Average Lifespan of a Shih Tzu: What to Expect

The Short Answer: About 12 to 14 Years

Most Shih Tzus live somewhere between 10 and 16 years, and the best available data puts the middle of that range around 12 to 13.

The strongest number comes from a 2024 study in Canine Medicine and Genetics, which followed 11,082 Shih Tzus under primary veterinary care in the UK. The median age at death was 12.7 years, with half the dogs dying between 8.7 and 14.3 years — and a recorded maximum of 19.9 years.

PetMD gives a wider published range of 10 to 18 years for the breed. Both are true in their own way: 12.7 is what actually happens across thousands of real dogs, while 18 is what the far tail looks like.

That puts Shih Tzus comfortably above the all-breed average. Small dogs simply outlive big ones — the same reason a Yorkie tends to reach its mid-teens while a Great Dane rarely sees ten.

What Shih Tzus Actually Die From

Here's the part most breed pages get wrong: there is no single killer condition in this breed.

In the 2024 study, the three most common causes of death each accounted for just 7.9% — intestinal disease, heart disease, and euthanasia for declining quality of life. No single cause came close to dominating the breed, which is a genuinely encouraging pattern to see.

What that means practically: your Shih Tzu is far more likely to accumulate several manageable problems over a decade than to be blindsided by one catastrophic diagnosis. Longevity in this breed is mostly a game of steady maintenance, not disaster prevention.

The Five Things That Actually Shorten a Shih Tzu's Life

The same study ranked what Shih Tzus are treated for, and the list is remarkably consistent with what vets flag for the breed.

1. Dental disease

Periodontal disease was the single most commonly diagnosed disorder at 9.5%, and dental problems as a group hit 13.3%. Shih Tzus have a full-size set of teeth crammed into a shortened jaw, so plaque gets trapped in places a normal muzzle would never allow.

This is not a cosmetic issue. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that more than two-thirds of dogs over three have some degree of periodontal disease, and that bacteria from severe oral disease entering the bloodstream may be linked to changes in the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Daily brushing is the highest-return two minutes you will spend on your dog.

2. Extra weight

Obesity is on every vet list for the breed, and for good reason. A Shih Tzu should weigh 9 to 16 pounds. Two extra pounds on a 12-pound dog is proportionally like 25 pounds on an adult human — and it lands on knees already prone to luxating patellas, and lungs already working harder than most.

Portion size does more here than food brand. If you are eyeballing scoops, check what your dog's weight actually calls for.

3. A flat face

Shih Tzus are brachycephalic. The shortened skull can restrict airflow, which is why some dogs in the breed snore, snort, and struggle in heat. Heatstroke is a genuine risk on summer walks that a Labrador would shrug off.

Walk early or late in hot weather, use a harness rather than a collar, and take the panting seriously — a Shih Tzu that cannot cool down is in more trouble, faster, than a long-nosed dog.

4. Eyes

Eye disorders showed up in 11.9% of the breed. Those large, prominent eyes sit close to the ground and are poorly protected, so scratches, dryness, and ulcers are common. Trimming the hair around the eyes and wiping the face daily prevents a meaningful share of these.

5. Skin and ears

Skin disorders topped the grouped list at 16.6%, with ear disorders at 10.2%. Facial folds and drop ears both trap moisture. A dry fold is a boring fold, and boring is what you want.

What This Means for Your Shih Tzu

The gap between a Shih Tzu that dies at 9 and one that reaches 16 is rarely genetic luck. It is usually the accumulated effect of five or six small daily decisions repeated for a decade.

That is genuinely good news, because every item on the list above is something you control:

• Dental care — brushing is free and the single highest-impact habit in this breed
• Weight — you decide the portion size every day
• Heat exposure — you choose when the walk happens
• Face and ear hygiene — a wipe takes fifteen seconds
• Early detection — twice-yearly vet visits after age eight catch heart and intestinal problems while they are still manageable

Notice that none of these require a bigger budget. They require remembering.

Practical Takeaways

1. Expect 12 to 14 years, and treat 15 or 16 as an achievable goal rather than a fluke.
2. Brush their teeth daily. Dental disease is the most-diagnosed problem in the breed and it does not stay in the mouth.
3. Keep them at 9 to 16 pounds. You should feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat.
4. Respect the flat face in summer. Early and late walks, shade, water, and a harness.
5. Wipe the face and dry the ears daily. Skin and eye problems are the two most common categories in the breed.
6. Switch to twice-yearly checkups at eight. Middle age is when the manageable problems start, and catching them early is what buys the extra years.
7. Adjust food as they age. Around eight to ten, calorie needs drop while joint and kidney support becomes more relevant — senior formulas exist for a reason.

A Shih Tzu that reaches 15 is not a different dog from one that reaches 10. It is usually the same dog with better teeth, a leaner frame, and an owner who caught things early.

If you want to see where your own dog sits, how long dogs live in general and how dog years actually map to human years are useful context — a 12-year-old Shih Tzu is not the same life stage as a 12-year-old retriever.