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Shih tzu are cheerful, devoted and faithful, but they follow their own paths and are difficult to subjugate. What is the genesis of the breed and character of the shih tzu, how to care for shih tzu dogs and what diseases bother them most often?

Shih tzuare true canine aristocrats, descended from two - equally aristocratic - Asian dog families. The first is the Lhasa apso, dogs belonging to the Dalai Lama and who usually work in Lhasa temples, where they accompanied monks performing Buddhist rituals. The second - Pekingese from the court of the Chinese emperor. Historical records mention that around 1644, when the Qing Emperor ascended the imperial throne, the Dalai Lama sent him several temple dogs as a gift. It was an honor for the emperor, as he believed that with such a dog he received a part of the Buddha's divinity. At the Chinese court, the Lhasa apso were crossed with Pekingese. The result of this cross was a completely new breed of little companion dogs.

Their name, shih tzu, we owe to Empress Tzu Shi, during which regular breeding began. The smaller the dog was, the more recognition it gained, so breeders often starved them and kept them in tight cages to stop their growth. In the 1930s they found their way to Europe, and in the 1980s they appeared in Poland.

Currently, according to the FCI classification, they belong to group 9 (decorative and companion dogs), section 5 - Tibetan breeds. According to the data of the American Kennel Club, they have been in the top 20 of the most popular breeds for many years.

Shih tzu - appearance

Dogs of times shih tzu have a brachycephalic structure. Their head is large and round, the skull is flattened between the ears, the mandible is strong and the muzzle is short. However, what is most characteristic of this breed is profuse hair.

Young shih tzu look like small, shaggy balls. Adult dog hair is long and thick, and the undercoat is abundant. The dense coat on the paws and tail makes these dogs appear much bulkier than they really are. The head is also very hairy, and the direction in which the hair grows gives it the appearance of a chrysanthemum flower. On the chin they form a characteristic "mustache".

As the hair falls over the forehead, covering the eyes and irritating the cornea, that's whyyou can often see dogs of this breed that have them tied in a characteristic ponytail at the top of their heads. They usually weigh no more than 9 kg and reach a height of up to 29 cm at the withers.

Shih tzu - nutrition

For a dog to enjoy good he alth and well-being, it must be properly fed. Pets must have constant access to clean water. Since shih tzu have a tendency to gain weight, the amount of food must be strictly controlled and no treats are given between meals.

The most convenient is a properly balanced, ready-made food from a reputable company - it will provide the pet with all the necessary ingredients, and during the meal its mustache and beard will not get dirty.

Puppies up to about 3 months of age should be given the food four times a day, and then three times a day - before eating it should be soaked and set aside for several minutes to swell. You can feed an adult dog twice a day (dividing the daily amount of food into two smaller portions), or give him one meal.

Dogs live on average this time around 13 years, although they often live up to 16-17 years.

If the owner decides to eat wet food or prepare their own meals, wash and dry the hair on the face after eating. In some cases, it is also necessary to give the dog vitamin and mineral supplements. They are usually necessary during the period of vigorous growth when the dog needs calcium, especially if he is eating home-made food that does not meet all his needs. Sometimes such supplements must also be supplied to the shih tzu fed with well-balanced ready-made foods - for example, when the dog does not eat the entire portion, he has diarrhea or gases, which indicate problems with the digestive system, which in turn may affect the lower use of ingredients. karma. Supplements are also given when an adult dog starts shedding hair. The appropriate preparations are then prescribed by a veterinarian.

According to an expertdr inż. Jacek Wilczak, nutrition expert in the Noteć Valley, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences

What to feed a shih tzu dog with?

Shih-tzu dogs belong to dogs with a very long, characteristic hair, the quality of which, apart from care, must be taken care of through the diet. The role of the diet is to provide the dog with nutrients at the same time, but also to ensure the right proportions of nutrients in order to maintain the beautiful appearance of the hair.

To ensure the proper appearance of the hair cover, it is extremely important for the skin to function properly as a tissue made of hair. If the skin is affected by factors damaging itfunctions, there is a high probability that there will be dysfunctions in the appearance of the hair. Additionally, for the dog owner, the appearance of the hair cover may indicate a nutritional deficiency of selected dietary components or an ongoing disease process inside the body.

Diet components that have a proven effect on the functions of the skin and indirectly on the condition of its appendages (including hair) are:

  • proteins with particular reference to sulfur amino acids,
  • essential fatty acids, especially those from the n-6 family (the correct ratio between n-6 and n-3 acids is actually important),
  • minerals (zinc, sulfur, copper, calcium),
  • vitamins (especially those that regulate protein metabolism and fat-soluble vitamins A, E, carotenoids)
  • and biologically active compounds of plant origin (polyphenols, flavonoids, phytostanols, lignans).

A complete feed or a properly balanced home diet should contain all of the above-mentioned ingredients to ensure the proper appearance of such a representative breed of dogs as shih-tzu.

Shih tzu - reproductive cycle

female dogs mature sexually this time a bit earlier than female dogs of other breeds once, so heat may also appear earlier, even as early as six months of age (in other breeds it usually takes place between 8 and 10 months of age). It's a hard time for both the pet and the owner. It lasts about 3-4 weeks, during which the bitch should be isolated from the dogs, and on a walk not unleashed, as any mating may result in pregnancy.

Most bitches do not stain too much, so you don't have to worry about traces of blood on the carpet and upholstered furniture. However, you can protect yourself by wearing special panties with a cut for the tail - although most bitches are not able to accept them and take them off quickly.

The next heat comes every six or eight months. Usually, a female has two of them during the year. During heat, she may be lethargic, lethargic, and her reproductive organs may be swollen. During this time, walks should be limited, and a secluded place to rest should be provided.

A shih tzu pregnancy usually lasts 63 days from the date of mating, although it is not a rule, because a full-term birth can start on both 59 and 67 days of pregnancy. Owners who do not plan to reproduce may opt for sterilization. It will allow you to avoid neoplastic diseases of the mammary gland, pyomyxia, and imaginary pregnancy.

According to the latest research, early sterilization is recommended to minimize the risk of some tumors developing later in lifemammary gland. If we sterilize before the first heat (but not earlier than 6-7 months of age), the risk is minimal. If we manage to perform the procedure by the third heat, we also reduce the risk, but to a lesser extent. Sterilization after this period has no prophylactic effect on the mammary gland.

Worth knowing

Shih tzu - disposition

Shih tzu are calm, balanced and distinguished dogs. They are gentle and friendly towards people they know (they are wary of strangers), and they also get along well with other animals.

Due to the constant willingness to play, they are suitable for families with children ( although they are more suitable for playing with older children), they can also share the space with a calm cat and dog.

Their behavior is a bit like cats: they like to cuddle and cuddle, but they decide when it's time to pet. They also love to sleep, so you can leave them at home without worrying that they will damage something - usually they wait the time of the owner's absence curled up on their own bedding, although of course there are exceptions to this rule.

Unlike many other times, they do not need long walks, because they can discharge the excess energy during frolics at home. Since they adapt easily to various conditions, they can be kept both in a small studio apartment and in a large house with a garden.

Shih tzu - care

The future owner of a shih-tzu must be prepared for the fact that the care of a dog of this breed is time-consuming and demanding. Shih tzu moults once in their life, around eight months of age, when they replace their puppy hair with adult hair.

His silky hair, however, requires careful and systematic care. Every day you need to comb it with a wooden brush with metal wires. Two or three times a week, individual strands of hair must be combed from the roots to the ends with a metal comb (during the molting period, you have to do it every day so that it does not become tangled). Before combing, the hair can be sprayed with a detangling preparation.

This time we bathe the dog every week, using good brand shampoos for dogs with a thick undercoat.

You have to brush his teeth a few times a week, cut the hair under his tail and between the pads every two weeks, pluck the hair out of the ears, and trim the claws. Every day your dog needs to wash his eyes with a cotton swab moistened with boiled water.

If the dog has a short haircut, on cold days, it is worth wearing a fleece jacket for a walk, and for a long-haired dog - a nylon garment with long legs and sleeves. If you return tothe hair is wet at home, you need to dry it, otherwise it will become matted.

According to an expertEwa Korycka-Grzegorczyk, a veterinarian

Big eyes set shallowly in the eye sockets, and abundant hair falling over the eyes predispose shih tzu dogs to eye problems:

  • Increased tearingcaused by obstruction of the tear ducts.
  • Inflammation of the conjunctiva and the corneacaused by rubbing the hair on the surface of the cornea or the double row of eyelashes.
  • Prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid- this is the lacrimal gland located in the third eyelid. Prolapse is characterized by the appearance of pink oval tissue in the medial corner of the eye. If left untreated, the gland produces fewer tears, which makes the eye less moist and prone to irritation.
  • Eyeball prolapse- occurs quite often in this breed due to the shallow setting of the eye in the socket. It occurs as a result of injuries, accidents, and can also happen while playing. In such a situation, immediately moisten the eye with physiological fluid and seek medical attention quickly. With a quick reaction and the provision of professional help, the eyeball can be repositioned and there is no risk of losing the eye.

These are not the only he alth problems of this breed of dogs.

  • Shih-tzu puppies may experiencecleft palate . It is a genetically determined congenital disease. A cleft is a gap in the palate that connects the mouth with the nasal cavity. Puppies have a problem with food intake, milk enters the nasal cavity, which may cause choking of the milk and, as a result, develop aspiration pneumonia.
  • In dogs of this breed, as they have a short craniofacial face,short-skulled respiratory syndrome may occur.Due to partial airway obstruction (at the level of the nose - narrowing of the inlet openings to the nostrils, at the level of the pharynx - too long soft palate, at the level of the larynx and trachea - collapsing of these parts of the respiratory tract), hypoxia occurs. This entails high blood pressure, myocardial hypertrophy, gastric problems caused by breathing air from obstructed breathing, and secondary respiratory infections. Treatment includes both the surgical correction of structural defects and the fight against current infections.

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