Shih Tzu Pet Insurance

Shih Tzu pet insurance is available from most pet insurance companies. Here is a little about their history and some breed specific conditions to be aware of.

History

The Shih Tzu is a small companion dog that originated in China, whose name means Lion Dog. According to canine DNA analysis, it is only of the oldest breeds of dog. This dog stands about 10 inches high at the withers, and weighs between 10 to 16 pounds. They have a long silky coat that requires daily brushing.

Breed Specific Conditions

While overall the Shih Tzu is a very healthy dog, there are a few disease conditions that show up this breed, these include:

Portosystemic Shunt - A condition in which a vessel shunts blood around the liver instead of the blood going through the liver to be filtered. Can result in neurological signs like seizures in Shih Tzu puppies.

Hip Dysplasia - A condition where the hip socket is not fully developed and eventually leads to joint instability and arthritis and lameness.

Heat Intolerance - Being a brachycephalic breed, these dogs are prone to breathing problems.

Distichiasis - A condition here an aberrant hair irritates the eye resulting in inflammation or ulceration of the cornea.

Summary

These disease conditions can be seen in the Shih Tzu and are conditions that an insurance company would factor into your monthly pet insurance premium. If you are buying a puppy, be sure to have a veterinarian examine it within a few days of purchase to help make sure the puppy does not suffer from congenital conditions.

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