The Schnauzer Forum

Hi...A friend of my wife has just lost her mini schnauzer to a heart attack at 6 years of age. She had only just got used to it becoming totally blind recently due to an illness. My wife's friend now believes that mini schnauzers don't have a long life span compared to other small dogs. We are now worried about our own loveable Louie who is almost two year old. I also understand that kidney problems are rife in older mini schnauzers due to the fact they don't drink much water. ( I, myself have just experienced the movement of a large kidney stone due to not drinking much water all my life and it is an extremely painful experience).
Does anyone have any knowledge in likely life span of minis and their possible kidney problems in later life?
good to hear your thoughts on the matter......

From what I understand and have heard, most live beyond the age of ten quite easily.

Hi

I just lost my old boy back in April and he was 14.5 years old. He did have kidney problems towards the end, hence a very strict diet from the vets to help his kidneys and liver, but other than that he had a long and good life.

Yes - I would agree with Tulip that minis could expect to live well beyond ten years. I would expect them to reach 13 years at least. I have heard of some who have died young from illness but that should be the exception. Our oldest mini died at just under 14 years (very sudden liver failure and congested lungs); our second was 13 1/2 years old and had a severe stroke one night. Our current oldie is 11 now and still going strong despite a spinal injury which has affected the use of his back legs but otherwise fine. If you are worried about kidney stones it might be worth looking at diet change for little Louie? Also regarding life span - perhaps check with the breeder what age other dogs in their pedigree have reached.

Hi,
We lost Frazer in April, he had liver problems he was on a prescription diet from the vet.
We have had 3 schnauzers who lived till 12, 13 and 14.

My oldest was 15, youngest to die was 10 from cancer. Neither had kidney problems.

My oldest here now is a Giant at very nearly 13 years old, again she is in good health.

Snazy wrote:
My oldest here now is a Giant at very nearly 13 years old, again she is in good health.

I know it was a couple of years ago, but when I met Tara at Delamere I couldn't believe how old she was, she was so energetic and happy!

We lost Rags in February this year she was 13.9 years old, no kidney problems, she did have pancreasitis in 2009 and was hospitalised for that, otherwise a mainly healthy life.

We have just lost our boy at the age of 14 years and 2 months - he lived life life to the full almost to the end, he had a sensitive tum that we manged with a careful diet but apart from that no issues at all, he even managed a couple of good long walks last September on holiday in Scotland, sadly though he developed a problem with his spine and lost the use of his back legs.

Julia

We lost our first schnauzer at 13.5 years. Very healthy until just near the end.

My black mini almost standard schnauzer died today the 27 June 2015 he was 16 years 3 months old. He will be deeply missed (as tears run down my face). The vet states that they feel that it was his heart.

lbn0nr wrote:My black mini almost standard schnauzer died today the 27 June 2015 he was 16 years 3 months old. He will be deeply missed (as tears run down my face). The vet states that they feel that it was his heart.

So very sorry to hear of your loss. That is an amazing lifespan and I am sure you have so many wonderful memories to treasure from over the years. Thinking of you and sending hugs

ibnOnr So sorry for your loss sending a big hug to comfort you.

I have noticed that Hamish does not drink very much so I make sure his breakfast is a wet raw food and minces beef or chicken and part cooked vege for his dinner

That is so sad. You must feel a big hole in your life at the moment. All my sympathies and thoughts are with you.

I am sorry to hear of your friends loss, it must have been a shock at such a young age for that to happen.

My personal thought is that Minis tend to live a long life. I lost my own dear little girl just a couple of days before Christmas last year. Had she lived to see the new year she would have been 18 years old.

Please don't let this experience put you off such a wonderful breed of dog. I will certainly be having another mini if ever I am able to have another (I work full time and do not have anyone to provide daytime care any longer).