Common Shih Tzu Diseases

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 2 August 2021
Update Date: 1 November 2024
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Shih Tzu’s Most Common Health Problems and Preventions
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The Shih Tzu are one of the favorite breeds among dog lovers, as they are a loyal, playful breed of dogs that love to be in the company of their owners. It is a docile, extroverted dog, and due to its association with Buddhism, they are dogs that do not have the habit of barking a lot, which makes the breed one of the favorites among apartment dwellers, due to its calm temperament.

In this article by PeritoAnimal, we bring information about the most common diseases of the Shih Tzu breed, so that you can take care of your dog even better, paying attention to the particularities of the breed.

Diseases that Shih Tzu may have

Among some common problems among dogs, some breeds are predisposed to developing certain problems in relation to others. Shih Tzus, in particular, may exhibit:


  • eye diseases
  • Skin diseases
  • genetic diseases

See below information that PeritoAnimal has prepared for you to stay on top of the most common diseases within each theme.

Eye Diseases in Shih Tzus

Generally speaking, the breed does not usually present many health problems, but because they have large eyes and long coat at eye level, eye problems are among the main diseases that affect dogs of the Shih Tzu breed.

Among the most common eye diseases we can have:

  • Constant tearing.
  • Conjunctivitis
  • corneal ulcer
  • progressive retinal atrophy

Constant tearing - It is normal for the breed to produce constant tears due to the conformation of the eyes, and this can damage the fur around the eyes, so it is important to tie the hair so that it does not fall into the eyes and does not irritate the tear glands, leading to increased production of tears.


Conjunctivitis - Canine conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the lining of the eyes, which can have several factors, including an associated secondary bacterial infection. Clinical signs may be purulent discharge, which indicates bacterial infection, constant tearing, swollen eye, and increased sensitivity to light. Take your Shih Tzu to the veterinarian, as treatment requires extra care. To avoid this type of problem, do not keep the eye hair tied with a very tight elastic, as this can prevent your dog from closing his eyes normally, since the skin is more tight. Other precautions would be to keep the eye area always clean with specific products for this, and be careful with dryness after showering or on windy days. To learn more about Canine Conjunctivitis - Causes and Symptoms, PeritoAnimal has prepared this article for you.


Corneal ulcer - The Shih Tzu is a breed of dogs that have more prominent and larger eyes than other dogs. Therefore, it is a dog that is more likely to suffer from corneal ulcers, which can be caused, in general, by trauma, such as hair, branches, leaves or anything that can hit the eyes, injuring the cornea, that is, the membrane that covers the eyes. If you notice that your dog does not want to open its eyes, or that one of the eyes is swollen, because to identify the corneal ulcer it is necessary to be examined with specific eye drops, and then start treatment with an ophthalmologist veterinarian, since without care , it is possible for the dog to go blind.

Progressive retinal atrophy - It is a congenital and hereditary problem that can lead to irreversible blindness in the dog. PeritoAnimal prepared these tips in How to know if my puppy is blind.

Shih Tzu Skin Disease

The Shih Tzu breed has a very strong tendency to develop the so-called dermatitis, which are skin diseases caused by allergies. These allergies can be related to the environment, dust, ectoparasites or cleaning products, and even food.

To discover the true cause of dermatitis, veterinary advice is necessary, as the diagnosis can be time-consuming, and if the dog is very itchy and red in the skin, medication may be needed to alleviate the puppy's suffering.

See this article by PeritoAnimal about Skin Diseases in Dogs.

Shih Tzu tick disease

Tick ​​disease is a disease transmitted by a bacterium that infects ticks. When the tick bites the dog, it transmits this bacteria to the dog, and ends up causing the disease called Ehrlichiosis or Babesiosis, popularly known as Tick ​​Disease in Dogs.

This disease does not only infect Shih Tzus, as they are transmitted by ticks, any dog ​​that has frequent access to parks, streets and other public places, and even to the backyard, is susceptible to contracting the disease. That's why it's important to always keep the yard well sanitized, to avoid ectoparasites in general, and the dog's flea control always up to date.

Genetic Diseases in Shih Tzu

Genetic diseases are usually associated with the carelessness of amateur dog breeders, so it is always important to research well before buying a breed dog and request veterinary certification from the parents of the puppy you intend to acquire. This prevents dogs with hereditary problems from being bred, spreading the most common diseases for the breed. The most common genetic diseases in Shih Tzu can be:

  • excessive brachycephaly: Brachycephalic dogs are the breeds of dogs that have a flattened snout, and the Shih Tzu is one of them. Excessive brachycephaly, that is, when the muzzle is flatter than normal, can lead to a series of respiratory problems such as heat stress, nostril stenosis and predispose the dog to other problems such as elongated soft palate, brachycephalic syndrome and keratoconjunctivitis dry.
  • Atopic Dermatitis or Atopy: Atopy is a difficult skin disease to diagnose and is associated with allergies.
  • family kidney diseases: Kidney diseases of hereditary and congenital origin are caused by genetic malformations, where the pup can be born without one of the kidneys or malformations of the renal tubules, which compromise the functioning of the kidneys, causing a series of problems in the pup, that may take time to be noticed by the tutor. The most common symptoms of kidney disease are lack of appetite, increased water consumption, but the dog urinates less. The disease requires tests for the correct diagnosis and can be controlled if discovered early, but without treatment, the dog can die.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.