i have poodles but growing up i had a chihuahua that lived to be 21 the day we had to put her to sleep she could still see and hear it was a very sad day. i got her when i was 12 and lost her 3 days after i lost my mother i was 33 then chi-chi had hurt her back some how and had lost all control of bowels and urination plus she couldnt walk and was in severe pain took her to the vet and sd nothing could be done so i had to make a very painfull decision and i know my vet was right he cried just as hard as i did you see he had been her vet from the beginning 6wks old. after he put her to sleep he took a early and long lunch. i also went to work for him several years later and stayed with him till he retired. and still work for one of his partners. i owe her long healthy life to him. white chihuahuas are not as rare as you think we see alot of them at the clinic. chihuahuas do rule the roost.