Shih Tzu health: what owners should know

As a brachycephalic breed, the Shih Tzu is prone to breathing difficulties linked to narrow nostrils and a long soft palate, and it copes badly with heat. The large, prominent eyes are vulnerable to scratches, dryness and ulcers. Dental crowding, ear infections, slipping kneecaps, spinal disc problems and a hereditary kidney condition are also seen in the breed.

Careful breeders select for open nostrils and quiet breathing, have eyes checked by a specialist, and may screen for kneecap and kidney health; ask what they test for and why. At home, keep your dog lean and cool, and walk it on a harness rather than a collar to protect the throat. See a vet the same day for a squinting, cloudy or bulging eye, and promptly for snoring that keeps getting worse, fainting after exercise, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, or a big increase in drinking.