Breed-Related Diseases in Shih Tzus: Health Risks & Prevention
Table of Contents 1. Introduction The Shih Tzu is a small toy breed dog whose identity is inseparable from its role as a dedicated human companion. Often described as lively, affectionate, intelligent, and socially confident, the breed has been selectively developed for proximity to people rather than for functional tasks such as hunting or guarding. While many Shih Tzus display a sweet and playful disposition, behavioral expression varies among individuals, and some may exhibit fearfulness, excessive vocalization, stubbornness during training, or anxiety-related behaviors. As with all breeds, temperament reflects the interaction between genetics, early socialization, and environment. Historical Legacy: The “Lion Dog” and Buddhist Symbolism Although most commonly associated with imperial China, historical and genetic evidence suggests that the Shih Tzu likely originated in Tibet, where it was developed through crosses between the Lhasa Apso and Pekingese. The breed’s name translates to “lion dog,” referencing its resemblance to lions depicted in traditional Buddhist and Chinese art. Within Buddhist mythology, legend holds that Buddha was accompanied by a small lion dog capable of transforming into a powerful protector when danger arose. A distinctive white patch of hair on the crown of the head—often called the “Star of Buddha” or “Buddha’s kiss”—is traditionally believed to mark the spot where Buddha blessed the dog for its courage. The breed’s modern genetic landscape is shaped by a significant historical bottleneck. During the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1949, Shih Tzus were nearly eradicated due to their association with wealth and aristocracy. Consequently, all modern Shih Tzus descend from only 13–14 dogs exported to England and Scandinavia between 1928 and 1952, a fact that continues to influence inherited disease prevalence today. Temperament and Behavioral Expression The Shih Tzu is best understood as a pure companion breed, bred specifically for human interaction. Unlike working dogs, its behavioral priorities center on proximity, attention, and emotional engagement. Historically used as alert dogs in royal households, Shih Tzus retain a tendency toward sharp, sudden barking to signal the arrival of visitors. Without early training, this trait may develop into excessive vocalization. Despite high intelligence and responsiveness, the breed is known for a stubborn streak, making house training more challenging than in some other toy breeds. Their intense attachment to owners predisposes many Shih Tzus to separation anxiety, manifested as clinginess, distress vocalization, or destructive behaviors when left alone. Socially, they are typically trusting and confident, often approaching unfamiliar people and animals without hesitation. Physical Nuances and Grooming Requirements The Shih Tzu’s long, flowing coat is not merely cosmetic but represents a significant welfare consideration. Unlike fur, the breed’s coat more closely resembles human hair, growing continuously without seasonal shedding. As a result, daily brushing and regular professional grooming are essential to prevent painful matting. Matting most commonly develops in friction zones, including behind the ears, beneath the collar or harness, in the axillary region, and around the groin. Failure to maintain coat hygiene can lead to skin inflammation, infection, and chronic discomfort. Adult Shih Tzus typically weigh 4–7.5 kg (9–17 lbs). Despite their compact and sturdy appearance, they are physically fragile and susceptible to injury from falls or repeated jumping from elevated surfaces such as furniture. Critical Health and Welfare Priorities The Shih Tzu’s brachycephalic conformation underlies several breed-specific health risks that require proactive management. Category Primary Concerns and Clinical Implications Respiratory Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is characterized by narrowed nostrils, elongated soft palate, and a narrow trachea. Impaired airflow significantly increases the risk of heat intolerance and heatstroke, as effective panting is compromised. Ophthalmological Shallow orbits and prominent globes predispose the breed to keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye), corneal ulcers, cataracts, glaucoma, and proptosis. Ulcerative keratitis is among the most frequently diagnosed ophthalmic conditions in Shih Tzus. Dental Shortened jaws lead to dental overcrowding, promoting plaque retention, periodontal disease, and early tooth loss if preventive dental care is not maintained. 2. Breed Characteristics and Lifestyle Considerations The Shih Tzu is fundamentally defined by its role as a pure companion breed, with behavioral traits that are closely intertwined with its physical structure and emotional needs. While the breed is adaptable to a wide range of living environments, including apartments and urban settings, its distinctive anatomy necessitates intentional lifestyle management to prevent avoidable morbidity and welfare compromise. Exercise and Activity Profile Shih Tzus are moderately active dogs that benefit from regular, low-impact physical activity rather than intense or prolonged exertion. Recommended Activity Level: A healthy adult Shih Tzu typically benefits from one to two daily walks, each lasting approximately 20–30 minutes at a comfortable pace. Many individuals remain well-conditioned with a single 30-minute walk supplemented by indoor play. Airway Protection: Due to the breed’s delicate tracheal anatomy, the use of a well-fitted harness rather than a neck collar is strongly recommended to minimize pressure on the airway and reduce the risk of tracheal irritation or collapse. Indoor Enrichment: During periods of extreme weather or poor air quality, indoor activities such as low-impact fetch, puzzle feeders, and scent-based enrichment tools (e.g., snuffle mats) provide adequate physical movement while supporting cognitive stimulation. Heat Sensitivity and Brachycephalic Risk The Shih Tzu’s brachycephalic (flat-faced) conformation has profound implications for thermoregulation and respiratory efficiency. Impaired Heat Dissipation: Shortened nasal passages and reduced airway diameter limit effective panting, the primary mechanism by which dogs dissipate heat. As a result, Shih Tzus expend greater respiratory effort to cool themselves and are prone to rapid overheating. Environmental Timing: Outdoor activity should be restricted to early morning or late evening, avoiding peak heat periods between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, even in temperate climates. Humidity Considerations: Elevated humidity further compromises evaporative cooling and increases airway resistance. Under such conditions, even brief walks may precipitate respiratory distress, heat exhaustion, or collapse, particularly in dogs with underlying airway abnormalities. Social Interaction and Behavioral Welfare Behaviorally, the Shih Tzu is deeply oriented toward human companionship and emotional proximity. Companion Dependency: Often described as “shadow dogs,” Shih Tzus commonly follow their owners throughout the home and display discomfort when socially isolated. Separation Anxiety
An update on the practical use of NT-proBNP in dogs and cats
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a biomarker of myocardial stretch. Increased circulating concentrations are associated with increased filling pressures which occur in several important cardiac diseases, including myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This biomarker can aid clinical decision making in patients where access to echocardiography is limited. However, like any diagnostic test, the clinical usefulness of NT-proBNP is greatest in situations in which the clinical suspicion of disease is high (eg to rule in heart disease in a cat with a murmur and a gallop sound) or very low (eg to rule out significant heart disease in middle-aged small-breed dogs without a murmur). The available commercial tests are a point-of-care (POC) ELISA for cats and quantitative ELISAs for both dogs and cats, which are only available at reference laboratories. Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) plasma samples are the preferred sample type for NT-proBNP testing in most clinical scenarios; however, pleural fluid can also be used in cats. Diagnostic accuracy is higher for plasma samples than for pleural fluid samples, and so plasma samples should be used in preference. Nevertheless, in very unstable patients with pleural effusion it might not be prudent to obtain a blood sample, whereas a pleural fluid sample will be collected during stabilisation. In this situation it is reasonable to compromise diagnostic accuracy in favour of patient safety. Read more…
AVMA Is Urged To Address Veterinarian Shortage
The profession is in dire need of more practitioners, a group letter states. WRITTEN BY TODAY’S VETERINARY BUSINESS IN JANUARY 2022 Twenty-four industry leaders have called on the American Veterinary Medical Association to support an increase in veterinary college class sizes and back other initiatives to alleviate that they called an “acute and growing” workforce crisis. In a letter sent to the AVMA board of directors, the group members volunteered their services “in support of training additional future veterinarians.” In response, AVMA President Jose Arce, DVM, and CEO Janet Donlin, DVM, said they appreciated “the thoughtful perspectives [of] our veterinary colleagues about working together to resolve our profession’s workforce challenges.” “The ongoing COVID pandemic has presented historic challenges to society and to our profession,” Drs. Arce and Donlin said. “The confluence of so many complex issues means that it’s more important than ever to evaluate the entire universe of our workforce challenges and fully consider the impacts of various solutions. That way, when we move those solutions forward, they have the best chance of success. We will continue to collaborate across the profession as we navigate through these very challenging times and provide the best possible support to our members, their teams and our patients and clients.” Read more…
New research reveals brachycephalic dogs at 7x risk of cherry eye
Arlo Guthrie The Royal Veterinary College has published new research which has revealed the risk factors for Prolapsed Nictitating Membrane Gland, aka Cherry Eye, in dogs. Led by the RVC’s VetCompass Programme, researchers say the study1 was the largest exploration of cherry eye in dogs in the world. The research team followed the anonymised veterinary health records of 905,553 dogs for a year and identified that 0.20% (1,802 dogs) were affected by this condition. Certain breeds showed showed significantly high proportions of dogs with cherry eye, including: Neapolitan Mastiffs (4.9%), English Bulldogs (4.8%), Lhasa Apsos (1.6%) and American Cocker Spaniels (1.5%). Importantly, say the researchers, some popular designer breeds of flat-faced dogs were also hugely affected, such as the Puggle (Pug x Beagle) (2.1%) and Jug (Jack Russell Terrier x Pug) (1.2%), suggesting the recent craze for designer crossbreeds does not eliminate health issues associated with the parental pure breeds. Overall, brachycephalic breeds had 6.9 times the risk of cherry eye compared with dogs with medium skull length, with the Neapolitan Mastiff at the top of the league table with a risk factor of x34. Other findings from the study included: One in every 500 dogs (0.20%) overall in the UK suffer from cherry eye every year The average age at first diagnosis of cherry eye was 0.6 years Seventeen breeds showed increased risk of cherry eye compared with crossbred dogs. The breeds with the highest risk included Neapolitan Mastiff (x 34.3), English Bulldog (x 24.1), Lhasa Apso (x 12.4), American Cocker Spaniel (x 11.6), Puggle (x 9.5), Great Dane (x 6.2), Saint Bernard (x 5.3) and Jug (x 5.2) Sixteen breeds showed reduced risk of cherry eye compared with crossbred dogs. The breeds with the lowest risk included German Shepherd Dog (x 0.03), West Highland White Terrier (x 0.06), English Springer Spaniel (x 0.07), Labrador Retriever (x 0.12) and Lurcher (x 0.12) Read more…
Protecting dogs from ticks infected with multiple diseases
Source: Veterinary Practice News Protecting dogs from the dangers of ticks is one of the most difficult challenges we face in modern veterinary medicine. While preventing fleas is a relatively straightforward process for both veterinarians and pet owners, ticks pose a series of threats all their own. Unlike fleas, which present primarily as one predictable species (the cat flea), ticks come in a variety of species, each threatening pets with a unique set of behaviors, feeding habits and seasonality. And, as opposed to fleas who are predictably sensitive to the isoxazoline class of drugs, ticks vary in their susceptibility to active ingredients. For instance, the Lone Star tick is notoriously much harder to kill than many other tick species1. Additional tick traits that make them difficult to control: Unlike fleas, ticks spend the majority of their lives off of the host in the environment Reproduction happens primarily on wildlife (and not on pets), so their reproduction is extremely difficult to control They are resistant to adverse environments and conditions They are able to adapt to many habitats and expand into new territories Ticks can parasitize a wide variety of hosts They have complex life cycles Even more challenging is the number of diseases ticks can simultaneously carry. Because ticks have multiple life stages that each requires a blood meal from a different host, by the time a tick has reached adulthood, it has already had two blood meals from two different hosts that each could have been carrying a disease like Anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In other words, as a tick matures through its life cycle, it has the ability to accumulate a variety of disease agents that it can then infect a pet with as it feeds. For that reason, it’s important to think beyond just one tick-borne disease and its transmission time to consider the multiple diseases a tick may pass on. Read more…
China lifts ban on certain pet food imports
Exported canned pet compound food (wet food), exported pet snacks and other commercially sterilized canned pet food of avian origin will not be affected by avian-related epidemics and will be allowed to be exported to China. That’s what General Administration of Customs, P.R. China, has announced last week. So far, globally there are 19 countries that have been approved to export finished pet food products or raw materials to China: The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Italy, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Spain, Thailand, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. In addition, exported pet snacks do not need to apply for the Registered License issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. For companies that have been blocked from exporting to China due to the ban on poultry ingredients, this is good news. [Source: Globalpet Industry]
FDA seeks details on antimicrobial use, resistance in companion animals
Food and Drug Administration officials want help collecting data on how antimicrobial administration to companion animals affects development of drug resistance. A Feb. 15 announcement from the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine indicates the FDA needs to better understand how drug use in animals such as dogs, cats, and horses might impact antimicrobial resistance in pathogens of animals and people. Details on the request for comments are available at regulations.gov under docket number FDA-2021-N-1305. Comments are due June 16. A Federal Register notice published Feb. 16 says FDA CVM officials want descriptions on how practices of antimicrobial use in companion animals may affect resistance development among bacterial pathogens of companion animals and of humans. Officials want to learn about concerns regarding resistance development related to particular antimicrobials or antimicrobial drug classes administered to companion animals, as well as how the importance of a drug to human medicine should be considered in decisions about whether to administer the drug to companion animals. The notice also asks how the CVM can encourage greater antimicrobial stewardship that could help preserve drug effectiveness, how the center can encourage development of new antimicrobials, what study designs present or reduce challenges for developing needed antimicrobial drugs, and whether any specific infectious diseases are— from a stewardship perspective—best treated with topical antimicrobial formulations. The notice asks what information on drug labels helps veterinarians follow the principles of antimicrobial stewardship, what additional information could help, and whether veterinarians need drug stewardship information that they can provide to clients. [Source: AVMA.org ] Read more…
American Veterinary Medical Foundation and Merck Animal Health to support relief efforts in Ukraine
(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) March 10, 2022—Responding to urgent relief needs in Ukraine, the American Veterinary Medical Association today announced that its charitable arm, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation , will direct a $100,000 donation from Merck Animal Health to help pets in need , to support veterinary and animal-welfare groups in the war-torn country and the surrounding areas. In addition, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation will be matching this grant from Merck Animal Health with a donation of $100,000. The AVMA is encouraging its 99,500 members and the general public to consider contributing to relief efforts by donating to the AVMF. The funding will provide food, medical care, disaster relief, and emergency support for veterinary and other organizations to protect animal welfare and the welfare of the care providers. The AVMF will be responsible for directing distribution of the funding. One hundred percent of the donations will be used to help those in need and animal care. “People and animals in Ukraine desperately need help, and we are very grateful to Merck Animal Health for its generosity,” said Dr. Douglas Kratt, Chair of the AVMF. “Merck Animal Health is proud to team up with the AVMF and hope these funds go a long way to protect the health, welfare and safety of pets in the Ukraine and neighboring countries,” said Dr. Christine Royal, Associate Vice President, US Companion Animal and Equine, Merck Animal Health. “Many organizations, including veterinary medical facilities, animal shelters and animal rescue groups in Ukraine and neighboring countries, are courageously providing care to people and animals affected by the crisis,” noted Dr. Jose Arce, President of the AVMA. “But they can ‘t do it alone, so we encourage AVMA members and the public to contribute to our relief efforts. Together, we can make a difference and support people, animals and those who care for them.” For those who would like to donate and help veterinarians help animals, please visit the AVMF website. [source: AVMA ]
The pet industry in the Benelux: an update
[Source: by GlobalPETS News Team ] How is the pet industry doing in Belgium and the Netherlands? How has it been affected by COVID-19? Almost half of the households in the Netherlands own 1 or more pets. The latest results from a survey conducted by I&O Research show that in 2021 a quarter of Dutch households owned 1 or more cats. Dogs come in second: 18% of Dutch households own a dog. A Belgian Ivox survey confirms that we all love pets more than ever, with 52% of Belgian families owning at least 1 pet. Most owners are young families with children (64%). Yet, remarkably, the average owner has not 1, not 2, but 3 pets. This could be anything from fish or parakeets to tarantulas or ferrets. Cats and dogs are still the most popular, with 1 in 3 families in Belgium (31%) owning a cat, and almost a quarter (23.6%) owning a dog. The COVID effect on pet ownership In the Benelux countries, as in other regions, there has been a rise in the total number of pets since the start of the pandemic. Pets provide comfort, support and companionship in difficult times, and people have been able to spend more time caring for them while working and staying at home. Dutch studies show that attitudes to pet ownership have changed positively for 1 in 5 consumers as a result of the COVID pandemic. For example, 8% of Dutch households acquired a pet during the first year of the pandemic (in 2019 this was just 6.4%). Although lack of time remains the most frequently mentioned reason for not having pets, this has been said less since the COVID crisis began. The pandemic has also had a positive effect on pet ownership in Belgium: 11.6% of Belgian households welcomed a new pet during the first year of the pandemic, and a quarter of them (25%) did so very much because of the pandemic.
1 month of war in Ukraine: local pet industry fights to keep the business going
Distribution centers and a number of pet shops have been destroyed by airstrikes since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24th. The main priority now is recovering the activity and assisting animal shelters across the country. Feeding 100,000 dogs and cats In a difficult time for local players to continue with the business, several initiatives are trying to help those animals that remain in the country. “Save Pets of Ukraine”, led by local manufacturer Kormotech, has distributed more than 146 tons of pet food since it started working 20 days ago. In addition, 514 pet care volunteers and animal shelters received assistance. “We keep working. We are looking for opportunities to save more cats and dogs,” the company said to GlobalPETS. Kormotech is also partnering with US-based Greater Good Charities, which is collecting cash donations overseas. The organization is also collecting product donations from US companies and shipping them to Europe. [Source: Global Pet Industry] {image by David Palacios Rubio}