Those who have decided to have a Shih Tzu dog will need to educate
themselves on the general Shih Tzu care so they will be able to
(i) know what they need to do when they bring this dog home, whether
adult or puppy, and (ii) know whether they can manage the demands
imposed by this task.
General Shih Tzu Care is Not Too Hard
Fortunately, the Shih Tzu care will not be too problematic, because
the Shih Tzu breed is a healthy breed, generally speaking. It
has very few serious health problems and hence, they will need
very few visits to the vet in their lifetime. Kidney disease is
the only major ailment that this breed is prone to. This disease
is called renal dysplasia. Other possible health problems, though
minor, are wheezing (due to the shape of their muzzles), and slipped
kneecaps that come with old age.
More than health concerns, grooming needs to be taken into consideration.
The majority of general Shih Tzu care will be centered on its
grooming – particularly cleaning, combing and brushing its luxuriant
long coat and its wooly undercoat. A Shih Tzu who is not groomed
at least once in two days, will develop skin problems owing to
matted and tangled hair, not to mention dirty.
The Shih Tzu does not need too much exercise, though it thoroughly
enjoys playing outdoors. However, they need company all the time
and cannot adjust to long periods of solitude. Hence, if you choose
this breed, you will need to be there for this dog the majority
time of the day. Here, the most important general aspect of Shih
Tzu care you can give this dog is yourself and your time.
The teeth of this dog are prone to falling off, as it grows old.
Hence, adequate importance should be given to this fact and veterinary
doctors should be consulted to reduce the risk to the minimum
possible.
Obesity
The Shih Tzu loves to eat and you will find that the most common
self-induced problem is obesity. It is good if you learn from
the beginning to abstain from over-feeding them. They never stop
eating and they have extraordinary capabilities to digest, for
which you will never know when to stop feeding it; more so when
you feed it tiny tidbits. Hence, you should stick to the only-meals
routine as part of general Shih Tzu care, and do not allow too
much snacking in between.
Generally speaking, Shih Tzu care will revolve about its grooming.
As stated earlier, the only major health
concern facing the Shih Tzu is renal dysplasia – hence, it
is good to be well educated on this matter before getting the
puppy into your midst.
Attention: To discover how
YOU can have the Happiest, Healthiest and Best Behaved Shih Tzu,
get a copy of this Shih Tzu Guide
NOW!
