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Shih Tzu Health ProblemsCommon shih tzu health problems include eye problems such as dry eye, cherry eye, and cataracts; brachycephalic syndrome; cleft palate;
hip dysplasia; patellar luxation; and renal dysplasia.
The Shih Tzu (meaning "lion" in Chinese) is primarily of Tibetan origin. The breed was imported into the United States in the late 1950s.
The Shih Tzu makes a good companion dog due to his outgoing, affectionate, and friendly personality. The Shih Tzu is alert, intelligent, loyal, and devoted to his family.
In return, he needs a lot of attention and human companionship.
Shih Tzu's are generally healthy and can live for a long time (10 to 18 years).
The Shih Tzu is a rather popular breed in the U.S.A.- Ranked 10th most registered breed by the AKC for 2008.
Shih Tzu Health Problems - General CareBecause of the special physical features of the Shih Tzu, care should be taken especially when it comes to the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. The eyes of the Shih Tzu are large and somewhat protruding, making them susceptible to injury. For example, they can easily scratch their corneas or even puncture their eyeballs. Therefore, try to protect their eyes as much as you can by keeping them away from sharp objects at all times! Also, keep their hair out of their eyes. Due to its long flapped ears, the Shih Tzu is prone to ear infections. If you have a Shih Tzu, be sure to check and clean his ears regularly. Another important thing to remember about the Shih Tzu is, since it is a brachycephalic breed (short muzzled breed), it should not be left outdoors, especially in the summer, because heat and high humidity can easily cause death due to the flatness of the face. Shih Tzu's may have difficulties breathing in the heat, so always keep them in cool places and avoid excessive exercise in the summer. In addition, due to the shape of their muzzle and the small size of their mouth, special care has to be taken to check and brush Shih Tzu's teeth to avoid dental problems. TopCommon Shih Tzu Health ProblemsLike all breeds, Shih Tzu's do have some health problems. Below are some of the more common shih tzu health problems:
Shih Tzu Health Problems - Dry EyeDry eye, medically known as Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS), occurs when there is insufficient tear production to keep the eye lubricated. This condition is rather prevalent in the Shih Tzu. Common symptoms include redness and obvious irritation, a yellowish discharge. and recurrent eye infections. Avoid medications such as sulfa antibiotics that may predispose dogs to develop dry eyes. TopShih Tzu Health Problems - EntropionEntropion is a condition where the bottom eyelid rolls inward and causes the eye lashes to rub against the cornea, resulting in pain, tearing, and inflammation. It can be present in both eyes. Entropion can be treated by eyelid surgeries. TopShih Tzu Health Problems - Cherry EyeCherry eye, or prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, is an eye condition in which the gland of the third eyelid comes out of its normal position and becomes red and swollen, making it looks like a cherry. The Shih Tzu is one of the breeds that is predisposed to cherry eye. The preferred treatment of this eye condition is to surgically reposition the gland. TopShih Tzu Health Problems - Juvenile CataractsA cataract is any opacity or loss of transparency of the lens of the eye. The opacity may be confined to a small area of the lens, or it may affect the whole structure. The Shih Tzu is predisposed to juvenile cataracts, which occur in young dogs up to about 4 years of age. The only treatment of cataracts is to surgically remove the lens with cataracts and have a lens implantation (IOL). This treatment for cataracts in dogs is becoming more common and very often has a very high success rate, in which the dog can see close to normal. TopShih Tzu Health Problems - Brachycephalic Syndrome
The full name of this disorder is brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS). Brachycephalics are those breeds which have a comparatively short muzzle like the Shih
Tzu. Because of their short muzzle, many Shih Tzu's have varying degrees of obstruction to their airways, which causes signs ranging from noisy breathing,
coughing and gagging, fainting or collapsing episodes, and a decreased tolerance for exercise.
As mentioned above, overheating is especially dangerous for brachycephalics; therefore, do not leave your Shih Tzu in the sun for a long time. It is also important to keep
your dog from becoming overweight, as this will worsen his respiratory difficulties in the long run.
In serious cases, surgery is required to remove some of the excess fleshy soft palate, and widen air passages at the nostrils.
Top
Shih Tzu Health Problems - Cleft Lip/PalateCleft cleft lip or palate is an opening in the lip or the roof of the mouth that occurs as a result of failure of normal fusion processes when the fetus is developing. This condition is quite common in the Shi Tzu. Affected puppies are born with the condition. A minor defect will cause little or no problem and no treatment is needed. However, surgical repair is required for a more severe defect to prevent conditions such as chronic nasal discharge, poor growth, and aspiration pneumonia (from inhalation of food). TopShih Tzu Health Problems - Hip DysplasiaHip dysplasia afflicts many dogs including the Shih Tzu. Hip dysplasia is generally considered to be inherited, but over-vaccination and obesity are also possible causes. The condition ranges from just a slight abnormality in the hip joint to the actual dislocation of the joint. Providing a natural diet, supplemented by chondroprotective medications (glucosamine and chondroitin) helps prevent and manage bone and joint problems. TopShih Tzu Health Problems - Patellar LuxationPatellar luxation is a hereditary condition in which the knee cap slips out of its groove. Sometimes the kneecap will slip back into place; while other times a veterinarian may need to put it back in place. If it is not corrected through surgery, then osteoarthritis will usually result. It is a good idea to prevent this condition by starting Shih Tzu's on chondroprotective medications (glucosamine and chondroitin) when they are young. TopShih Tzu Health Problems - Renal DysplasiaRenal dysplasia is a very serious developmental disorder affecting the kidneys of puppies and young dogs. This condition is rather common in the Shih Tzu. Affected puppies are born with underdeveloped kidneys, in which the nephrons (the smallest functioning units of the kidneys) are at a more juvenile stage compared to the development of the puppy. The nephrons never reach maturity, so the kidneys never reach full capacity. As a result, the puppy shows symptoms similar to those involved in general kidney disease, such as excessive drinking and excessive urination. Some puppies may seem difficult to housebreak. They may develop a lack of appetite, weight loss, vomiting and/or dehydration. Treatments depend on the severity of the condition, and may include a low protein and low phosphorus prescription diet, IV fluids (to correct disturbances created by the retention of uremic toxins), and medication (to treat the anemia of chronic renal failure). Kidney dialysis for dogs is also offered at several veterinary medical sites although the procedure is very expensive.
References Canada's Guide to Dogs (http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/) Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada (http://www.upei.ca/~cidd/) TOP of Shih Tzu Health Problems |
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