Chihuahuas are the second smallest dog breed in existence. As such, they have a short life expectancy as well. These small dogs usually live between 10 and 14 years, which is significantly shorter than other dog breeds. On top of that, Chihuahuas can be prone to a number of health issues that shorten their life even further. Given these facts, how long does a Chihuahua live? The answer might surprise you!
Chihuahuas Are Susceptible to Heart Disease
Chihuahuas are susceptible to heart diseases. Why? Because they are brachycephalic dogs, which means they have a short muzzle and flat faces. This is a very common condition in these kinds of dogs, which means they are at a higher risk of contracting certain health issues. There are certain things you can do to minimize the risks of your pooch developing heart diseases. how long does a Chihuahua live? For example, feeding your Chihuahua the right kind of food can go a long way. Doing regular vet check-ups can also help you prevent heart diseases in your pet. These are some of the conditions that are more likely to affect your pooch: – Congenital heart diseases: These are conditions that your pooch is born with. They cannot be cured, but are manageable with medication. – Cardiac dysrhythmia: This is when the heart’s rhythm is disturbed. – Heart murmurs: These are noises created in the heart tissue. – Atrial fibrillation: This is when the atria and the ventricles are disordered.
Chihuahuas Are Susceptible to Diabetes
Chihuahuas are susceptible to diabetes. This is because they have a genetic disorder called Canine Insulin Defficiency (CID). CID is an inherited condition, which means your pooch could pass it on to their offspring. CID is a serious condition that affects the metabolism in your pooch’s body. As a result, they will not be able to produce enough insulin. This is why they are prone to developing diabetes. Diabetes can be controlled with medication. Dog food with less sugar can also help. Other measures that you can take include regularly checking your dog’s blood sugar levels and getting them to exercise.
Chihuahuas Are Susceptible to Blindness
Chihuahuas are prone to eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal degeneration. This is because they have a small body size, which causes the eyeball to have a very small orbit. As a result, the tissue in the eyeball can also become degenerated. If your pooch develops blindness, it is important to get them to a vet as soon as possible. In the meantime, how long does a Chihuahua live? you can try some home remedies to prevent it from getting worse. You can also try to reduce the chances of it happening by making sure your Chihuahua always wears his sunglasses. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye. As time goes by, the lens becomes opaque, and your pooch will see less. This is something you can prevent by getting your pooch to wear sunglasses. You can also prevent it by having him wear an eye scarf when he goes for walks. Glaucoma is when the optic nerve is damaged. As a result, your poachy Chihuahua will lose vision in that eye. You can prevent glaucoma by regularly checking the pressure in your pooch’s eyes. You can also prevent it by keeping the eyes clean. Retinal degeneration is when the tissue in the retina degenerates. As time goes by, your pooch will lose their vision in that eye.
Chihuahuas Are Susceptible to Joint Problems
Chihuahuas are prone to joint diseases like hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. These are conditions that affect the joint’s cartilage. Over time, the cartilage will wear out and become damaged. There are a few things you can do to prevent your pooch from developing these joint diseases. Feeding your Chihuahua the right kind of food, for example, will help them build the correct amount of proteins in their body. You can also regularly get your pooch to exercise to keep their joints healthy. You can also get your dog to wear a dog backpack. This can help to reduce the pressure on the back, which is one of the leading causes of joint diseases.
How Long Does a Chihuahua Live with Some Conditions?
Here are some of the conditions that a Chihuahua can live with for a certain amount of time: – Congenital heart diseases: These are conditions that your pooch is born with. They cannot be cured, but are manageable with medication. – Cardiac dysrhythmia: This is when the heart’s rhythm is disturbed. – Heart murmurs: These are noises created in the heart tissue. – Atrial fibrillation: This is when the atria and the ventricles are disordered. – Canine Insulin Defficiency (CID): This is an inherited condition that causes your pooch to be prone to diabetes. – Cataracts: This is a clouding of the lens of the eye. As time goes by, the lens becomes opaque, and your pooch will see less. This can be prevented by wearing sunglasses. – Glaucoma: This is when the optic nerve is damaged. As time goes by, your pooch will lose vision in that eye. – Blindness: This is when your pooch develops blindness. You can prevent blindness by taking your Chihuahua to the vet as soon as possible. You can also prevent blindness by wearing sunglasses when walking your dog. – Joint Diseases: These are conditions that affect the joints. Over time, the joints will become damaged, which is why they are prone to joint diseases.
Summary
How long does a Chihuahua live? Chihuahuas are incredibly small dogs, but they can live a long life if given the right care. They are prone to certain health issues like heart diseases, diabetes, blindness, and joint problems, but they can live a long time with treatment. The average life span of a Chihuahua is 10 to 14 years, and they can live longer with treatment. If you take good care of your pooch and feed them the right kind of food, they can live a long, healthy life.
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