Last Updated on September 21, 2021 by Marco
Curious about how long do Chihuahuas live in human years? Read our Chi-centric guide to learn more about the breed’s longevity!
To own a dog is a bittersweet feeling. While you know they’ve lived their life to the fullest, it’s barely been two decades in human years.
From the 20th century, a popular notion on dogs’ age was that seven human years are equivalent to one dog year. However, the reality isn’t as simple as that. The life expectancy of dogs can vary from breed to breed. While several factors may affect their lifespan, it’s a general observation that smaller dogs live longer than larger ones. Thus, a Chihuahua’s lifespan is one of the longest in dog breeds.
How Long Do Chihuahuas Live Generally
As one of the tiniest breeds, a Chihuahua life span ranges from 14 to 18 years. Sometimes even up to 20 years of age. While Chihuahuas’ size adds to their lifespan, other factors that aid are health and gender. The genetic health issues of Chihuahuas are not fatal in comparison to some other breeds. It’s also been noted that female Chihuahuas tend to live a couple of years longer than males.
How Long Do Chihuahuas Live In Human Years
While there has been significant development in pet care, the lives of dogs are still much shorter than human ones. A method to calculate Chihuahua lifespan in human years has been categorized by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The first year of the dog’s life is equal to 15 human years, and the following year is equivalent to about 9. Each year after is approximately five human years. With this calculation, an 18-year-old Chihuahua is over 100 in human years!
To explain the question of ‘how long do Chihuahuas live in human years, let’s go through their life stages. Similar to humans, You can sort the lifespan of dogs into phases.
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Infancy:
This is the first month of a Chihuahua’s life, and it completely depends on its mother in this stage.
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Puppyhood:
Followed by infancy is puppyhood. These are the initial six months of their lives. During this young puppy stage, your Chihuahua will grow swiftly.
Learn more about: What Do Baby Chihuahuas Look Like; All The Necessary Info
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Adolescence:
The rapid growth slows down gradually in the adolescent stage. This stage can last from 6 months up to the first year of a Chihuahua’s age. Along with a decrease in growth, there is a decrease in hyperactivity as the puppy ages into an adolescent. The teething process starts and completes in this phase.
Puberty initiates for both males and females. The female Chihuahuas also go through their first heat during this period. The latter part of the adolescence phase intermingles with adulthood. This was the first year of a Chihuahua’s life. The stages it goes through during this time are similar to those in the first 15 years of a human’s life.
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Adulthood:
The next stage is adulthood. A 1-year-old Chihuahua is considered an adult. Though less hyper, it is still active and energetic. To help it thrive, you’ll need to keep it engaged. By the second year of its life, a Chihuahua has fully matured. It will cease to grow, both taller and longer. It is in the prime of its life. This year is considered equivalent to almost nine human years.
From 4 years to 9 years of its age, a Chihuahua is considered a full adult. To compare it to human stages, this is its middle-age. Each year, from the third to the rest, are considered equal to 5 human years.
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Senior Age:
The time period after entering double digits is considered the senior age. As Chihuahuas live comparatively longer lives, they enter the senior age later than larger dog breeds. In this stage, your Chihuahua is approximately 64 years old in human years. It may begin to grow a grey-ish coat, similar to grey hairs in humans. It will slow down and sleep for longer periods.
Learn more about: Why Do Chihuahuas Live So Long; What’s Their Secret?
How To Help Chihuahuas Live Longer
Now that we’ve understood how long do Chihuahuas live in human years, we can explore ways to ensure they live their lives to the fullest. With development and improvement in healthcare, the lives of pets have been significantly improved and increased. However, your care and attention are a must in ensuring that your little puppy is happy and healthy.
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Diet
A wholesome diet can have a significant impact on the life span of a Chihuahua. A diet filled with antioxidants, pre-and probiotics as well as Omegas 3 and 6 can help boost your pet’s immunity and health. Avoid artificial foods. You can do this by excluding certain items, such as flavorings, colorings, and chemical preservatives, from the diet. A healthy diet can help keep your Chihuahua safe from diseases, especially heart-related. They are the leading cause of death in Chihuahuas.
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Dental Care
Dental infection can be fatal for Chihuahuas. Proper cleaning and yearly professional check-ups can help maintain your pet’s oral hygiene. Dental chewies can also help remove and prevent plaque from building up.
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Exercise
Walks and exercises add to your Chihuahua’s health in multiple ways. Good muscle mass, healthy organs and blood flow, and a boost in immunity are only some of the many benefits. Your canine will also have a healthy metabolism which results in a healthy appetite. Being a high-energy breed, you’ll need to arrange fun activities to help your energetic pet stay fit and strong.
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Safety
Safety is essential to ensure your Chihuahua lives a long life. Its diminutive size makes it prey for several larger animals. Train your pet to follow basic commands. It’s always best to keep it on a harness and leash when outside. Stay aware of your surroundings to ensure safety from large or wild animals. Within the home, “puppy-proofing” is needed for adults as well. Keep dangerous objects and non-toys out of reach.
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Regular Check-Ups
Vaccination and regular veterinary checkups are crucial for your Chihuahua’s long life. Immunization and booster shots help prevent several diseases. With regular checkups, you can catch early signs of possible health issues as well.
Conclusion
Chihuahuas are among the dog breeds with the longest lifespan. However, it is still short considering our average human age. With proper care and attention, you can ensure that your pet lives life to the fullest. Not to mention, you’ll have years upon years to build beautiful memories with your Chi. What’s not to love about that?
