I Adopted a Shih Tzu --- have some questions...

[Bleenie]

Okay, thank you. I have to go buy her some new dishes, little dog food and other things today so wanted to ask just in case there was some product that worked. Scarlet really likes her but gets all mopey jelous when she sees her eating out of "her" dishes, lol.

thank you all for the input and info about the breed. I can look up lots of breed info online but i've discovered that hearing others' personal experiences is MUCH more helpful. I went through constant, horrible skin problems with my Rottie & did a lot of research on the subject but never found any good info about it. It was all pretty much trial & error until the end... the last few months i was able to find a diet that started clearing up her skin but I am sure I would have been able to help her sooner if i had asked around rather than just doing the research.

thank you all again, i will let you know how her itching and stuff does in the next few days or so!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

All I can say is use baby shampoo on her face. The no tears formula for those "Don't wash my face!" moments...You can also try getting some bluing solution to help get the brownish/yellow color out of the face but be careful, otherwise you'll have a purple pooch.

I've noticed with my female, that she tends to get enlarged teats while in heat. Won't be near an intact male, but the teats still enlarge during that time. Once the heat is over, the teats never fully retreat to their normal size.


Then again, she's only had one heat cycle in her 3 years.

As for the breathing issues, I've never noticed my dog having any breathing issues. It's the ones that have very short noses (mainly bred for show) and those that are out hiking with their owners in the 101* heat that may have acute issues. Some dogs have a "raspy" noise every now and then when they get excited. Almost reminds you of kennel cough or pulling too hard on the leash.

 

[Bleenie]

Here's a better picture of her face. she has a VERY short face/nase so she makes some little noises when shes breathing and occasionally makes a snorting noise. Her face all around her nose & eyes was really gooey and wet when i got her... not sure if it was snot or from her eyes but since i cut away and trimmed all the hair on her face it's been staying really dry.

She really has almost no muzzle at all.... it's like 2 big eyes, a nose and a little Ewok mouth, lol.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Aw!!! Yours has the cute nose!!!

Sometimes, giving a 1/2 Benadryl helps with any irritation in the throat, which she may have due to allergies.

 

[weimarmama]

Quote:
You can give her distilled water to drink instead of regular tap water. It helps with tearstains & sometimes even with discoloration around the mouth caused by the minerals in tap water. I've seen it work many times. She's very cute & lucky to have ya'll

 

[CCFarms9559]

I have a Shih Tzu. If you keep the hair around the eyes trimmed, you shouldn't have any problems. Mine also has skin problems and I worked with my vet. We tried liquid benadryl, but that did not do it. He takes on allergy pill in a piece of cheese each morning and problem solved. I get him groomed about every three weeks - Just because we like him long... The discoloration around his face is probably a form of red algae. Gets in thier water if it is not clean each day and then discolors their fur. Clean water and regular grooming sounds like all your new puppy needs. Good luck! We love our Harley.

 

[Bleenie]

I was going to pick up some allergy pills and try them, i noticed today that she started to chew on her back a little...yesterday she did it so bad that it had started to bleed.

She definitely has fresh water here, I know i wouldnt wanna drink old water so i am sure the dogs wouldnt either!! (even if some of them do drink the duck water, lol)

 

[downstownlady]

Gizmo is my Shih Tzu/Maltese mix...he is an absolute mess. (spoiled!!!) I bath him with oatmeal shampoo with a few drops of Tea Tree Oil. He is a very picky eater...and will mope if he doesn't get his favorite treats...the dried chicken strips. I tried him on all the expensive foods when I first got him...but he likes the generic cheap stuff which I just cringe to feed him because the others are so much better for him. (Dogs are meat eaters not vegetarians...by nature). I occasionally will add a little chicken broth to his food which is the only time he will eat from a plate/bowl...he wants his food served to him on the carpet...not the floor. Water in a clear bowl next to the pile of food on the carpet. (and yes...my chickens are locked up in a Gizmo proof pen). He mats easily...without a daily brushing. I use spray on conditioner (infusium as a matter of fact) and he hates the grooming...would rather roll around on a pile of poo than to smell like a flower. Okay...there's Gizmo's story...I traded a sewing machine for him when he was a puppy. Just couldn't resist him....plus my little one was leaving for big girl school...and I am a caregiver.

 

[synoviaus]

You have a real cutie pie there! As for the skin problems, my best friend is a professional dog groomer. I volunteer to help her out now and then. If your dog continues to itch try bathing her in a chlorahexadine shampoo. You can purchase it from jefferspet.com. Just follow the directions on the bottle then let the dog set for about 5 min. before rinsing. The chlorahexadine is great for killing bacterial and other skin infections plus it helps with the itching. It is really thick so you can dilute it with water if you want (see label). Some shi tzus just have skin issues. This is one of the best products we have found for them. Amy

 

[savingdogs]

I rescue humane society dogs for a hobby, bless you for taking that one in! You might be surprised how good the dog will look after a week of good food, being clean and veterinary care, being in a good home. Since she had several litters most likely, it would be very important for her health to schedule for her to be spayed ASAP.
But you'd be surprised what a difference a month of good food can make.

Good luck with your new companion!