Shih Tzu health problems

Shih Tzus are loyal dogs who adore every opportunity to join in with family adventures!

While their headstrong personalities are part of their charm, Shih Tzus may need a little extra motivation by making sure you find the right reward while training them. And, if you’re owned by a Shih Tzu, don’t be surprised if they decide to share their opinions with you through barking.

To keep your Shih Tzu’s lustrous coat shining and tangle-free, it’s essential to brush them daily. However, you might have to take your Shih Tzu to a professional groomer to be clipped every so often as well, especially during the warmer months.

Explore our Shih Tzu breed guide for more information about this affectionate breed!

Which health conditions can affect Shih Tzus?

Please remember that while the following health concerns are frequently seen in Shih Tzus, each dog is a unique individual. So, your canine companion isn’t necessarily going to suffer from any of the health conditions commonly experienced by Shih Tzus. But, if you’re considering pet insurance, you could read our guide to insuring your Shih Tzu for more information.  

Always speak to your vet if you’re concerned about your dog’s health.   

Don’t forget to visit our dog first aid guides to discover the basics of canine first aid.

BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome)

BOAS, or ‘Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome’, is the term used to describe a range of features, most common in flat-faced breeds, that impact an animal’s ability to breathe. As a flat-faced dog breed, your Shih Tzu could end up suffering from BOAS.

Sadly, there are many issues that cause BOAS in flat-faced breeds, including:

• Narrowed nostrils (stenotic nares): Breathing is harder for your Shih Tzu because less air is able to pass through their nose.
• Elongated soft palate: The flap of tissue at the back of the roof of the mouth is the soft palate, and in flat-faced breeds it tends to be excessively long and thick. This can obstruct the opening to the windpipe and cause snoring.
• Hypoplastic trachea: A narrowed windpipe limits the volume of air reaching the lungs.
• Aberrant nasal turbinates: Deformed, convoluted bony structures inside the nose that are packed too tightly, obstructing nasal airflow.

Due to the extra effort required to breathe in and out through narrowed or obstructed airways, this can also cause:

• Enlarged tonsils
• Laryngeal collapse – this is where the windpipe becomes weak and collapses
• Everted laryngeal saccules – little pockets of tissue around the voice box can be sucked towards the airway, causing further obstruction.

Here are just a few of the symptoms associated with BOAS in dogs:

• Snoring
• Noisy breathing, meaning they often make snorting or snuffling sounds
• Excessive panting, even at rest
• Reluctance to exercise
• Vomiting and regurgitation of stomach contents, due to breathing difficulties. This could lead to stomach contents entering the airways (a condition known as aspiration pneumonia).

Additionally, dogs who are flat-faced and have BOAS are at an increased risk of heatstroke as panting is a significant form of cooling for dogs, and those with flat faces cannot pant as efficiently.

It’s vital to take your Shih Tzu to a vet immediately if they’re struggling to breathe or showing signs of heatstroke.

To diagnose BOAS in your Shih Tzu, a vet will ask about your dog’s symptoms, perform a physical examination, and may assess your dog’s breathing rate following a short walk. If your Shih Tzu needs further tests, they might see a specialist vet who can carry out an endoscopy (using a camera to check their airways) or MRI under anaesthetic.

The treatment options for BOAS include surgery, ensuring your Shih Tzu maintains a healthy weight (since being overweight can worsen their symptoms), and keeping them cool during hot weather.

Cataracts

Cataracts may occur in Shih Tzus.

Although cataracts in humans are often associated with getting older, that’s not the case for dogs. Your Shih Tzu may inherit cataracts from birth, though they could also develop cataracts at any age as a result of eye inflammation, diabetes, or nutritional issues.

A cataract can lead to blindness over time. So, if you notice your Shih Tzu’s eye(s) becoming blurry, appearing a different colour inside, or the iris (the coloured part of the human eye) and lens becoming less distinct, take them to the vet for a check-up.

Skin allergies and infections (Atopy) in Shih Tzus

Atopic dermatitis, also known as ‘atopy’, describes a range of skin allergies frequently seen in dogs that can sometimes lead to skin infections.

For Shih Tzus, the most common type of dermatitis they tend to experience is ‘skin fold dermatitis’ or ‘intertrigo’ – which usually occurs between the wrinkles of their face. The folds of an Shih Tzu’s face provide the ideal environment for bacteria to grow, which can lead to a foul smell, pain, and itchiness, along with redness and inflammation. To treat skin fold dermatitis, a vet is likely to recommend cleaning your Shih Tzu’s face folds regularly, as well as prescribing anti-microbial shampoo and/or anti-inflammatory medication.

While skin fold dermatitis is one of the most frequently seen types of skin condition in Shih Tzus, atopic dermatitis is common in this breed, too. Dogs with atopic dermatitis are likely to scratch, chew, and/or lick the parts of their body that are itchy, inflamed, or irritated, which could include their:

• Face
• Ears
• Armpits (axillae)
• Tummy (abdomen)
• Paws

Vets can diagnose atopic dermatitis by evaluating your Shih Tzu’s medical history and symptoms, alongside performing a thorough assessment of your dog’s skin.

Just like human allergies, such as hayfever, that require ongoing treatment to manage symptoms, canine atopic dermatitis will probably need to be treated throughout your dog’s life, too.

It can take some trial and error to work out which treatments (or combination of treatments) will work best to ease your dog’s symptoms – for example, medication and/or soothing shampoos. Though, thankfully, the majority of atopic dermatitis cases can be managed effectively to make sure your Shih Tzu is able to enjoy life to the full.

Renal dysplasia

Some dog breeds, including the Shih Tzu, are at risk of renal dysplasia – which is caused by a dog’s kidneys failing to develop properly before they’re born.

Since kidneys perform several vital functions, including the removal of toxins from the blood, renal dysplasia can lead to a build-up of harmful waste products within the body. Dogs who suffer from renal dysplasia in both kidneys won’t survive long after birth, however, those with renal dysplasia in one kidney can enjoy a good quality of life.

Symptoms of renal dysplasia in dogs might include excessive thirst and increased urination (peeing more than usual). Also, puppies with renal dysplasia may not grow normally.

Vets can diagnose renal dysplasia through blood tests, urine tests, and a kidney biopsy (taking samples of tissue from the kidney). Treatments for renal dysplasia in dogs are the same as for kidney failure or kidney disease, so might include medication, fluid therapy (putting them on a drip), and specialist diets.

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in Shih Tzus

Intervertebral disc disease, also known as ‘IVDD’, is a spinal disease commonly seen in dogs. Some dog breeds are more prone to developing some types of IVDD, and the Shih Tzu is particularly prone to Hansen Type I Intervertebral Disc Disease, which can have a sudden (acute) onset.

Each of your Shih Tzu’s intervertebral discs have a tough, fibrous outer surrounding a soft, gel-like inner and act as cushioning between their vertebrae (bones of their spine). When these intervertebral discs deteriorate or become damaged, they’ll harden – which means their capacity for shock absorption will lessen and they’ll be at risk of slipping out of place.

Shih Tzus with IVDD experience pain in their back and/or neck, alongside other symptoms like yelping, dragging their feet, difficulty jumping onto furniture/using the stairs, wobbliness, and weakness in their legs.

Vets can usually diagnose IVDD in Shih Tzus using:

• MRI and/or CT scans
• X-rays
• Blood tests

Depending on the severity of a Shih Tzu’s IVDD, vets tend to treat the condition with pain relief, anti-inflammatory medication, strict rest, and surgery.