The Shih Tzu are one of the favorite breeds of dog lovers, since they are a breed of loyal and playful dogs, and they like to be in the company of their owners, It is a docile and extroverted dog, and by their association with Buddhism, they are dogs that are not used to barking much, which makes the breed a favorite of the inhabitants of the apartments , for his calm temper.
In this Animal Expert article, we bring information about the most common diseases of the Shih Tzu breed, so that you can take better care of your dog, paying attention to the peculiarities of the breed.
- Among some common problems in dogs.
- Some breeds are predisposed to the development of some problems compared to others.
- Shih Tzus.
- In particular.
- May have:.
See below for information that Animal Expert has prepared to keep you updated with the most common diseases in each topic.
Generally speaking, the breed does not usually have many health problems, but since they have large eyes and long hair on the eyes, eye problems are among the main diseases that affect Shih Tzu dogs.
Among the most common eye diseases we may have
Constant tear – It is normal for the breed to produce constant tears due to the shape of the eyes, which can damage the fur around the eyes, so it is important to trap the hair so that it does not fall into the eyes and do not irritate the tear glands, which causes a greater production of tears.
Conjunctivitis: Canine conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the eye lining, which can have several factors, including an associated secondary bacterial infection. Clinical signs may include purulent secretion, indicating a bacterial infection, constant watery eyes, swollen eye and increased sensitivity to light.. Take your Shih Tzu to the vet, as treatment requires special care.To avoid such problems, do not keep the hair of the eyes tied with a very tight elastic, as this can prevent your dog from closing the eyes normally, since the skin is Other precautions would be to keep the eye contour always clean with specific products for this, and pay attention to dryness after bathing or wind days. To learn more about canine conjunctivitis – Causes and symptoms, Animal Expert has prepared this article for you.
Corneal ulcer – Shih Tzu is a breed of dog that has more prominent and large eyes compared to other dogs, so it is a dog that has a more predisposition to suffer corneal ulcers, which can be caused, in general, by trauma., such as hairs, branches, leaves or anything that can hit the eyes, damage the cornea, that is, the membrane that covers the eyes, if you notice that your dog does not want to open the eyes, or that one of its eyes Is swollen, because to identify the corneal ulcer, it is necessary to examine it with a specific eye drops, so that treatment can be started with an ophthalmologist , because without help, it is possible that the dog is blind.
Progressive retinal atrophy: this is a congenital and inherited problem that can lead the dog to irreversible blindness.Animal Expert has prepared these tips on how to know if my dog is blind.
The Shih Tzu breed has a very high tendency to develop so-called dermatitis, which is skin disease caused by allergies, these allergies may be related to the environment, dust, ectoparasites or cleaning products, or even food.
To discover the true cause of dermatitis, a veterinarian’s advice is needed, as diagnosis can take time, and if the dog has itchy and red skin, medications may be needed to relieve the dog’s suffering.
See this Animal Expert article about dog skin diseases
Tick disease is a disease transmitted by bacteria that infect ticks.When the tick bites the dog, it transmits this bacteria and eventually causes the disease called ehrlichiosis or babesiosis, known as tick disease in dogs.
This disease not only infects the Shih Tzus, because when transmitted by the tick, any dog that often has access to parks, streets and other public places, and even the backyard, is susceptible to contracting the disease.Always keep the garden well disinfected, to avoid ectoparasites in general, and the dog fleas always up to date.
Genetic diseases are usually associated with the neglect of amateur dog breeders, so it is always important to do a good search before buying a purebred dog and apply veterinary certification to the parents of the puppy you are thinking of acquiring, this avoids dogs with hereditaries.parenting problems and the spread of the most common diseases of the breed. The most common genetic disorders in Shih Tzu may include:
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis.We suggest that you take your pet to the vet in case of any ailment or discomfort.
If you would like to read similar articles about common Shih Tzu diseases, we recommend that you visit our Hereditary Diseases section.