Shih Tzu Lifespan: Life Expectancy, Health and Age in Human Years

Use the calculator for your Shih Tzu's age in human years. Below it, see what vet records say about Shih Tzu life expectancy and health.

By the Dog Age Tools team · Facts checked against the AVMA, the AKC and peer reviewed studies · Math covered by unit tests · Last updated October 22, 2026 · Our method

Not veterinary advice. These tools give estimates for general interest. Your dog's health, weight and care plan should come from a licensed veterinarian who has examined your dog.

What is the average Shih Tzu life expectancy?

The AKC lists a Shih Tzu life expectancy of 10 to 18 years, a wide range. A study of UK vet records found a median age at death of 12.7 years. That makes the Shih Tzu a fairly long lived breed. Most owners can plan for a dog that lives into its early or middle teens.

The VetCompass Shih Tzu study by the Royal Veterinary College covered 11,082 Shih Tzus seen at UK clinics in 2016. Key numbers:

Median age at death: 12.7 years
Middle half of deaths: 8.7 to 14.3 years
Oldest dog in the study: 19.9 years
Mean adult weight: 7.9 kg, or about 17 pounds
No real gap in age at death between males and females

A second study using life tables, by Teng and colleagues in 2022, put Shih Tzu life expectancy at birth at 11.05 years. Life expectancy at birth counts puppies that die young, so it is usually lower than the median age of adult deaths.

Shih Tzu health problems to watch

The study authors checked the full records of 2,423 Shih Tzus for one year. These were the most common single problems:

Most common Shih Tzu disorders in one year
Problem	Share of dogs
Periodontal (gum) disease	9.5%
Anal sac impaction	7.4%
Ear disorders	5.5%

By group, skin problems were the largest (16.6 percent), then dental (13.3 percent) and eye problems (11.9 percent). Shih Tzus had more anal sac impaction, umbilical hernias and eye problems than earlier reports for dogs overall. Males had more skin and joint or muscle problems. Females had more hernias.

Why the eyes matter

Eye problems were common enough that the authors flagged them as a possible breed weakness. Watch for squinting, redness, cloudiness or pawing at the face, and see a vet promptly.

What limits Shih Tzu lifespan?

No single cause dominated. The top grouped causes of death were bowel disease, heart disease and poor quality of life, each at 7.9 percent of deaths with a known cause. That spread fits a breed that often lives long enough to face several age related problems at once.

Shih Tzu age in human years

A Shih Tzu sits in the small size class, at 9 to 16 pounds by the AKC standard. Small dogs add about 4 human years per year after age 2.

Shih Tzu age in human years
Age	Human years	DNA clock
1	15	31
2	24	42
3	28	49
4	32	53
5	36	57
6	40	60
7	44	62
8	48	64
9	52	66
10	56	68
11	60	69
12	64	71
13	68	72
14	72	73
15	76	74
16	80	75
17		76
18		77

The DNA clock column comes from a 2020 study of Labrador blood samples. Small breeds often live longer than Labs, so the size chart is the better guide here.

Senior care for a Shih Tzu

Plan for senior care from about 8 to 11 years, the AVMA range for small dogs. The AVMA advises vet visits twice a year or more for senior pets. For a Shih Tzu, ask the vet to look closely at teeth, eyes, ears, skin and anal glands, since those were the most common problem areas.

Teeth: the authors named oral hygiene as a top health priority. Daily brushing and regular dental checks help.
Coat and skin: a long coat can hide skin sores and mats. Part the hair and check the skin each week, or keep a short trim.
Ears: ear problems were the third most common issue. Ask your vet how to clean the ears and how often.
Anal glands: scooting or licking the rear can mean impaction. A vet or groomer can empty the glands.
Weight: a 17 pound dog that gains 2 pounds has gained over 10 percent. Weigh monthly.

More breed pages

Shih Tzu questions

How long do Shih Tzus live?

Most live into their early teens. The AKC range is 10 to 18 years. In UK vet records, the median age at death was 12.7 years, and half of the dogs that died were between 8.7 and 14.3.

What is the oldest Shih Tzu on record in research?

The oldest Shih Tzu in the VetCompass study was 19.9 years old at death.

What are the most common Shih Tzu health problems?

In UK clinics, the top problems in one year were gum disease (9.5 percent), anal sac impaction (7.4 percent) and ear problems (5.5 percent). Skin, dental and eye problems were the largest groups.

When is a Shih Tzu a senior?

Using the AVMA rule of the last 25 percent of life and the AKC range of 10 to 18 years, senior age falls between about 7.5 and 13.5. The AVMA size guide for small dogs gives 8 to 11, which is a sensible middle point.

How old is a 12 year old Shih Tzu in human years?

About 64 on the small dog chart. The DNA clock gives about 71.

Shih Tzu Lifespan

Age in human years