How long do Silky Terriers live?

The median lifespan of the Silky Terrier is 13.3 years, based on the 2024 McMillan et al. study of 584,734 UK dogs.

Is the Silky Terrier a healthy breed?

On the Breed Health Score the Silky Terrier scores 80 out of 100 (grade A), compared with an average of 71 across 155 breeds.

80/ 100

Silky Terrier Grade A

Q: What health problems do Silky Terriers have?

Commonly reported conditions in the Silky Terrier include Patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes, Progressive retinal atrophy, Cataracts, Portosystemic shunt.

Median lifespani 13.3 yr · size n/a

⇆ Compare Silky Terrier

The Silky Terrier is a breed with a median lifespan of 13.3 years, which places it around the middle of the 155 breeds we rank for longevity. Commonly reported health conditions include Patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes, Progressive retinal atrophy, Cataracts. Its overall Breed Health Score is 80/100 (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 Legg-Calve-Perthes Progressive retinal atrophy Cataracts Portosystemic shunt

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 Silky 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/silky-terrier/">Silky 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: Pixabay via Pexels.