Share this article:. Did you know that your loyal little Shih Tzu has deep roots in royal Chinese history? From China to the West Dog historians believe that after Empress Tzu Hsi came to power in the s, the Dalai Lama at the time presented her with a breeding pair of extraordinary Shih Tzus.
Popular Products. Related Articles. With diligent observation at home and knowledge about the diseases that may affect your friend's bones, joints, or muscles, you will be able to take great care of him throughout his life. Not many things have as dramatic an impact on your dog's quality of life as the proper functioning of his eyes. Unfortunately, Shih Tzus can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful!
We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs for concern. Glomerulonephropathy is an inherited disease that slowly damages your Shih Tzu's kidneys, causing them to fail, often at an early age. Early detection leads to a happier pet and an easier, more affordable treatment plan.
We may also recommend a special diet as part of his therapy. There are a few different types of stones that can form in the kidney or in the bladder, and Shih Tzus are more likely to develop them than other breeds. Call us immediately! Cushing's Disease is a malfunction of the adrenal glands that causes them to produce too much steroid hormone. This is a common problem in dogs, and your Shih Tzu is more likely than other dogs to be affected.
The condition usually develops slowly, and the early signs are easily missed. Symptoms include drinking and urinating more than normal, increased appetite, and reduced activity level followed later by a potbelly, thin skin, and hair loss. Treatment usually includes oral medications and requires close coordination with us to ensure correct dosing. Cancer is a leading cause of death in older dogs.
Your Shih Tzu will likely live longer than many other breeds and therefore is more prone to get cancer in his golden years. Many cancers are curable by surgical removal, and some types are treatable with chemotherapy. Early detection is critical! In humans, allergies to pollen, mold, or dust make people sneeze.
In dogs, rather than sneezing, allergies make their skin itchy. The feet, belly, folds of the skin, and ears are most commonly affected. Symptoms typically start between the ages of one and three and can get worse every year.
Licking the paws, rubbing the face, and frequent ear infections are the most common signs of allergies. The good news is that there are many treatment options available for these conditions. There are several types of inherited bleeding disorders that occur in dogs.
They range in severity from very mild to very severe. Many times a pet seems normal until a serious injury occurs or surgery is performed, and then severe bleeding can result. Shih Tzus are prone to multiple types of heart disease , which can occur both early and later in life. Veterinary dental care and weight control also go a long way in preventing heart disease.
Respiratory distress syndrome, also known as brachycephalic syndrome, affects dogs with a short nose, like your Shih Tzu. Short-nosed dogs have the same amount of tissue in their noses and throats as longer-nosed dogs, but with less area to contain it. As a consequence, the soft palate at the back of the roof of the mouth is too long and may hang down into the airway.
All of these differences can lead to a narrow and obstructed airway such that many of these dogs can barely breathe! Watch for exercise intolerance, loud breathing, coughing, bluish gums, or fainting. With his short nose, your pet is also more likely to develop other problems, such as flatulence from excessive air intake, pneumonia from aspirating food, and heat stroke.
In severe cases, surgical correction may be recommended to alleviate airway obstruction. Teeth abnormalities are often genetically induced and are relatively common in dogs, especially in purebred dogs like your Shih Tzu. An overbite or underbite is called a malocclusion or a bad bite. Oligodontia is a condition in which only a few teeth are present. Misaligned teeth can also occur and cause lots of problems, but can usually be corrected with braces or extractions.
Yes, dogs can get braces! Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for her.
Documentation of the Shih Tzu dog breed goes back at least 1, years. These short and stout pooches were likely the ancestors of the Shih Tzu. Tibet probably sent dogs to the Chinese royalty as gifts. The Shih Tzu was likely given this name because of its association with the Tibetan Buddhist God of Learning, who, according to legend, traveled with a small lion dog that could transform into a full-sized lion.
This may not have actually been caused by communism; a contributing factor was the death of the Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi, who supervised a world-renown breeding program of Shih Tzu, Pekingese, and Pugs. When she died, the breeding program fell apart, and it became nearly impossible to get a Shih Tzu.
Because their numbers dwindled down to almost nothing during the first half of the 20th century, every Shih Tzu alive today can be traced to one of 14 dogs — seven males and seven females — that were used to rebuild the breed. American soldiers stationed in European countries took Shih Tzu back to the United States with them in the late s and s.
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The purpose of the cookie is to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. Used to track the information of the embedded YouTube videos on a website. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Home Breeds How much does a Shih Tzu cost?
How much does a Shih Tzu cost? February 17, Steffi Trott. Table of Contents. Shih Tzu puppies in classifieds The cheapest way to get a Shih Tzu puppy is often to look in your local classified ads such as Craigslist. They are prone to a variety of conditions such as: Eye problems Breathing problems Hip dysplasia Back problems Luxating patellas All of these have a genetic component. Rescue Shih Tzu puppy prices If you are searching for a Shih Tzu through a rescue, you will be able to get a vet-checked puppy for a medium price.
Why are Shih Tzus so expensive? Most breeders barely break even when breeding dogs, especially small dogs! Yearly costs of owning a Shih Tzu As small dogs that are typically friendly and non-destructible, you do not need to budget for a lot of expenses when it comes to food, training and chew toys.
Only if you can budget for these you should decide on a Shih Tzu! Share this post. Starting out just training her own Border Collies, she gradually expanded to local classes and seminars, now she travels as far as Europe and teaches students all over the world on how to train their dogs in a positive, bonding, game-based way.
She is known for her clear, step-by-step training that lets beginners and advanced dog trainers see lasting results very quickly.
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