Liz, thank you for sharing the links and the information. I appreciate all of the information about older Chihuahuas, it gives all of us who love the breed first hand knowledge of what we can expect as our little ones age. Again, thank you.
Gloria -----Original Message----- From: Liz Bickel & Irv Weinberg <[email protected]> To: Chihuahuas <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, May 31, 2011 12:26 am Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Red, White, & Blue Yes, 22 is quite old. However, this gentleman http://www.pbase.com/britestar/senior_ward_gallery is actually older. Ward just celebrated another birthday a few days ago. I feel blessed beyond words. A dog his age obviously does not have as good of eye sight nor hearing as a young dog. Nevertheless, Ward gets around quite well on his own, lives a very good life, and seems extremely happy. He may now have quite a bit of grey in his hair, sleep a lot more, and have fewer teeth plus a slight heart murmur. Meanwhile, he still has totally clear eyes (something fairly unusual past 20) and hears louder noises. He also acts like any normal Chi; just slower. Five year younger, Blazin has a cataract starting on one eye, but I've seen far younger dogs with far worse cataracts in both eyes. He still hears perfectly. And amazingly he has most of his teeth!!! He's only missing some tiny front ones. That is VERY rare for a Chi of this advanced age. Obviously if he lives long enough, his cataract will worsen. Nevertheless, that won't make him any less precious nor have a bad life. In the past, I've had a few really old Chis with cataracts that did effect their vision. Fortunately, dogs can adapt quite well to the loss of their sight and continue to live a normal life. Blazin's hearing seems completely normal at this point in time. And he also seems to see okay because the cataract isn't very bad yet. As for being a World Record holder, I truthfully wouldn't want the "title" for any of my dogs. IMHO, the Guinness stuff kind of gives a dog "freak status". I just want my dogs to live long, healthy lives; which most seem to do. Ward, however, has been especially remarkable in that department. My average Chis usually only live to about 18 or 19. For us to lose one in the normal middle teens (which we sometimes have) always seems "young" to me. Although the majority of my dogs live to be extremely elderly, I still consider every day past 18 as a special blessing. My two current 16 (going on 17) year olds (born a month apart) look and act like they are only 7 or 8. If you saw them in person, you wouldn't guess they are older. They are the children of Blazin's litter brother. These 16 year olds are both very frisky and in really great, overall shape. They still run and play like youngsters. They also both have perfectly clear eyes & perfect hearing. However, one now has a very slight heart murmur. The other has a touch of pancreatitis. Fortunately, meds seem to be keeping their conditions well under control. The rest of their health is excellent at this time. However as with older people, keeping older dogs healthy can become a rather expensive affair. Mine go to the vet every month or two just for "routine" check ups. These regular check ups make it more possible to catch possible "old age" problems early. Often, that may then help an old dog stay in pretty good health and thus live longer. Of course, long life is a combination of both good care and good genetics. I've seen 7 year old Champion Chihuahuas from other bloodlines look and act far older than even my 22 year old. That really makes me wonder about their genetics!!! Because of all the various, extremely elderly Chis I've known over the years (owned by me and by others), I feel that twenty-one is somewhat young for a dog to hold the "World's Oldest" title. I bet there were actually older dogs than that during the same time frame. However, I think a dog's owner must apply to have their pet recognized as a World Record holder. A lot of pet owners don't know about that or else just aren't interested in this kind of publicity. So the title then goes to a "younger" dog than some of the other currently still-living seniors who have actually seen more birthdays and can prove it. When looking up the World's Oldest Dog, this is what I found http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_dogs Twenty nine is quite old for a dog!!! I'd sure love to see my own dogs live to be that old in good health. Knowing that it is possible for a dog to live 29 years, I hope that Ward will have a couple more good years. Knock on wood. Double knock on wood!!! I find it interesting that not one of the "official" World's Oldest Dog title holders has ever been a Chihuahua. However, I know very that many Chis have lived well past 20 years old and some past even 27. Guess none of their owners, however, were interested in the Guinness thing. I was amazed to see a Bernese Mountain Dog still living at 27 years old. According to this Web Site http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bernesemountain.htm a Bernese Mountain Dog's normal life span is only "About 6-8 years. The average lifespan of the Bernese has decreased in recent years from 10-12 yrs to 6-8 yrs. The BMD Club of America did a health survey in 2000 with 1,322 dogs. The average age of death was 7.2 yrs." This same Web Site http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/chihuahua.htm says that Chihuahuas have a life span of "About 15 or more years." I can't image loving a Bernese Mountain Dog (a wonderful Breed) and know that you'll probably lose them by the age of just 7. Meanwhile, a seven year old Chihuahua is still a fairly young dog with many years still ahead of it. Check out this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjgRvaDCOaI If that Chi is actually 32 years old in human years, she sure looks in great shape!!! In fact, actually "too great" to actually be 32 year old... Nevertheless IF for some reason this were true (and I doubt it), 32 is REALLY old - even for a Chihuahua!!! Them thair would be some amazing doggy genes... Liz Wow 22 that is amazing. Of course these things are never clear, but the 'oldest dog' thing is often quoted at 21, so who knows, maybe a record. If you search around the net you mostly see 21 and 26 as the oldest claims. He looks great in the pic, how is he doing these days, sight? hearing?
