Shih Tzu Health

Shih Tzus are a sweet and cuddly toy dog breed with roots in Tibet. Their popularity is no surprise when you see their long and flowing coats, with hair that is usually kept out of their eyes in a cute ponytail!

Nonetheless, it’s never a bad start to consider common health problems in a breed before you adopt a dog, so let’s take a look at some issues that the Shih Tzu may become prone to.

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome

Because of the body structure and the shape of the face and snout of a Shih Tzu, they are susceptible to Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome. BAS is a general term that refers to four different issues, but the three issues that are commonly seen in Shih Tzus are collapsed trachea, elongated palate and stenotic nares. With half of all Shih Tzus that do have BAS, both elongated palate and stenotic nares are present. Each of these alone can cause breathing problems. Hence, a dog afflicted with two or more of these problems can suffer from severe respiratory issues.

In stenotic nares, the openings of the nostrils are 'pinched' and too narrow. Elongated palates mean there is abnormal growth of the soft tissue in the back of the throat. In collapsed trachea, the rings of cartilage in the neck are weakened and/or collapse inward. Dogs can be born with this, but the age of onset tends to be between one and six-years-of-age.

This disease can be treated with simple changes in lifestyle, such as using a collar and not a leash, limiting exercise, and some medications, but surgery may be the recommended choice of treatment if the Shih Tzu suffers from more than one of the conditions.

Intervertebral Disk Disease(IVD)

Shih Tzus are susceptible to a disease where a disk slips in the back and presses into the spinal cord. This is called Intervertebral Disk Disease, or IVD. IVD is commonly seen in breeds of dogs with shorter legs and longer backs, also including Beagles and Basset Hounds. This can happen to dogs as young as two-years-old. Symptoms include muscle spasms, pain, and weakness in the limbs. Unfortunately, IVD can lead to complete paralysis.

Treatment includes medicines like muscle relaxers and anti-swelling drugs, lots of rest, and if these do not alleviate the condition, surgery is often recommended.

Patellar Luxation

Another disease that may be present at birth in a Shih Tzu, but can happen at any time, is Patellar Luxation. Patellar refers to the dog’s kneecap, and Luxation means that the kneecap slips out of place. This condition tends to be present in toy breeds that weigh less than 25 pounds.

Symptoms include limping, attempting to walk on just three legs to avoid pressure on the hurt knee, and/or raising the leg to indicate that they are in pain. This condition rarely goes away untreated, and the affected leg can develop deformity.

This condition is commonly treated through bed rest and anti-inflammatory medication for mild to moderate cases. Some cases are treated with steroidal medications. If improvement is seen after three- weeks, exercise is then slowly added with the Shih Tzu never adding too much pressure to the knee than necessary. In recurring or severe cases, surgery is recommended.

Hip Dysplasia

Like many dog breeds, Shih Tzus are highly susceptible to Hip Dysplasia, a degenerative joint disease in which an abnormality involving the hip joint causes it to slip out of place. Most dogs born with this condition initially have normal hips, but due to both genetic and environmental factors, the soft tissues that surround the joint start to develop abnormally as the puppy grows. This growth affects the way that the joint is held together, causing them to move apart instead of staying together.

Puppies as young as four or five-months may be diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia, although, since it is a degenerative disease, clear signs often do not show until a Shih Tzu is in his later adult years. Symptoms such as a “bunny hop”, walking funny, trouble rising, trouble with mobility, a narrow stance, intermittent stiffness and eventual loss of muscle tone may be observed.

Treatment can include weight management, controlled exercise and applying warmth. There are several supplements that can help, along with certain medications for both swelling and pain. In some cases, surgery is needed.

Harderian Gland Prolapse

All eyelids have glands which produce tears. With this condition, the tear gland of the Shih Tzu’s eyes becomes swollen. The age of onset for this condition is normally before two-years. Symptoms include swelling, excessive discharge, bloody ulcerations and conjunctivitis (pink eye). The dog may become partially blind in this eye until treatment is given.

Although this is a serious condition, the treatment is a simple, non-invasive surgery.

Hypothyroidism

Shih Tzus can experience irregular thyroid glands, resulting in fairly obvious symptoms such as hair loss, weakness and weight gain. The thyroid does not function properly, interfering with metabolism and other basic body processes. The worst possible scenario is that the disease can lead to a coma or death if untreated. This disease can occur at any age from birth, but is most commonly observed in older dogs.

This serious medication can easily and effectively be treated with medication, which is monitored and maintained by blood tests.

General Care

By far, the best thing you can do for your Shih Tzu to ensure optimal health is to find a reputable breeder who will complete all available DNA testing to ensure great health before you bring your Shih Tzu home. A responsible breeder may very well be more expensive, but he’ll be upfront with testing and the extra money will be well worth it.

Once you bring home your healthy Shih Tzu pup, you’ll want to ensure that regular grooming becomes a part of his routine. Many Shih Tzus are allergic to fleas and other environmental toxins, so keeping their skin and fur clean is ideal for their health. Regular grooming can prevent their long fur from tangling or matting.

In addition to grooming often, you’ll want to ensure you’re providing your dog with a healthy diet – high in protein and fibre – to ensure his body is getting the nutrients it needs to maintain that hard working and energetic lifestyle he loves and thrives on.

Generally speaking, Shih Tzus are loyal, loving, and cuddly dogs. Doing DNA testing before you bring home your Shih Tzu will ensure that, for the most part, your pup stays healthy for the duration of his life.