also important. Your veterinarian should recommend routine wellness exams at least once a year. If your vet doesn’t recommend…

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