Eye disorders in Shih tzu
Shih Tzu is a super cute little dog breed that captivates everyone with its dark eyes and modest size. These dogs have a very special charm that makes them irresistible to many dog lovers. Unfortunately, there are also some health concerns associated with the Shih Tzu – especially when it comes to their eye health.
The Shih Tzu breed is known to be predisposed to a number of eye disorders which can lead to chronic irritation and pain. This is due in part to their unique anatomical characteristics. The Shih Tzu is an extremely brachycephalic breed – meaning they have a shortened upper jaw and nose. This results in them having shallow eye sockets with often prominent eyes.
Table of contents
prevention
It is important for Shih Tzu owners to be aware of potential eye problems and to take necessary precautions. Regular eye examinations at the vet are important to detect and treat any problems early. Although the Shih Tzu may be more prone to eye problems, this does not mean that all dogs of this breed will develop problems. Proper care and follow-up can help reduce the risk and ensure that your Shih Tzu remains happy, healthy and comfortable. With the right attention and veterinary care, these cute little dogs can continue to enchant us with their beautiful dark eyes for years to come.
Brachycephalic breeds include
- pug
- English Bulldog
- Boxer
- Pekingese
- French bulldog
- Lhasa apso
- Shih Tzu
- Boston terrier
- Persian cat
The Shih Tzu is predisposed to many eye disorders
Due to the extremely short head/muzzle and the anatomical consequences it causes, Shih Tzus and other brachycephalic dogs are predisposed to many eye disorders which can lead to chronic irritation and pain. Brachycephal ocular syndrome is seen in all brachycephalic breeds.
They can often have a combination of different lesions in the eyes such as:
- Protruding eyes (Exophthalmos)
- Excessively long eyelids (Macropalpebrae)
- Reduced ability to close the eye completely (Lagophthalmos)
- Rolled-in lower eyelid (Medial entropion)
- Hair from the nasal fold settles on the cornea (Nasal fold trichiasis)
- Misaligned eye hairs (Distichiasis)
- Low tear production and/or poor tear quality
- Pigmentary inflammation of the cornea (Keratitis)
- Long-term irritation of the cornea (Keratopathy)
- Too tight eyelid ligament
- Watery eyes
(Maggs et al 2008)
Avoid watery eyes
Extreme brachycephalic breeds such as the Shih Tzu are also vulnerable to eyeball injuries during normal activity and prolapse of the eyeball due to the shallowness of the eye (Mould 1993, Bedford and Jones 2001). Unfortunately, experience has shown that some owners allow their dog to walk with irritated, watery eyes for long periods of time without consulting a veterinarian because they believe – and have heard from others – that their eyes are normally watery. And by the time the dog finally shows pronounced symptoms of pain, it may be too late to treat with medication.
Without treatment of the various disorders that lead to brachycephalic ocular syndrome, we may experience irritation of the cornea and surrounding tissues – causing constant discomfort, pain and in some cases blindness. Long-term irritation of the cornea causes ulcers with pronounced pain (Renwick 1996) – scarring, pigmentation and blindness. In some cases, the eye may rupture.
See a veterinarian frequently
Surgical treatment can help. In recent years, a special surgical method has been developed for dogs with protruding eyes due to tight ligaments - the method has given good results. Otherwise, it is important to remove misaligned eyelash that irritates or reduce a nasal fold if it leads to chronic irritation of the eyes. Despite surgical intervention, many Shih Tzus will still need to make frequent visits to the veterinarian for local treatment of the eyes. Other hereditary eye diseases in Shih Tzus are PRA - progressive retinal dystrophy, cataracts - thickening of the lens - and vitreous degeneration. These eye diseases can be detected by eye lighting.
