21/01/2022
Shih Tzu health
The Shih Tzu is a generally healthy dog, although it is prone to certain disorders and diseases:
Allergies Shih Tzu can suffer food allergies, contact (by reaction to a topical substance) or inhalation of allergens such as pollen, dust or mold.
Hip dysplasia. Abnormal formation of the hip socket, which can cause pain and lameness.
Patellar luxation. The knee joint, usually a hind leg, slips out of place, causing pain and can become paralyzing.
Juvenile renal dysplasia (DJR). Genetic kidney defect, observed in young dogs. The dog is very thirsty and urinates frequently. You lose weight, vomit, and lack energy.
Stones and bladder infections. Most are crystals of struvite (ammonium magnesium phosphate). They usually originate after a bladder infection, of bacterial or viral origin. They can be caused by many factors, such as excess protein, magnesium, or phosphorus in your diet, or spending a long time between urination.
Eye problems Dogs with protruding eyes, such as the Shih Tzu, suffer from many eye problems, such as keratitis (inflammation of the cornea with loss of transparency), proptosis (displacement of the eyeball), distichiasis (double row of eyelashes, which are directed inward, brushing the surface of the eye), dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (insufficient production of tears, with consequent dryness of the cornea) or progressive retinal atrophy (hereditary disease that causes deterioration of the retina, producing night blindness that progresses to reach complete blindness).
Ear infections The shape of your ears creates a dark and warm ear canal, ideal for infections. To prevent them, you must keep their ears clean and dry.
Dental problems.Normally, baby teeth are resorbed when they are replaced by permanent ones, but in the case of dwarf breeds, such as the Shih Tzu, they can be retained, presenting a double row of teeth that can cause malocclusion. If this happens, they must be removed by the vet. The Shih Tzu may also have misaligned teeth or a missing tooth, due to the short length of its jaw. This problem is common in flat-faced dogs.
Umbilical hernias. A hernia is a protrusion of fat or intestine through an opening in the wall of the abdomen that would normally close during development. They occur in puppies of about two weeks of age. They usually disappear before six months of age. If they are too large, they may require surgery.
Portosystemic liver shunt. It is an abnormal connection in the vascular system, which means that the blood from the abdominal organs does not drain into the liver, which means that toxins are not eliminated.
Nasal stenosis. Being a brachycephalic (short-nosed) dog, its nasal cartilages are soft, the nostrils stick together and obstruct the openings of the nose. This causes varying degrees of respiratory obstruction. The dog may snort, snore loudly, or wheeze. You could even suffer from nasal drainage.
Reverse sneezing It is a frequent phenomenon in brachycephalic dogs. It is a muscle spasm caused by palatal or tracheal irritation that causes the dog to breathe in forcefully instead of exhaling it out. It may appear that the dog is choking, but it is usually not serious, the dog returns to normal when the episode ends and does not require treatment. If it is very frequent, go to your vet, in case it could be due to an infection or a foreign object in his nasal passage.
