How long do Japanese Spitzs live?

The median lifespan of the Japanese Spitz is 13.0 years, based on the 2024 McMillan et al. study of 584,734 UK dogs.

Is the Japanese Spitz a healthy breed?

On the Breed Health Score the Japanese Spitz scores 77 out of 100 (grade A), compared with an average of 71 across 155 breeds.

77/ 100

Japanese Spitz Grade A

Q: What health problems do Japanese Spitzs have?

Commonly reported conditions in the Japanese Spitz include Patellar luxation, Progressive retinal atrophy, Hip dysplasia, Muscular dystrophy, Factor VII deficiency.

Median lifespani 13.0 yr · size n/a

⇆ Compare Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz is a breed with a median lifespan of 13.0 years, which places it around the middle of the 155 breeds we rank for longevity. Commonly reported health conditions include Patellar luxation, Progressive retinal atrophy, Hip dysplasia, Muscular dystrophy. Its overall Breed Health Score is 77/100 (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 Progressive retinal atrophy Hip dysplasia Muscular dystrophy Factor VII deficiency

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 Japanese Spitz? 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/japanese-spitz/">Japanese Spitz 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: Tomal Bhattacharjee via Pexels.