Health Problems

            Just like all types of dogs, Shih Tzus have a number of health issues, some of which are hereditary, and they are prone to have certain medical problems more than other breeds. Shih Tzus have big and somewhat protruding eyes and as result it is easier for them to sustain injures to their eyes and develop eye problems. Some common health problems relating to the Shih Tzu’s eyes are Keratoconjuctivist Sicca, or commonly referred to as dry eye. “Dry eye is a disorder of the tear glands in which there is inadequate tear production and a resulting dry cornea.” When the dog suffers from dry eye, the affected eye becomes irritated, and the conjuctival tissues become red resulting in a thick, stringy, mucoid discharge, covering the eye. Due to this, the eye will eventually become brown and dry and in the most drastic case blindness can result. Entropion is another eye condition, in which “the bottom eyelid rolls inward and causes the eye lashes to rub against the cornea, resulting in pain, tearing, and inflammation.” Dental problems are another common medical condition that Shih Tzus are prone to get. Shih Tzus tend to have dental and gum disease because since they have small mouths, this leads to overcrowding of the teeth and thus dental problems arise. An example of a very common dental problem is when food gets trapped between the teeth, resulting in plaque and tartar build-up which if left untreated overtime it can result in premature tooth loss, among other things. Therefore, it is very important to brush their teeth daily and go for regular dental check-ups, in order to prevent such painful, dental problems from occurring. Shih Tzus have long, floppy ears and thus they commonly suffer from ear infections. Typical signs that indicate your canine is suffering from ear infections are that they have a foul smell and also waxy or pus like discharge from the ear. Ear infections are really painful so dogs tend to scratch the affected ear constantly and rub it against the floor or furniture. If ear infections occur, the dog will also shake its head violently, tilt its head to the painful side, and cry out if the infected ear is touched. Joint problems are also common within this breed. Shih Tzus suffer from luxating patella; “a congenital disease in which the alignment of the bones and joints of the hind leg is abnormal, resulting in a displacement of the patella to the side of the joint,” and also hip dysplasia; “a genetic disease that is characterized by an abnormal development of the hip joint.” Brachycephalic breeds, or better known as short muzzled breeds, suffer from a condition known as “Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome.” This syndrome affects different areas of the respiratory tract causing an increase in airway resistance and it also includes stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, and tracheal collapse. Other health problems include: renal dysplasia which is an inherited problem to the kidney usually affecting newborn puppies, cleft palate is an “anatomical problem that is characterized by an opening in the lip or the roof of the mouth due to failure of normal fusion processes when the fetus is developing,” and also liver shunt which “is a condition that causes blood from the intestines to flow around the liver, not through it.” Regardless of all these health problems that might or might not occur to your canine, you have to keep in mind that these medical conditions don’t occur in all Shih Tzus so you shouldn’t be afraid of getting a Shih Tzu as a pet. Not all Shih Tzus are going to have these health problems and if anything your pet might be healthy all throughout its life.