How long do Cairn Terriers live?

The median lifespan of the Cairn Terrier is 14.0 years, based on the 2024 McMillan et al. study of 584,734 UK dogs.

Is the Cairn Terrier a healthy breed?

On the Breed Health Score the Cairn Terrier scores 86 out of 100 (grade A), compared with an average of 71 across 155 breeds.

86/ 100

Cairn Terrier Grade A

Q: What health problems do Cairn Terriers have?

Commonly reported conditions in the Cairn Terrier include Patellar luxation, Portosystemic shunt, Craniomandibular osteopathy, Globoid cell leukodystrophy, Cataracts.

Median lifespani 14.0 yr · small · 6-8 kg

⇆ Compare Cairn Terrier

The Cairn Terrier is a small breed with a median lifespan of 14.0 years, which places it among the longest-lived third of the 155 breeds we rank for longevity. Commonly reported health conditions include Patellar luxation, Portosystemic shunt, Craniomandibular osteopathy, Globoid cell leukodystrophy. Its overall Breed Health Score is 86/100 (grade A), against an average of 71/100 across all breeds.

Score breakdown

Longevityi 65%

Conformationi 20%

100

Hereditary burdeni 15%

Higher is healthier. See methodology.

Common & hereditary conditions

Patellar luxation Portosystemic shunt Craniomandibular osteopathy Globoid cell leukodystrophy Cataracts

Red marks a life-threatening or major-welfare condition. Click a condition to see which breeds it affects. This list reflects commonly reported conditions, so better-studied breeds may show more; hereditary burden is the lightest-weighted part of the score. Source: RVC VetCompass / AKC / PDSA (indicative).

Thinking of a Cairn Terrier? A breed's health profile affects insurance cost. Comparing pet insurance early, before any conditions become pre-existing, usually gets the best cover.

Compare with similar-size breeds

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<div style="font:12px -apple-system,Segoe UI,Roboto,sans-serif;margin-top:4px"><a href="https://breedhealthscore.com/breed/cairn-terrier/">Cairn Terrier health score on Breed Health Score</a></div>

Data & citation. Median lifespan: McMillan, K.M. et al. (2024) "Longevity of companion dog breeds", Scientific Reports (584,734 UK dogs). Data CC-BY 4.0. Source. Machine-readable: developer API. These are independent estimates for comparing breeds, not veterinary advice. Photo: Jordan Heinz via Pexels.