Shih Tzu Lifespan: A Flat-Faced Breed That Lives Long
The best current estimate is that Shih Tzus live a median of 12.8 years: half live longer, half don't get that far. That comes from the largest study of UK dog lifespans so far, which covered 584,734 dogs, including 12,007 Shih Tzus. It's slightly longer than the median for dogs overall, and that's unusual for a flat-faced breed. French Bulldogs and Bulldogs in the same data reached just 9.8.
Key takeaways
- Shih Tzus have a median lifespan of 12.8 years, against 12.5 for dogs overall and 11.2 for flat-faced purebreds (McMillan et al. 2024).
- A UK vet records study found almost the same figure: a median age at death of 12.7 years (Dale et al. 2024).
- Males and females showed no meaningful difference in that study.
- Eye problems and gum disease are the issues to watch as they age, not just breathing.
- With a 12.8-year median, a Shih Tzu reaches the senior stage at about 9 and a half.
Shih Tzu lifespan next to other flat-faced breeds
Median lifespan from the 2024 study of 584,734 UK dogs.
| Source | What it measured | Shih Tzu |
|---|---|---|
| McMillan et al. 2024584,734 UK dogs | Median lifespan | 12.8 years95% CI 12.6–12.9 |
| Dale et al. 202485 UK Shih Tzus that died | Median age at death | 12.7 years |
| Teng et al. 2022About 635 UK Shih Tzus that died | Life expectancy at birth | 11.05 years95% CI 10.7–11.4 |
| American Kennel Club | General breed range | 10–18 years |
The 12.8 and 12.7 are close despite coming from very different datasets. The lower 11.05 is a life table estimate, which deaths at young ages pull down more than a median. For comparison, the same study's figure for dogs overall was 11.23, so Shih Tzus sit close to average there too.
Why flat faces don't tell the whole story
Flat-faced dogs usually have shorter lives. The Shih Tzu is a clear exception, and the 2024 VetCompass study backs that up from a different angle. Its authors found the breed's common diagnoses looked much like those of dogs overall, and describe it as having its own disorder profile that differs from other flat-faced breeds. The study doesn't explain why, and we won't guess at a cause.
That doesn't mean the face is irrelevant. Flat-faced conformation is linked to eye problems and airway obstruction, and airway obstruction has been reported in Shih Tzus. If yours snores loudly at rest or struggles in the heat, bring it up with your vet.
What do Shih Tzus usually die from?
No single cause dominates, and the sample is small: 89 deaths, 73 of them with a recorded cause. Three causes tied at 7 deaths each:
- Enteropathy: gut disease, with signs such as diarrhea and vomiting
- Heart disease
- Poor quality of life
With numbers this small, read that as a rough picture rather than a ranking. Heart murmurs were more often diagnosed in males.
Do female Shih Tzus live longer than males?
Not in the data we have. In the same study, females died at a median of 12.6 years and males at 12.7, and the difference wasn't statistically significant. It's based on 85 dogs, so it isn't the last word. Across all dogs in McMillan's data, females lived slightly longer: 12.7 years against 12.4.
Can a Shih Tzu live to 18 or 20?
Eighteen is the top of the AKC's range, and the oldest Shih Tzu in the vet records study died at 19.9 years, so very long lives do happen. They're rare, though. A quarter of the dogs in that study had died by about 8.7 years, and three quarters by about 14.3.
Health issues that come up as Shih Tzus age
- Eyes. 11.9% of Shih Tzus had an eye disorder diagnosed in one year. Dry eye and corneal ulcers were both more common after age 7. A sore eye can get worse quickly, so don't wait for the next routine visit.
- Teeth. Periodontal (gum) disease was the most common single diagnosis at 9.5%, and it rose with age. That's actually a little below the 12.5% reported for dogs overall.
- Skin, ears and anal sacs. Skin disorders were the most common group at 16.6%. Anal sac impaction affected 7.4% and ear disorders 5.5%.
What this means for your Shih Tzu
- Plan for senior care at about 9 and a half. AAHA treats the last quarter of a dog's expected lifespan as the senior stage. With a 12.8-year median, that comes before the age of 12 we use for small dogs in general.
- Read the median as a midpoint, not a deadline. Half of the Shih Tzus in the study lived longer than 12.8 years.
- Keep eyes and teeth on the checkup list, especially after age 7.
- Convert your Shih Tzu's age with the breed in mind. On our scale, a 10-year-old Shih Tzu is about 66 in human years and a 14-year-old about 78. Our Shih Tzu age calculator does the rest, and our guide explains how dog years work.
How old is your Shih Tzu in human years? Enter their age for a breed-specific answer and life stage.
Frequently asked questions
How long do Shih Tzus live?
A median of 12.8 years, according to a 2024 study of 584,734 UK dogs that included 12,007 Shih Tzus. The median for all dogs in that study was 12.5 years.
Do Shih Tzus live shorter lives because of their flat faces?
Not by the usual pattern. Flat-faced purebreds had a median of 11.2 years in the 2024 UK study, and Shih Tzus reached 12.8, above the average for dogs overall. Flat-face problems such as eye and airway issues still apply to the breed.
What do Shih Tzus usually die from?
No single cause dominates. In a UK vet records study of 89 deaths, the most common recorded causes were enteropathy (gut disease), heart disease and poor quality of life, with 7 deaths each.
Can a Shih Tzu live to 20?
It would be very unusual. The oldest Shih Tzu in a UK vet records study died at 19.9 years, so it isn't impossible, but half of the breed doesn't reach 13.
Do female Shih Tzus live longer than males?
Not in the data we have. In a UK vet records study, females died at a median of 12.6 years and males at 12.7, and the difference wasn't statistically significant.
When is a Shih Tzu considered a senior?
From about 9 and a half years old. That's the last 25% of a 12.8-year median lifespan, which is how AAHA defines the senior stage.
Sources
- McMillan KM, Bielby J, Williams CL, Upjohn MM, Casey RA, Christley RM (2024). Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports 14: 531. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w
- Dale F, Brodbelt DC, West G, Church DB, Lee YH, O'Neill DG (2024). Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Medicine and Genetics 11: 2. doi:10.1186/s40575-023-00135-y
- Teng KT, Brodbelt DC, Pegram C, Church DB, O'Neill DG (2022). Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom. Scientific Reports 12: 6415. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-10341-6
- Creevy KE, et al. (2019). 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 55(6): 267–290. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6999
- American Kennel Club. Shih Tzu breed profile.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for questions about your dog's health.
