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This is a comprehensive guide on the Chihuahua lifespan. I am going to be showing you the year range that a Chihuahua is expected to live, explain the common health problems of a Chihuahua and how you can help to increase the length of your Chi`s life. So if you would like to know how long a Chihuahua can live... Keep reading. Chihuahua Lifespan: How Long Do They Live The average lifespan of a Chihuahua is 12 to 20 years and some even live a few years longer than that. Factors affecting the length of a Chi`s life vary but all of them are centered around issues of care and the quality of life that is presented to the dog. Dogs that live under a favorable environment tend to live longer than those that have to push through life in order to survive. Studies have given us a hint on the factors that affect the lifespan for our adorable companions. But we should also understand that even if these factors effectively contribute to the longevity of your Chi`s life, they are still not a guarantee for long life. Some dogs live longer under the most harsh conditions and some live a much shorter life in the most perfect environments. The best that you can do as dog owner is to provide a high quality life for your dog in the hope that your actions can be a perfect shield to stop death from visiting your four-legged friend. In the next section you will discover the factors that contribute to the lifespan of a dog or in this case, a Chihuahua. Factors That Affect A Chihuahua`s Lifespan As mentioned earlier, there are so many factors that affect the lifespan on any animal. Longevity of life is never guaranteed but it is greatly important to intentionally do everything that contributes to a longer life. So here are some factors that affect the life expectancy of a Chihuahua. Every Chi owner should be aware of these factors in order to increase how long their four-legged friend gets to live. 1.Exercise Exercise is a key factor that contributes to the overall health of any animal. Many studies have proven that regular exercise can lead to long life and the same is true for your Chihuahua. A recent study has revealed that physical activity reduces many major mortality risk factors including arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer. 2.Diet The difference between good health and sickness for your Chi is oftentimes what you allow to enter their mouths. You can greatly increase you dog`s lifespan by watching what they eat and making sure that they consistently have a good and balanced diet. Take treats as an example. Veterinarians recommend that treats should not make up of more than 10% of a dog`s daily food intake. Feeding your dog a lot of treats can increase the chances of obesity, diabetes and other life threatening conditions. 3.Environment Geographical location has been proven to affect the length of life in animals but this topic goes beyond geographical locations. Chihuahuas are naturally attention seeking dogs and they refuse to be ignored. You can greatly contribute to your Chi`s lifespan by giving them attention and making sure that they are in a perfect state of mind that favors growth. 4.Genetics The statement that it runs in the blood is not only true when you Chihuahua does something incredible but it can also be equally accurate for diseases. Some diseases can be inherited from parents and can catch up with your dog regardless of the quality of life you provide for them. It is therefore important for dog owners to research on the lineage of their dogs before they adopt them. 5. Neutering Or Spaying There is still a lot of arguments around this issue but there are theories and studies that suggest that neutering and spaying a dog can lead to long life. And while this might not greatly affect how long your Chihuahua will live it is important to note that 60 seconds make a minute. Each one of them is important and and your Chi might greatly need it. 6.Vaccinations Prevention is in many regards better than cure so it is greatly important that you vaccinate your dog against all the life threatening diseases that they might encounter in their lifetime. Dogs generally need vaccination against diseases like rabies, parvovirus, Leptospirosis and others. 7.Weight Obesity is associated with a lot of diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Watching the weight of your Chihuahua can help them to live much longer. What Do Chihuahuas Usually Die From? Death is due to a lot of reasons but there have been some patterns in the causes of death in many Chihuahuas over the years. Here is a complete breakdown of the major causes of death in Chihuahuas: Cause Of Death In ChihuahuaExplanationHeart FailureBlood is key in the transportation of oxygen and other nutrients to various parts of the body. Heart failure is when the body is not able to pump blood to meet the requirements of the body. The heart may not be able pump blood to the rest of the body with enough force or fill its chambers with enough blood.ParvovirusCanine parvovirus is a highly contagious dog infection that spreads from dog to dog through direct or indirect contact with their feces. This disease has claimed the lives of many Chihuahuas but it can be prevented by vaccinating your Chi against the infection.ArrhythmiaThis is another problem of the heart whereby pumping or the beats are too fast, slow or irregular.InjuryAn estimated 16.8% of Chihuahuas die from trauma and injury. DistemperCanine distemper is a virus that mostly affects respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Sometimes the virus can affect the conjunctiva membranes of the eye.SepsisAnimal bodies are designed to release certain chemicals into the blood stream in order to fight infections. Sepsis refers to the negative response of the body to these chemicals and this complication can lead to organ failure.LeptospirosisThis bacterial infection is very rare but it has claimed the lives of many Chihuahuas. It mostly occurs when an open wound or break in the skin comes into contact with soil or water where animal urine is present. How To Increase The Lifespan Of A Chihuahua The span of animal life is mostly dependent on whether the environment is favorable for the growth of cells and harmony of body organs. A good and nurturing environment will allow body organs to harmoniously work together to perform specific tasks that contribute to the longevity of life. All of this is true for your Chi. We can greatly increase the lifespan of a Chihuahua by providing an environment that is nurturing and susceptible to their growth. Below is a quick summary of the steps that dog owners can take to ensure that their Chihuahuas live a healthy long life. 1.Provide A Balanced Calorie Intake To Exercise Ratio There is nothing wrong with giving your Chihuahua some calorie rich foods from time to time. As a matter of fact, calories actually provide the body with the necessary energy required for metabolism. What is not right is when there is no balance between the calorie intake to exercise ratio because not burning enough calories through activity can actually lead to obesity and weight gain. Obesity makes the body prone to a lot of life threatening diseases like diabetes and heart disease. 2.Grooming Grooming is very important in prolonging the life of your Chihuahua. A body that is taken good care of has higher chances of a stretched lifespan than one that is neglected and allowed to run wild. A good example is when Chihuahuas like every other dog are very susceptible to dental diseases if their teeth are not regularly cleaned and taken good care of. Oral health may not seem like a big factor and cause of death but this issue takes a different turn when we take the time to consider that a body that is subjected to pain for a long period during its existence is most likely to give up life sooner than a pain free body. Pain overworks the body as it tries everything to alleviate anything that might be causing it and if this happens for a stretched period that can have a strong impact on lifespan. So here is the bottom line; Take some to time groom your Chihuahua, make sure that you regularly clean their teeth and do everything to maintain their bodies in great shape. 3.Give Them A Home Giving your Chi a stress free environment and actively contributing to their happiness is very crucial for their mental health. The brain plays a major role in the transmission of sensory nerves, regulating blood pressure and many other things. Keeping the brain health has a great impact on the overall health of the body. 4.Provide A Healthy Diet There are many benefits for consistently eating healthy and below is a quick summary of the many advantages of a healthy diet in the life of your Chihuahua: Weight lossManaging diabetesPrevents cardiovascular diseasesStrong teeth and bonesReduces risks of cancer The advantages are obviously many but this is just to give you a brighter picture of how providing a perfect and balanced diet for your Chi can have a great impact on the length of their life. 5.Regular Visits To The Vet Many diseases can be cured if noticed earlier and the best way to do that is to take the time to visit professionals who have been specifically trained to keep our dogs healthy and disease free. You can greatly increase the lifespan of your dog if you just make it a point to regularly visit you vet for health checkups. And there are obviously many things that we can do to ensure that our Chihuahuas live longer and the ones mentioned above are just a quick summary of the bigger picture. Being a dog owner is more of being a parent and every little thing we do for our fury kids can actually stretch their lifespan. Verdict: How Long Does A Chihuahua Live Chihuahuas have generally have a longer life expectancy of around 12-20 years but there are many factors that influence the length of their lives. And whilst there is no guarantee for a stretched life it is important to note that long life is oftentimes intentional rather than a chance of nature. As an owner of a Chi you have the power to ensure that you dog enjoy this earth for a very long time. Taking good care of your dog can actually help you to enjoy the company of your four-legged friend for a long period. Help contribute to increasing the life expectancy of Chihuahuas.

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