Shih Tzu owners take note: Vets reveal the most common health problems in the breed – and the top symptoms your dog may have

With their big eyes and long, luxurious coats, it’s no wonder that Shih Tzus are among the most popular dogs in Britain.

But if you own a Shih Tzu, a new study may set off alarm bells for you.

Vets from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have revealed the most common conditions affecting Shih Tzu dogs in Britain.

Their findings suggest that the breed is at high risk for several troublesome conditions, including dental disease, anal sac impaction and ear disease.

‘Although we found that the main conditions in the breed were similar to those commonly found in dogs, Shih Tzu appear to be susceptible to a number of conditions, including eye conditions,’ said Dr Fiona Dale, lead author of the paper.

The Shih Tzu is the seventh most popular dog breed in Britain, accounting for three percent of all British puppies.

Like Pugs and English Bulldogs, the Shi Tzu is a flat-faced (or brachycephalic) breed that was bred to have a shorter face.

This facial structure is known to put other brachycephalic breeds at risk for serious eye and breathing problems.

However, so far there has been limited research into the problems in Shih Tzus.

In their new study, the team analyzed clinical data from 11,082 Shih Tzus collected from veterinarians in the United Kingdom in 2016.

Their analysis found that dental disease was the most common condition in Shih Tzus, with 9.5 percent of dogs diagnosed with the condition.

According to the researchers, this condition mainly occurred in older dogs.

“Dental disease (tooth and gum disease) is a painful problem and can lead to other problems, such as kidney and heart disease,” the PDSA explains on its website.

There are several important signs that your dog may have dental disease.

This includes bad breath, difficulty eating, weight loss, and wobbly or broken teeth.

‘Contact your vet if you suspect your dog has dental disease. They will get a good look inside your dog’s mouth (which can be very difficult at home!),” the PDSA added.

Apart from dental diseases, impaction of the anal sac (7.4 percent), ear diseases (5.5 percent), otitis externa or an inflamed ear canal (4.7 percent), vomiting (4.4 percent) and umbilical hernias (3, 9 percent), were also found to be common in the breed.

In terms of lifespan, the average age of death for the breed was 12.7 years – slightly longer than the average of 11.2 years reported for dogs in general in Britain.

To the researchers’ surprise, they found that despite being a flat-faced breed, the Shih Tzu’s overall health was quite similar to that of breeds without a flat face.

This suggests that Shih Tzus are much less severely affected by their facial structure than Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs.

‘Flat faces in dogs have been linked to several serious health problems, but this new study highlights that the health profile of each breed with flat faces may be quite unique,’ said Dr Dan O’Neill, co-author of the study.

‘The Shih Tzu’s lifespan of 12.7 years suggests that the breed’s overall health is much less severely affected than other flat-faced breeds such as French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs and Pugs, which live on average less than eight years. ‘

The researchers hope the findings will encourage Shih Tzu owners to be more alert to the conditions that could affect their dog.

Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeding Services Executive at The Kennel Club, who helped fund the research, added: ‘This research enables a better understanding of breed-specific health problems.

‘These findings will feed into the health and conservation plan for the Shih Tzu breed, managed by The Kennel Club to identify and monitor any concerns and continue to improve health.’