Shih Tzu Lifespan: How Long They Live and What It Costs

The average lifespan of Shih Tzus is about 12-13 years. A 2024 study of UK dogs found a median age at death of 12.7 years, and PetBudget's model uses 13. At that length a Shih Tzu costs $34,640, or about $2,665 for each year of life.

Shih Tzu lifespan at a glance

Shih Tzu lifespan is 10-16 years in PetBudget's breed data, and the typical figure is 13. The measures below come from one breed study, one life-table study and PetBudget's cost model.

Measure	Result	Source
Median age at death, Shih Tzu	12.7 years	Dale et al., VetCompass, 2024
Middle half of deaths	8.7-14.3 years	Dale et al.
Oldest dog that died in the data	19.9 years	Dale et al.
Life expectancy at birth, small purebred dogs	13.53 years	Banfield data, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2023
PetBudget breed data	13 years (range 10-16)	PetBudget
Lifetime cost at 13 years	$34,640	PetBudget model

Photo: Canino21 / Wikimedia Commons, public domain

How long do Shih Tzus live?

Shih Tzus live about 12.7 years at the median, and the middle half of dogs that died lived between 8.7 and 14.3 years. The figure comes from Dale and colleagues' 2024 VetCompass study in Canine Medicine and Genetics. It used 2016 clinical records from UK vets and covered 11,082 Shih Tzus under care. The oldest dog that died in the data was 19.9 years old.

The authors found no statistically significant difference between males and females. They concluded that Shih Tzus appear relatively long-lived compared with earlier lifespan reports for dogs overall.

Two cautions apply. The 12.7-year figure describes dogs that died in the dataset. The median age of all Shih Tzus in the records was only 4.1 years, so most were still alive. The data are also from the UK. Treat 12-13 years as a planning number, not a promise for a U.S. puppy.

Shih Tzu life expectancy compared with other dogs

A Shih Tzu lives about as long as the average small dog and two years longer than the average large one. A 2023 Banfield life-table study used U.S. clinic records. It put small purebred dogs at 13.53 years at birth, toy dogs at 13.36 and medium dogs at 12.7. Large dogs came in at 11.51 and giant dogs at 9.51.

That makes the breed's 12.7-year median look ordinary for its size. The two numbers measure different things, so compare them loosely. The small frame helps. The flat face brings airway risks, described below.

For giant-breed contrasts, see the Great Dane lifespan guide and the Irish wolfhound lifespan guide. For the full breed list, use dog lifespan by breed.

What health problems affect Shih Tzu lifespan?

The most common Shih Tzu diagnoses are skin, dental and eye problems. In the VetCompass study of 2,423 dogs with detailed records, skin disorders affected 16.6%, dental disorders 13.3% and eye disorders 11.9%.

At the single-disorder level, periodontal disease led at 9.5%. Anal sac impaction followed at 7.4% and ear disorders at 5.5%. The authors say Shih Tzus had higher rates of anal sac impaction, umbilical hernias and eye problems than reported in dogs overall. They flag oral hygiene as a priority.

Causes of death were spread out. Enteropathy, heart disease and poor quality of life each accounted for 7.9% of grouped causes. Those shares rest on few deaths. The confidence intervals run from about 4% to 15%. No single killer stands out. Males were more likely than females to have skin and musculoskeletal diagnoses.

What the Shih Tzu lifespan data cannot tell you

The VetCompass data show what UK vets recorded, not what every owner experienced. Dogs under primary care are those whose owners visit a vet, which may favor healthier or more cared-for pets. The disorder counts come from 2016 records, so newer trends are not captured.

Records also cannot show a dog's diet, coat length or tooth-brushing habits. Those choices shape the health costs below. Use the 12.7-year median as a center point, and plan for the 9-14 year spread around it.

What Shih Tzu health problems cost

The Shih Tzu health costs to plan for are airway surgery, patellar luxation and dental care. PetBudget's breed data lists these along with dry eye and corneal ulcers.

Condition	Typical cost	Source
Brachycephalic airway syndrome surgery	$3,500 (range $2,000-$5,000)	PetBudget breed data, ACVS brachycephalic syndrome page
Patellar luxation surgery	$3,000 (range $1,000-$5,000)	PetBudget breed data
Periodontal disease treatment	$500 (range $300-$700)	PetBudget breed data, AVMA pet dental care page

Dental care is the cost most owners can reduce. Periodontal disease is the most common single diagnosis, so daily brushing pays off. Our dog and cat teeth cleaning cost guide shows what a cleaning runs and what extractions add. The Shih Tzu price guide covers purchase and first-year costs.

What does each year of a Shih Tzu's life cost?

A year of life costs about $2,665 over 13 years. The first year is $4,580 and each later year is $2,505. The yearly figure is insurance at $795, grooming at $741, vet care at $668, food at $172 and supplies at $129.

Lifespan	Lifetime cost	Cost per year of life
9 years	$24,620	$2,736
13 years (model)	$34,640	$2,665
14 years	$37,145	$2,653
16 years	$42,155	$2,635
20 years	$52,175	$2,609

The 9-year and 14-year rows match the ends of the VetCompass middle half. A Shih Tzu at the top of that range costs about $12,500 more than one lost at 9. A longer life lowers the cost per year, since the first year is spread across more years.

Why grooming is a lifespan-sized cost

Grooming is the second-largest yearly line for a Shih Tzu, at $741. PetBudget rates the breed's grooming 5 out of 5. The long coat needs regular brushing and professional trims, and that cost repeats for the dog's whole life.

Over 13 years, grooming alone adds up to about $9,633 at the model's rate. Keeping the coat short cuts the bill and the brushing time. A shorter cut also makes it easier to see skin problems, which were the most common diagnosis in the study.

Shih Tzu cost compared with other small breeds

A Shih Tzu is the costliest per year of life among five popular small dogs in PetBudget's data. The cause is grooming and insurance, not lifespan.

Breed	Life used	Lifetime cost	Per year of life
Shih Tzu	13 years	$34,640	$2,665
Pug	13 years	$30,701	$2,362
Dachshund	14 years	$30,957	$2,211
Yorkshire terrier	13 years	$26,811	$2,062
Chihuahua	15 years	$26,291	$1,753

The Shih Tzu's 13-year life matches the Pug and Yorkshire terrier. Its higher yearly bill comes from the long coat and the airway and dental risks. See the Yorkshire terrier price guide and Pug price guide for those breeds.

Shih Tzu lifetime cost

The Shih Tzu lifetime cost is $34,640 in PetBudget's model, and the first year is 13% of it. The total adds the first-year cost to 12 later years at $2,505.

Point in life	Total spent so far
Year 1	$4,580
Year 5	$14,600
Year 10	$27,125
Year 13 (lifetime)	$34,640

Vet prices are the unstable input. The BLS data behind PetBudget's forecast shows veterinary services rising 7.8% in the year to September 2025. The default assumes 3%. Later years are vet-heavy, so try your own rate in the calculator. PetBudget sets a $2,000 emergency reserve for a small dog.

How to help a Shih Tzu live a long, healthy life

Nothing guarantees extra years, but the study points to a few steps. Each targets a documented problem.

1. Brush teeth daily. Periodontal disease was the most common single diagnosis.
2. Check skin and eyes monthly. Skin and eye disorders were the top grouped diagnoses.
3. Watch breathing. Noisy breathing or exercise intolerance can signal airway syndrome.
4. Keep the coat short. It lowers the $741 grooming bill and helps you spot skin issues.
5. Insure early. Enrolling before a first diagnosis keeps dental and airway claims eligible. See is pet insurance worth it.

Plug in your own dog and city in the PetBudget calculator, or compare breeds on the compare page.