I owned a shih tzu for 15 years. They really are a great breed. Most of the problems have been bred out of them through centuries of selective breeding in China. However they do still have a couple of issues they are prone to.

First of all, they have a tendency toward eye problems, most specifically dry eyes and abrasions. Make sure you keep their eyes clean and keep the hair trimmed or at least groomed around their eyes to keep hair out of them. If you see any discoloration on the conjunctiva (the white part), consult a vet. Abrasions show up as dark, grayish spots on the white parts of the eyes.

Secondly, if you live in an area where your water contains a lot of minerals, you may want to put a tablespoon of vinegar in their water dish to help neutralize these minerals. My shih tzu almost died from urine toxicity because a rock of crystalized minerals began forming in her bladder. She constantly felt like she needed to go and would have accidents constantly. When I noticed the blood in her urine, I took her in and she was, according to the vet, two weeks from death. A small operation later to removed the lump and she was all better and lived an additional ten years.

Thirdly, due to their thick coats, they need their hair either kept short or groomed on a daily basis. Otherwise, they could end up with skin infections.

Your shih tzu may show signs of sinus problems, but not to worry. Their short noses make them prone to sneezing and even mildly runny noses. This is normal for a shih tzu.

Other than the above, the shih tzu is a very hardy breed, very playful, and very rough and tumble, not at all like they look. They are very active dogs, but can also be great lap dogs. In my opinion, shih tzus are about hte most well-rounded dogs ever. They were originally bred in China to be royal pets and it wasn't until the 1940's that the first shih tzu was successfully smuggled out of China.

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