Different dog breeds have different life spans. As the owner of 2 chiweenies, I have become more curious how long they will be with my family. They are energetic and loving dogs. And I will maximize my time with them.
So, how long do chiweenies live? Chiweenies live for 12 to 16 years, but this is not set in stone. Chiweenies can live longer or shorter depending on a lot of factors, such as health problems and how you keep them happy and healthy.
I have scoured the internet for that summarized answer. But I will expand them below for a more extensive take on this crossbreed’s lifespan.
Lifespan of chiweenies
Chiweenies live for 12 to 16 years, but it’s not unheard of for chiweenies to live for 20 years. At the end of the day, it’s about their general health and how you take care of them. That seems simple enough, but it gets complicated really quickly.
Chiweenies are what you get when you combine a dachshund and a chihuahua. They are cute little dogs, but they are at risk to a variety of health problems inherited from dachshunds and chihuahuas.
Common health problems for chiweenies
Back problems
One cool thing about chiweenies is that they don’t look alike. You will never know what features they will get from their parents. But a lot of chiweenies inherit the elongated bodies and short legs of their dachshund parents.
This makes chiweenies vulnerable to back problems like intervertebral disc disease, a condition wherein their discs press into their spinal cords. At best, this will only cause pain, but at worst, this can cause spinal cord damage and even death.
Dental problems
Chiweenies are a small breed. And like most small breeds, chiweenies are vulnerable to dental problems. This is because their small mouths have little room to accommodate all their teeth. Their teeth are packed in such a small space that plaque and tartar build up easily.
In severe dental problems, chiweenies can experience a deterioration in their jawbones, which will eventually lead to tooth loss.
Eye problems
Some dog breeds get teary eyes more than others. Unfortunately for chiweenies, they are one of the breeds that get teary eyes a lot. This is mostly because of distichiasis and entropion, congenital diseases wherein eyelashes or eyelids turn inward instead of outward.
Both dachshunds and chihuahuas are at risk of having these congenital diseases, so it’s not really that surprising that they have passed this vulnerability to their chiweenie children.
Skin problems
Chiweenies have sensitive skin. They have inherited this trait from their chihuahua parents. To make it worse, chiweenies also usually have short to medium length coats, making their skin even more vulnerable to outside forces.
Skin issues can lead to intense itching. Intense itching can lead to intense scratching. And intense scratching can lead to scabs, rashes, and even infections.
Sugar problems
All dogs are vulnerable to sugar problems, but some dogs are more vulnerable than others. Dachshunds are known to have an above average vulnerability to diabetes. And chihuahuas have small stomachs and have a hard time regulating their normal blood sugar levels, putting them at risk of hypoglycemia.
As the children of breeds that are particularly vulnerable to diabetes and hypoglycemia, chiweenies are vulnerable to these conditions too.
How to keep chiweenies happy and healthy
Give particular attention to the common health problems for chiweenies
The health problems enumerated above can significantly affect the lifespan of your beloved chiweenies. It’s best to give particular attention to these problems to prolong your chiweenies’ lives.
- There is not much you can do about their back problems. Most of these back problems are hereditary. About 25% of dachshunds suffer from back problems due to their genetic makeup, and unfortunately for chiweenies, they become sufferers of these problems too. Selective breeding has been suggested to reduce the risk of back problems, but there is no clear evidence that this will decrease the incidence of the problems. Your best bet is to go to the veterinarian to diagnose the problem early and try to solve it as much as scientifically possible.
- Keep their teeth clean. Their dental problems are a little more forgiving. Indeed, all small dogs are vulnerable to dental problems because of their small mouths. And as small dogs, chiweenies are no exception. Clean their teeth once a week to prevent plaque and tartar buildup.
- Wipe around their eyes regularly. Chiweenies are not just vulnerable to teary eyes because of congenital diseases like distichiasis and entropion. They are also vulnerable because they are small energetic dogs with usually protruding eyes. As small dogs, they are near the ground, where they are at risk of getting debris. As energetic dogs, they may be too active and end up hurting their own eyes. And as dogs with protruding eyes, there is a lot of room for their eyes to catch damaging substances like dust. Wipe around their eyes once or twice a day. It will only take a few seconds of your time.
- Take extra care of their skin. Bathe your chiweenies with hypoallergenic or moisturizing shampoos. These will prevent the development of skin problems, particularly dry and itchy skin. Also avoid brushing their coats too often. That may have a negative effect on the natural oils in their fur.
- Watch out for the signs of sugar problems. Increased thirst, frequent urination, sweet breath, sudden weight gain or loss, and lethargy are some of the most common signs of diabetes. Disorientation, lack of coordination, and sudden shivering are some of the most common signs of hypoglycemia. If your chiweenies are showing these signs, take them to the veterinarian immediately. Hypoglycemia can even be considered as a medical emergency. Dogs with sugar problems may take medications their entire lives, but at least you are prolonging their lifespans.
Give them a balanced diet
Chiweenies are packed with energy. They will need a high-calorie diet to maintain their active lifestyle. But be careful in feeding chiweenies too much. Remember that they are still small dogs and can only store so much food. Be mindful of their food proportions and give them a balance of good fats and lean proteins.
Younger chiweenies will need bigger food proportions, and you can make the proportions smaller and smaller as your chiweenies grow older. Older chiweenies have a slower metabolism, so it’s unnecessary and dangerous to give them too much food.
Give them enough exercise
Indeed, chiweenies require a lot of fats and proteins. But they have small bodies to store all those nutrients. This makes chiweenies vulnerable to obesity too.
Keep your chiweenies happy and healthy by giving them enough exercise. Some owners even go swimming with their chiweenies. But you don’t have to go overboard. A simple 20-minute walk a day is enough to burn all the excess calories and expend all the excess energy your chiweenies have.
Groom them regularly
Chiweenies are low-maintenance dogs. But this doesn’t mean that you can be complacent with their grooming requirements.
- Bathe them about once a month. Chiweenies are not generally stinky dogs and they have short to medium coats. They don’t need to bathe often. But do use mild shampoos to cater to their sensitive skin.
- Brush their coats once a week. Chiweenies often have short to medium coats. Their coat length can determine how often you should brush them. Once a week is fine for those with shorter coats, but you can brush once a day for those with long ones.
- Clean their teeth once a week. Chiweenies are vulnerable to plaque and tartar buildup, mainly because their teeth are crammed into their small mouths. Brush their teeth with dog toothpaste once a week to prevent buildup.
- Trim their nails once a month. Nails can be dangerous, not just for the chiweenies themselves, but also for the people in your house. You know their nails are too long when they are already clicking on the floor with their every step.
Train them to become independent and social
Chiweenies are clingy and loyal dogs. As such, they are prone to get separation anxiety. Teach them how to be independent. You can do this by not making a big deal of your coming and going. Also provide them a safe environment and a distraction such as a toy whenever you are away.
Chiweenies want to be the center of attention. As such, they may not be the ideal dogs for those with small children and other pets in the house. But this doesn’t mean that you can just live with that. You can train them to be social. Start young. Let them be around others early in their lives.
Anxious and lonely dogs are prone to health problems. For example, anxious dogs can be too active and end up hurting themselves, while lonely dogs can be too passive and end up being lethargic.
Summary
Chiweenies have a long lifespan compared to other dogs. But at the end of the day, the lifespan of your chiweenies will depend on their overall health and how you take care of them in general. Educate yourself about the common health problems of chiweenies and how to keep them happy and healthy. If you do, they will be with you and your family for a long time.