Shih Tzu Health Issues: An Ottawa Guide

As a small, flat-faced (brachycephalic) breed, the Shih Tzu’s most characteristic issues involve the eyes and the face. The prominent, exposed eyes are prone to corneal ulcers, dry eye, cataracts, and, in an emergency, proptosis (the eye bulging out of the socket after trauma). The flat face brings some degree of brachycephalic airway issues (usually milder than a French Bulldog, but present) and heat sensitivity. Beyond that, Shih Tzus are prone to dental disease (crowded small mouths), ear infections (hairy, floppy ears), skin and allergy problems (the folds and coat can trap moisture), patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps), hip dysplasia, and intervertebral disc issues. Most are manageable, and the highest-value things an Ottawa owner can do are protect and monitor the eyes, prioritise dental care, keep the dog lean, and manage heat carefully. Always make health decisions for your individual dog with your veterinarian.

The Shih Tzu’s large, round, prominent eyes are one of its most endearing features and also its most vulnerable area. Because the eyes protrude and the flat face offers little bony protection, they are exposed to injury, irritation, and drying, so the breed is prone to corneal ulcers and scratches (which can worsen quickly), dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca, where insufficient tear production damages the cornea), cataracts, and other conditions. The most serious eye emergency is proptosis, where a blow or rough handling causes the eyeball to pop forward out of the socket, this is a true emergency requiring immediate veterinary care to save the eye. Day to day, keep hair trimmed away from the eyes so it does not scratch them, watch for redness, squinting, cloudiness, discharge, or pawing at the eyes, and get any eye problem checked promptly, because eye issues can deteriorate fast. An annual vet eye check is wise, and gentle handling protects against proptosis.

To a lesser but real degree. The Shih Tzu is brachycephalic (flat-faced), so it shares the same category of issue as the French Bulldog, narrowed airways from the shortened skull, but it is generally less severely affected than the more extreme brachycephalic breeds. Many Shih Tzus snore, snort, and breathe somewhat noisily, and some, especially those bred with very flat faces, have more significant brachycephalic airway problems that can benefit from veterinary assessment or surgery. The practical implications are the same as for any flat-faced dog, just usually milder: reduced heat tolerance (they overheat more easily, a real concern in Ottawa summers), some exercise intolerance, and the value of keeping the dog lean and using a harness rather than a neck collar. If your Shih Tzu breathes very noisily, struggles with exertion, or tires quickly, have a vet assess the airway. Choosing a dog (or breeder) with a slightly less extreme face means fewer breathing problems.

Because a full set of teeth is crowded into a small, flat-faced jaw, which packs and misaligns them, trapping plaque and food and accelerating tartar and gum disease far faster than in a larger dog, and the shortened jaw can also cause misaligned or retained teeth. Dental disease is very common in the breed, and left unmanaged it causes pain, tooth loss, and infections that can affect overall health. Prevention is routine home care plus professional cleanings: brush the teeth daily or at least several times a week with dog toothpaste, provide appropriate small dental chews, and have your vet assess the teeth at annual checkups and schedule cleanings under anaesthesia as needed. Starting a gentle brushing routine early, especially with a rescue dog who may not be used to it, pays off in fewer extractions and lower lifetime dental bills. Bad breath, reluctance to chew, red gums, or loose teeth are signs to get the mouth checked.

Relatively affordable for routine care given the small size, but with some breed-specific extras. A wellness exam, vaccines, parasite prevention, and dental attention run roughly $700 to $1,300 a year in Ottawa plus Ontario’s 13 per cent HST, and on top of that come regular professional grooming ($60 to $100 every 6 to 8 weeks) and, for many Shih Tzus, more frequent dental cleanings than average. The budget wildcards are the eyes (a corneal ulcer or proptosis emergency, or ongoing dry-eye management, can be costly), any significant brachycephalic airway surgery, and knee or disc issues if they arise. Overall the breed is more affordable than a giant or a highly health-prone breed, but the grooming, dental, and eye care add up, and pet insurance taken out while the dog is young helps with the unpredictable eye and airway costs. See our Ottawa low-cost vet guide for routine-care savings.

It can be, mainly to cover the unpredictable eye and airway costs the breed is prone to. Routine Shih Tzu care is affordable, so the case is less overwhelming than for a giant or high-risk breed, but the eyes are a genuine wildcard, a corneal ulcer, proptosis emergency, or dry-eye management can each be expensive, and brachycephalic airway or knee surgery adds up. Insurance taken out while your Shih Tzu is young and healthy locks in coverage before any condition becomes a pre-existing exclusion, which matters for the eye and breathing issues that can appear over time. Note that most insurance does not cover routine grooming or dental cleanings, the breed’s biggest predictable costs, so read the terms carefully. Premiums for a young Shih Tzu commonly run $40 to $70 a month in Ottawa. For many owners, a combination of a savings buffer for grooming and dental plus insurance for the illness-and-injury costs is a sensible approach. Decide early if you insure.

Shih Tzus are a long-lived breed, typically 10 to 16 years, with many reaching the mid-teens, one of the pleasures of the breed. A well-cared-for Shih Tzu, kept lean with good dental care and attentive management of the eyes and any breathing issues, has the best chance of a long life. Longevity depends on the usual levers: diligent dental care, protecting and monitoring the eyes, keeping the dog lean to reduce joint and breathing strain, managing heat carefully given the flat face, and annual vet checks that catch conditions early. For Ottawa owners, that long lifespan means a lengthy, rewarding companionship and budgeting for the ongoing grooming, dental, and senior care across a decade or more. A Shih Tzu adopted as an adult still has many good years ahead, and the breed’s general hardiness (aside from the eye and flat-face considerations) makes those years relatively low-drama medically for many dogs.