Your Shih Tzu`s Health

Vaccinations Once your new puppy is brought home it is important to make an appointment with your chosen vet within the first 24 hours. At this visit you will have a new puppy check and also a vaccine date. At this time come the confusing questions and answers: What does this vaccine prevent? Is this or that one necessary? Is this vaccine annual or every few years?

Vaccinations are the most important thing for your new puppy as without these any infections could be devastating and could result in death so do you want to take that risk??

Puppies are usually vaccinated at 8 and 10 weeks so its important this is the very first thing you do.

After the second vaccination you must still keep them in for a further 2 week so it has chance to get into their system and be fully protected, your puppy will then be ready for the big world by 12 weeks.



Worming........

Weaned puppies should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age. Then every month until
6 months of age when they can be treated as adults which is every 3 months.

Your puppy will be fully wormed up to 8 weeks of age so make sure the 10 week worming is done.

I use Drontal  from the vets so on your visit for the first vaccination pick some up so you have it to hand or let the vet worm them.



Teething.....

Some puppies in this breed experience teething trouble, the gums swell and slightly pinches off their nostrils, this is nothing to be alarmed about and will usually settle down by16-20 weeks of age.

The teething puppy will usually snort, sniffle and could also have slight nasal discharge which should be clear as if it changes to anything else it could be a sign of an upper respitory infection, they might also mouth breath.

As long as they are eating, drinking and running round happily they will be fine but if they don`t eat and are looking lethargic or the nasal discharge changes colour then a trip to the vets is in order.

The offical book of the breed recommends not letting any surgery be done until the dog is over 6 months old as some vets are too quick to suggest surgery and usually most are fine once they get their adult teeth through.




Hernias.....

The most common types of hernias in shih tzu puppies are:

An umbilical hernia is the most common type of hernia found in puppies.In case of umbilical hernias, a portion of fat or internal organs protrudes through an incompletely closed umbilical ring.Umbilical hernias may be present at birth or may be acquired.The most common means of acquiring an umbilical hernia is a result of the umbilical cord being severed too close to the abdominal wall.In most cases umbilical hernias are small and reduce as the puppy grows.Generally by the time the pup is six months old, the umbilical hernia will shrink and disappear on its own. 

An inguinal hernia is the result of abdominal organs, fat or tissue protruding through the inguinal ring.Inguinal hernias are presented as skin-covered bulges in the groin.They can be bi-lateral,involving both sides or unilateral, involving only one side.Inguinal hernias are more common in females than males, but do occur in both sexes.As with umbilical hernias most inguinal hernias will shrink and disappear as the puppy grows.  Inguinal hernias can also occur in unspayed, middle-aged female dogs.This may occur as the result of stretching of abdominal tissue due to pregnancy. 

A hernia which can be pushed back into the abdomen is called reducible. Hernias which are not reducible are called incarcerated if the blood supply to an incarcerated hernia is pinched off the hernia becomes strangulated.A strangulated hernia is an emergency situation and must be brought to the attention of your vet.


PLEASE make sure you try to choose a vet that is knowledgeable about this breed as i have seen too many vets that don`t truly understand the breed and Shih Tzu puppies.....if in doubt then please always get a second opinion.
 

 Worming Record.

 Worming Record.