The Shih Tzu is sort of the dynamic toy canine. They’ve one of many oldest lineages of all canine breeds in existence (and a historical past which is deeply rooted in Chinese language royalty) and but nonetheless stays much like even their earliest depictions. The precise title Shih Tzu interprets to ‘little lion’ which most definitely derives from the truth that they’ve ‘manes’ round their face.
They’re an cute breed crammed with spunk and power, and assume extraordinarily extremely of themselves. Nevertheless they’re not dignified to a fault and as a substitute of conceitedness, this little canine is just pleased and assured in their very own pores and skin. The Shih Tzu breed’s total existence is to like and be beloved and make fantastic companions for any house.
Shih Tzu’s are recognized for his or her longevity as they stay on common wherever from 10-16 years. Although they’re historically a fairly wholesome canine breed, Shih Tzu’s are inclined to some well being points. It is very important perceive these points so that you could look out for signs and assist maintain your pup wholesome.
Keratitis
If there’s one frequent thread between the vary of Shih Tzu well being points, it’s that their eyes can fail. Keratitis is an irritation of the cornea which may finally lead to an ulcer. Within the case of a corneal ulcer, your Shih Tzu will typically must bear surgical procedure. Sadly, Keratitis does certainly trigger blindness if the situation is extreme sufficient.
Proptosis 
One other eye-related dysfunction, this happens when the eyeball truly dislodges from the socket and the eyelid shuts behind it. It’s extremely painful, typically time requires surgical procedure, and may certainly trigger blindness.
Typically the primary signs start with an irritation of the attention, and time beyond regulation you’ll be capable to discover the your canine’s eye start to maneuver ahead. Fortunately, there are surgical procedures out there for this situation.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
This illness happens when the photoreceptors behind the attention begins to fail. At first it begins with night time blindness. Your Shih Tzu can have a tough time navigating at midnight, and infrequently appear clumsy.
Because it progresses, it begins to have an effect on their daytime imaginative and prescient as properly. Normally, PRA will finally result in full blindness. Whereas there’s no remedy out there for this situation, veterinarians can diagnose it years earlier than blindness ensues, which allots an inexpensive period of time for the canine to adapt to the blindness.
With these three situations in thoughts, make sure to all the time be eager on the way in which your Shih Tzu’s eyes develop. In the event that they’re ever purple or swollen or for those who discover your canine itching them steadily, it’s greatest you are taking your pup to see a veterinarian to allow them to diagnose the issue. Many eye-related issues should be caught early so as to be absolutely repaired.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is without doubt one of the most typical situations that have an effect on canine basically. Normally it’s seen in larger canine that develop too rapidly into their our bodies, however it may possibly additionally happen in smaller canines just like the Shih Tzu.
Hip Dysplasia can happen in Shih Tzu’s as a result of they love to leap round, notably of their youth. Typically they overestimate their capabilities and land too laborious, inflicting an damage that develops into Hip Dysplasia years later.
It impacts the hip joint, and creates a displacement between the joint and thigh bone. Hip Dysplasia varies in levels of severity, and infrequently the canine will stroll with a little bit of an irregular gait and joint paint however stay a very wholesome life.
If it’s unhealthy sufficient, this difficulty can require surgical procedure. Signs of hip dysplasia embody an irregular gait, lameness within the leg(s), problem strolling or shifting the leg, and at worst immobility.
Allergy symptoms
A lot of smaller canine might be affected by allergic reactions. Allergy symptoms within the canine world are fairly much like allergic reactions that have an effect on the human anatomy.
Typically the allergic reactions are food-based, and the issue is solved by enjoying a recreation of elimination along with your canine’s weight-reduction plan.
However your canine can be allergic to sure merchandise like shampoo or flea powders. Whereas much less frequent, some Shih Tzu’s are allergic to airborne allergens like pollen or mud.
Signs embody itching, redness within the eyes, rashes, an upset abdomen, and a lack of urge for food. Very hardly ever are allergic reactions life threatening, however they typically make your canine fairly uncomfortable.
Ear Infections
The construction of the Shih Tzu’s ears makes them liable to ear infections. The floppy ears give solution to a heat lengthy canal, which may typically be the stomping grounds for micro organism.
One of many telltale indicators of an ear an infection is odor, or in case your Shih Tzu is abnormally jumpy or frantic within the wake of loud noises.
There are remedies and antibiotics out there for this situation and it’s best to convey your canine to the vet.
Collapsing Trachea
This situation is extra typically present in little canine, because of the construction of their faces. The trachea (often known as the windpipe) consists of cartilage. If the cartilage weakens, the construction will flatten, and respiration turns into a troublesome and painful course of to your little canine.
This may be corrected by way of surgical procedure if extreme sufficient, however at occasions your canine will modify to the collapsed trachea (so lengthy that isn’t impairing airflow).
Intervertebral Disk Illness
Intervertebral Disk Illness typically happens in canine with shorter legs however a big again, as this construct might be structurally risky for the backbone. It happens when a disk slips out and presses towards the spinal twine. The signs embody muscle spasms, weak point within the limb(s), problem strolling, and excessive sensitivity to the touch.
Sadly, as IVD progresses, it’s doable that the canine experiences full paralysis. There are remedies, drugs, and surgical procedure out there to assist right (or not less than mitigate) the signs of IVD.
Patellar Luxation
You’ll see this in loads of canine breeds throughout the board. It happens when there’s a separation within the canine’s kneecap, inflicting it to dislocate at random occasions. The severity fluctuates drastically, as patellar luxation might be as miniscule as your canine having a limp for a pair days within the 12 months, all the way in which to the necessity of corrective surgical procedure.
Much like the aforementioned Hip Dysplasia, the signs of Patellar Luxation embody an irregular gait, ache within the limbs, problem strolling, lameness within the limb(s), and at worse immobility. Nevertheless, there are tons of various remedies for this situation, and it’s hardly ever an issue that can’t be fastened.
Stenotic Nares
This situation happens when a Shih Tzu is born with passageways within the nostrils which might be too slim. As a result of their abnormally small dimension, Shih Tzu’s have problem acquiring the right quantity of oxygen they wants to control their physique. The preliminary symptom is in fact problem respiration, and that is typically observed instantly by the proprietor.
As time goes on, if the issue persists (or worsens), then the canine’s physique can start to fail. Nevertheless, the surgical procedure out there for this situation is almost all the time profitable. Surgeons will navigate into the nostrils and widen the passageways to permit for a bigger quantity of airflow.
Hypothyroidism
This situation instantly impacts a canine’s thyroid, and it’s not as frequent in smaller canine. Nonetheless, there are some studies of Shih Tzus affected by this.
It happens when the thyroid doesn’t operate correctly, which implies they’ll regulate their metabolism.
Signs embody excessive fatigue, hair loss, an irregular urge for food, an extreme must urinate, and weight achieve.
If this situation goes on too lengthy with out remedy then a canine can fall right into a coma. But whereas it is a severe difficulty, it may possibly typically be handled with the right drugs.
Ideas To Hold Your Shih Tzu Wholesome
The situations listed above are merely the well being points which have an effect on this breed most, and it doesn’t essentially imply your canine will expertise any of those situations. Shih Tzus are recognized to be a wholesome breed with a powerful bloodline. However, because the proprietor it’s your duty to make sure that you do every thing doable to ensure your canine lives a wholesome life. Listed below are some ideas to take action.
Take Them To The Vet
Taking your Shih Tzu to the vet usually is the one most necessary issues you are able to do to maintain your canine wholesome. In an effort to keep on high of any sickness or situation that will come up, it’s necessary to take your canine in for routine checkups. Ensure that your canine will get his yearly examinations and has all of the pictures he must stay a protracted wholesome life.
Grooming
Grooming is a certain solution to be sure to’re conserving tabs on the well being of your canine. Grooming doesn’t simply embody taking good care of their coats. It is also the maintenance of their hygiene.
All canine ought to have their enamel brushed 2-3 occasions every week, their nails clipped month-to-month, and a full physique inspection accomplished each couple weeks. With Shih Tzus, it’s notably necessary that you just swab their ears and clear them out weekly.
Their ears can harbor micro organism fairly simply, and so they’re liable to ear infections. Not solely their ears ought to be examined, however their total physique too.
Verify their coats, nostril, ears, eyes, mouths, and paws for something suspicious. This implies irritation, redness, rashes, parasites, infections, and something that appears in any respect irregular.
By grooming your canine constantly, you retain them cleaner and fewer liable to an infection, and also you stay conscious of their bodily state, which means you may catch one thing early if it comes.
Train
Your Shih Tzu shouldn’t be an enormous canine, nor have they got any ‘hunt’ or working-class traits of their blood. They’re regal, assured little house our bodies, however that doesn’t imply they need to by no means get off the sofa.
A Shih Tzu wants their train to control their physique and to remain in form. Whereas these canine aren’t essentially liable to weight problems they’ll actually be lazy. Make certain that they’re experiencing a balanced and secure train routine.
Weight-reduction plan
Guarantee that not solely are you feeding your Shih Tzu wholesome and high quality meals, however that you just’re monitoring weight achieve. We all know it may be laborious to withstand feeding them their favourite maple bacon canine biscuits, however make sure to follow moderation when giving your Shih Tzu any treats. Do notice that this breed generally is a bit fickle about meals selection, thus there’s a bit of labor to be accomplished earlier than you’ve ironed out a meal plan that sticks. Feed them properly and in the event that they begin to achieve weight create a steadiness between meals proportions and the quantity of train they obtain.
Select A Respected Breeder
Seeing because the Shih Tzu is a well-liked canine, there’s the next propensity that irresponsible breeders are on the market producing amount over high quality. Should you purchase a Shih Tzu that was bred poorly, there’s a a lot larger likelihood that he’ll have well being and behavioral issues sooner or later.
That’s why it’s extremely necessary to analysis your breeder completely and meet the dad and mom of your canine. Be certain that the breeder can present well being clearances for each dad and mom and that every one the paperwork is so as.
The Shih Tzu is a improbable canine that sits within the high 20 of the AKC’s hottest record of canine breeds. They’re lovable to no finish, spunky and contagious, and make a tremendous pet for any family. Naturally resilient, they’ve lengthy life expectations and aren’t liable to inheriting illness or falling sick.
As long as the required steps are taken so as to guarantee a Shih Tzu’s well being and way of life, then there’s no motive why they shouldn’t stay properly into their older ages.
Sources:
- “Shih Tzu Canine Breed Info, Footage, Traits & Information.” Dogtime, Accessed 4 Aug. 2017. www.dogtime.com/dog-breeds/shih-tzu#/slide/1.
- “Shih Tzu Canine Breed Info.” Vetstreet, Accessed 4 Aug. 2017. www.vetstreet.com/canine/shih-tzu.
- “5 Essential Well being Ideas for Shih Tzus.” Animal Planet, 2 Mar. 2015, Accessed 4 Aug. 2017. www.animalplanet.com/pets/5-important-health-tips-for-shih-tzus/.
- Leviticus, Jill. “Shih Tzu Canine Well being Issues | Cuteness.” Cuteness, 9 Feb. 2017, Accessed 4 Aug. 2017. www.cuteness.com/article/shih-tzu-dogs-health-problems.
- Kriss, Randa. “Shih Tzu Canine Breed Info.” American Kennel Membership, 6 Nov. 2017, Accessed 4 Aug. 2017. www.akc.org/dog-breeds/shih-tzu/.
