Why should pet owners be aware of the Shih Tzu eye care basics?
All Shih Tzus, regardless of colors and fur length have one thing in common: big round eyes, which makes Shih Tzu eye care an important aspect of owning a Shih Tzu. It is important to take care of your Shih Tzu’s eye health so that they don’t end up with any blinding conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts.
This article will cover topics like basic Shih Tzu eye care, the importance of regular veterinary visits for checkups on their eyesight, what foods you should avoid due to their risks for eye problems and much more!
What are the Symptoms that Your Shih Tzu Has Eye Problems?
The symptoms of Shih Tzu eye problems are not very different from any other breed. Possible symptoms include redness, inflammation, excessive tearing and/or discharge from the eyes, squinting their eyes when they walk into the sunlight (photosensitivity), and limited or non-existent vision.
There are specific diseases that affect Shih Tzu’s more frequently than others though such as progressive retinal atrophy which usually leads to blindness in Shih Tzu by middle age.
How to Identify and Treat Common Shih Tzu Eye Problems
Dogs can have a variety of eye problems. Fortunately, most can be treated and sometimes even cured! In Shih Tzu eye care, you must understand what type of disease your dog is suffering from to make effective decisions and take the best course of action available.
One common condition that affects them is Conjunctivitis. It’s an infection in the membranes around the eye which makes it red and inflamed. Symptoms include excessive pawing at their eyes, squinting when they walk into sunlight (photosensitivity) and tearing/discharge from their eyes.
You should immediately take your dog to see a veterinarian if these symptoms show up. They are required to properly diagnose your dog before any Shih Tzu eye care treatment can begin!
The other common condition in Shih Tzu’s is Cataracts. This disease makes it hard for your dog to focus their eyes because they are cloudy from an opaque lens that forms on the eye. It can also affect both eyes or just one, depending on how severe it is and what kind of condition your Shih Tzu has.
Although Cataracts usually develop slowly with age, they can also be caused by exposure to bright light or other diseases like inflammation of the cornea (corneal ulcers). Your vet will do an exam and have blood work performed on your dog as well as to measure the pressure inside of their eyes.
If you are concerned about this condition, it’s best that you get them checked out sooner than later because there is no cure for Cataracts!
How Do You Prevent Shih Tzu Eye Problems
There are many different things that you can do to prevent problems with your Shih Tzu’s eyes. You should feed them high-quality dog food to ensure they’re getting all the right nutrients for their vitamins and minerals.
Try to avoid activities like scaring them, roughhousing, or anything that might catch your dog by surprise because this can lead to injuries like Shih Tzu eye problems including ruptured blood vessels which are usually accompanied by excessive tearing from the eyes.
One of the most important things you can do, however, is to take your dog for regular vet visits. Most people don’t realize that dogs’ eyesight declines with age and they almost need an eye exam at least once a year for their senior years.
What Can You Do If Your Shih Tzu’s Eyes Are Injured?
If your Shih Tzu gets injured during play or accidentally bumps into something in their surroundings like the furniture or walls, it can be easy to notice injuries on other parts of their body but sometimes it’s not as easy to notice when a Shih Tzu has an injury around their eyes.
Most common injuries in this area include scratches from branches or thorns when they go outside, getting hit by something, or if you accidentally get too close to their eyes when they’re eating.
If your dog’s eyes are injured in any way, the first thing you want to do is try and protect it from getting infected. Gently wash it out with warm water but don’t rub it because this can cause more tears! It’s also important that you take them to a veterinarian as fast as possible so that they can be properly examined.
You should keep an eye on your Shih Tzu after the injury has occurred because if it looks red or inflamed then chances are there will be a pain in the area for them which could lead to erratic behavior like pawing at the eye or not wanting to eat.
If this happens, speak to your veterinarian about giving them a pain killer and using an antibacterial drop in their eye to help prevent any infections.
Injuries around the eyes are very common in all Shih Tzu’s because of how close they come to us while we’re petting them or feeding them. If you take precautionary measures, however, then it should be easy for you to keep your dog from getting injured!
Shih Tzu Eye Care Tips
The best way to prevent Shih Tzu eye problems is to take care of your dog at home.
Start by making sure that you trim their nails on a regular basis as long nails can scratch the surface of their eyes. You should also clean around and behind their eyes regularly because if debris gets into it, it could scratch the surface or result in an infection (just like your own).
You should also make sure that you visit your vet for regular check-ups so that they can get Shih Tzu eye care check-ups and any problems are caught early on. This leads to the best results at treating your dog and curing their condition.
Of course, if you do notice anything different with your dog’s eyes, you should take them in for a veterinary visit so that they can properly diagnose your pet, thats good shih tzu eye care!
Things you should know about caring for your dog’s eyes
Make sure that you always perform a proper Shih Tzu eye care examination on your Shih Tzu as part of their annual check-up. They require cleaning and maintenance on a regular basis so give them attention with some warm water and a soft cloth after each bath. Eye infections can be painful for your dog so get them checked up by a veterinarian as soon as possible!
Sometimes, if the infection is not too severe or there are no complications, then all you need to do is simply administer medication to your dog. The vet may ask you to remove eye drops yourself in order to keep the medicine in longer, but it depends on what kind of infection they have.
Shih Tzu Eye Care Tips – Conclusion:
Your dog’s eyes are an important part of their well-being, which makes Shih Tzu eye care a huge part of owning a pet Shih Tzu. If your pet has any of these symptoms, make sure to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible to get treatment for them.
You should also be aware of how to prevent eye issues in your dog by taking proper care with food choices and what they’re exposed to on a daily basis. It may seem like overkill but keeping up on regular vet visits can help keep your pet healthy and happy!
