Shih Tzu Health: What the UK Vet Records Show
UK Shih Tzus lived a median of 12.7 years in one records study. Their common problems were teeth, anal sacs and ears, with more eye ulcers than dogs overall.
Written by thecanineledger
A 2024 study of UK vet records concluded that “Shih Tzus appear to be relatively long-lived compared to previous reports of lifespan in dogs overall.” (Dale et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics 2024). The median age at death was 12.7 years.
While that’s encouraging for a flat-faced breed, the same records point to a few problems that are more common in Shih Tzus. This page sets out what the study found.
1. The study
The dogs. Researchers used VetCompass, a database of anonymised UK primary-care records. Of 336,865 dogs under care in 2016, 11,082 were Shih Tzus, or 3.3%. The team read the records of 2,423 of them at random.
Small numbers for deaths. Only 89 deaths were recorded, so the figures on causes of death are rough.
Funding. The work was supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and a pet insurer.
2. What was most common
The commonest diagnoses in 2016 were gum disease, at 9.5%, anal sac impaction, at 7.4%, and ear disorders, at 5.5%. By group, skin, dental and eye problems led.
Similar to dogs overall. The authors note these top three are much the same as in dogs generally.
→ Anal Glands: Which Dogs Have Problems, and Should They Be Expressed?
3. Possible weak spots
The authors compared their figures with an earlier study of dogs overall. They write that “Shih Tzus may have potential predispositions for anal sac impaction, umbilical hernias and eyes problems such as corneal ulceration and ocular discharge”.
Eyes. Corneal ulcers were recorded in 3.5% of Shih Tzus, against 0.77% of dogs overall. Eye discharge was 2.1%, against 0.74%.
Umbilical hernia. A bulge at the belly button, recorded in 3.9% of Shih Tzus, against 0.93% of dogs overall. It was more common in females, and the median age of affected dogs was 1.4 years.
A caution. These comparisons are with a separate study, not a side-by-side analysis. The authors say “potential”.
Our note: The comparisons come from a different study, so treat them as possible weak spots, not proven ones.
→ Corneal Ulcers, and Why Flat-Faced Dogs Get Them
4. Breathing
Upper respiratory tract disorders were recorded in 3.6% of Shih Tzus in 2016. The study doesn’t say how many of these were the airway disease of flat-faced breeds. The authors place Shih Tzus among the flat-faced breeds, and they cite “the strong evidence that brachycephalic dog breeds are generally less healthy than non-brachycephalic breeds”. Brachycephalic means flat-faced.
Our note: 3.6% may undercount airway disease in Shih Tzus, if owners and vets see noisy breathing as normal for the breed.
→ Brachycephalic Airway Disease: Grading, Surgery, and What “Normal Snoring” Hides
5. How they died
Mostly euthanasia. Of the deaths with a method recorded, 94.1% involved euthanasia.
Causes. Where a cause was recorded, gut disease, heart disease and poor quality of life were joint commonest, at 7 deaths each.
Our note: “Poor quality of life” is a broad category.
6. If you have, or want, a Shih Tzu
- Watch the eyes for squinting, discharge or cloudiness, and see a vet the same day if you notice them.
- Keep up with teeth from puppyhood.
- Ask your vet to check for a hernia at the puppy checks.
Our note: These points are ours, including the “same day” advice for eyes.
→ Choosing a Breed or a Mix: The Health Data Breeders Don’t Lead With · → Breed and Lifespan: What the UK Primary-Care Data Shows
7. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “Shih Tzus are long-lived” | Yes, in one UK study. Median age at death was 12.7 years, from 89 deaths. |
| “Shih Tzus have eye problems” | Possibly. Corneal ulcers and discharge were recorded more often than in dogs overall, compared across studies. |
| “Shih Tzus have no breathing problems” | No. Upper airway problems were recorded in 3.6% in one year. The study didn’t look at airway disease in detail. |
Sources
- Dale F, Brodbelt DC, West G, et al. Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Med Genet 2024: VetCompass study, 11,082 Shih Tzus in 2016. Supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and a pet insurer
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.