Longevity
Life expectancy
With a life expectancy generally between 12 and 15 years, the Tibetan Spaniel is one of the small dogs that can accompany their family for a long time. This longevity depends on the quality of the breeding, the diet, daily activity, and the preventive follow-up put in place throughout its life.
Constitution
Is this a robust breed?
This dog shows adequate robustness and copes well with family life when it benefits from a stable lifestyle and regular care. Its small size nevertheless requires staying attentive to its joints, its eyes and its day-to-day comfort. Its hardiness does not exempt it from serious prevention.
Things to watch for
What to look out for
Vigilance must focus primarily on the eyes, the knees and the urinary system, with particular attention in case of locomotor discomfort, abnormal tearing, decreased vision or urinary disorders. Screening in breeding dogs and routine check-ups help to limit unpleasant surprises.
Patellar luxation: This orthopedic condition can cause intermittent lameness or locomotor discomfort and deserves prompt veterinary monitoring.
Generalized retinal atrophy: This degenerative eye disease leads to a progressive decline in vision that can progress to blindness.
Urinary stones: The breed may present urinary disorders linked to the formation of stones, with pain, difficulty urinating, or recurrences.
Persistent pupillary membrane: This congenital eye abnormality may be benign or require follow-up depending on its severity and its visual consequences.
Climate
Tolerance to cold and heat
The Tibetan Spaniel is not comfortable in extreme weather conditions. It tolerates intense cold and marked heat poorly, even if it enjoys daily outings. In case of difficult temperatures, it must always be able to rely on a sheltered, temperate and comfortable environment.
Weight
Prone to weight gain
The breed is not known for a strong tendency to become overweight, but its small size makes any excess quickly visible. Measured portions, few extras and daily walks are generally enough to maintain a harmonious physical condition. Regular weight monitoring remains useful after spaying/neutering or with age.
Everyday care
Good habits to keep your pet healthy
- Monitor any limping or hopping that could suggest a patellar luxation.
- Have any ocular sign checked promptly, such as unusual tearing or decreased vision.
- Consult without delay in case of difficulty urinating or abnormal urine.
- Maintain regular veterinary follow-up to support its good longevity.
Vaccination
Tibetan Spaniel vaccinations: schedule
Which vaccines does a Tibetan Spaniel need? Like all dogs, Tibetan Spaniels should receive their core vaccines from 8 weeks of age: CHPPi (core vaccine) and Leptospirosis. Puppies receive their initial Tibetan Spaniel vaccinations in several shots spaced 4 weeks apart, followed by a first booster at 1 year. Depending on their lifestyle (hunting, hiking, boarding, travel, region), your veterinarian may add vaccines against Rabies, Kennel cough, Piroplasmosis, Lyme disease and Leishmaniasis.
| Vaccine | Primary vaccination | First booster | Then | For whom? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CHPPi (core vaccine)Core Distemper, Rubarth hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza | 8 weeks · 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | All animals |
LeptospirosisCore Leptospirosis (bacterium transmitted by rodent urine and stagnant water) | 8 weeks · 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | All animals |
RabiesDepending on lifestyle Rabies | 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | Mandatory for travel abroad, categorized dogs, most boarding kennels and shows |
Kennel coughDepending on lifestyle Bordetella bronchiseptica and parainfluenza | 8 weeks | 1 year | every year | Dogs attending boarding kennels, daycares, dog clubs and shows |
PiroplasmosisDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne babesiosis | 5 months · 6 months | 1 year | every year | Hunting dogs, dogs living in rural or wooded areas, dogs highly exposed to ticks |
Lyme diseaseDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne borreliosis | 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | Hiking dogs, hunting dogs, forest areas of the East and the Center |
LeishmaniasisDepending on lifestyle Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies | 6 months | 1 year and 6 months | every year | Dogs living or staying in the South of France, Corsica and the Mediterranean basin |
Adult Tibetan Spaniel booster shots are given annually for leptospirosis and rabies. For distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus, a booster every three years is often enough after the first booster. Your veterinarian will tailor the schedule to your dog's actual risk.
Which boosters does your Tibetan Spaniel need?
Enter your companion's age to see which vaccines are due now and when the next boosters are needed.
Choosing well
Adopting a healthy Tibetan Spaniel
An ophthalmological examination, an evaluation of the patellas and attention paid to the urinary tract are relevant in the monitoring of the breed. In an adoption project, it is preferable to turn to a breeder capable of documenting the health history of his breeding dogs and the seriousness of his selection.
This information is for guidance only and doesn't replace advice from a veterinarian. If you have any concerns about your pet's health, consult a professional.
