Chihuahuas are genuinely fragile, with thin, easily broken leg bones and, in some dogs, a soft spot in the skull that can persist into adulthood, and despite the tiny, portable image they are one of the most surrendered breeds in American shelters, not a low-commitment accessory.
11.8years, median
0.7 years below the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 14,636 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 11.5 to 11.9 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, small breeds as a group had a median of 12.7 years and flat-faced breeds 11.2. This breed is small and flat-faced.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.055% of Chihuahuas had at least one disorder recorded in 2016.
From the clinical records of 5,660 Chihuahuas under veterinary care in the UK that year, read by the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass programme.
Most often recorded, 2016
| Disorder | Share of Chihuahuas | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Gum disease (periodontal disease) | 13.5% | 12.6–14.4 |
| Obesity | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Retained baby teeth | 5.7% | 5.1–6.4 |
| Anal sac impaction | 4.9% | 4.4–5.5 |
| Aggression | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
| Slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) | 4% | 3.5–4.5 |
| Undescended testicle (males) | 3.9% | 3.2–4.6 |
| Overgrown nails | 3.3% | 2.9–3.8 |
| Flea infestation | 2.9% | 2.4–3.3 |
| Heart murmur | 2% | 1.7–2.4 |
Age at death in this sample
Median 8.2 years (middle half 3.5 to 12.1), 2016 data. Of the 80 deaths with a recorded cause: Heart disease 18.8%, Lower airway disorder 16.3%, Traumatic injury 13.8%, Brain disorder 11.3%, Gut disease 6.3%. A young, fast-growing population pulls this median down. The measured-lifespan figure above comes from a larger, later study. Different sample and year from the measured lifespan above, which is why the two numbers differ.
“Aggression was the fifth most common fine-level disorder in the current study and was recorded in 4.2% of Chihuahuas. This prevalence is higher than similarly-designed studies of other small-sized breeds.”— the authors, O'Neill et al. 2020, BMC Veterinary Research 16:42
Health tests to ask the breeder for
Chihuahua Club of America sets the tests a Chihuahua needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Cardiac Evaluation (OFA; auscultation, minimum age 1 year, annually while breeding)
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist (OFA)
- Patellar Luxation (OFA Evaluation, minimum age 1 year)
When to spay or neuter a Chihuahua: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is any age. For females, any age. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Chihuahua near you
Shelters and rescues list Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
Listings come from Petfinder and open there. Petipedia does not take part in adoptions and earns nothing from them.
Living with a Chihuahua
Chihuahuas can genuinely thrive in small apartments and do not need much exercise, but they are bolder and more reactive than their size suggests; many will confront dogs many times their weight, and they tend to bond hard to one person and be wary of strangers and unfamiliar children. Their small size makes them one of the more fragile popular breeds, which is also part of why so many end up surrendered to shelters or in breed rescue.
Health you should know about
- Patellar luxation — a UK primary-care study found 4.9% of Chihuahuas affected, versus about 1.3% of dogs overall, making the breed one of those most likely to be diagnosed with a slipping kneecap.
- Fragility and injury risk — a fall from a couch, a step on by an adult, or rough handling by a child can fracture bones in a dog this small; this is a genuine, common source of emergency vet visits in the breed, not an exaggeration.
- Heart disease — mitral valve disease and congenital heart defects are noted as a leading cause of death in older Chihuahuas.
- Dental disease and tracheal collapse — overcrowded teeth accelerate periodontal disease, and a progressively collapsing windpipe causing a honking cough is a recognized problem in the breed.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Chihuahua? Spanish dog and cat names, 88 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 3 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 3 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.