Shih Tzu eyes are this breed’s asset when it comes to making people swoon. Those deep set and dark eyes compliment their flower-shaped faces and certainly add to the regal look of the breed. Compared to other common breeds such as the Labradors and Golden Retriever, Shih Tzu have bulging eyes. Though they look cute, the anatomical design of their eyes can predispose the eyes to irritation and infection. The wider the area exposed to the environment, the more prone the organ to contaminants.
First off, avoid letting your Shih Tzu put out his head of the car window – especially during trips on the speedway. The dust in the rushing wind can easily get in the eyes and cause irritation. Moreover, keep the hair over and under the eye trimmed. You can trim these yourself by using blunt scissors. Clippers are not advisable to be used unless you are aiming for an entirely shaved face. Be careful not to cut the deep skin fold near the eyes. Also, in bathing, make sure that shampoo, conditioner, or soap do not get into the eyes. There are ointments available in the market that you can put into the eye before bathing to avoid irritation. Furthermore, do not underestimate dog fights. The eyes are very commonly affected during dogfights and this leads to permanent blindness and for severe cases, surgical removal of the eyeball or enucleation. Bites on the face generally involve damage to the eye structures that’s why as much as possible, avoid involving your Shih Tzu in dog fights. Shih Tzu are very gentle dogs; but once they are provoked – usually in cases where male dogs fight over an in heat female, they can become really aggressive.
Should you observe irritation and increased tear production on your Shih Tzu, there are home remedies that you can do. Mix 1 cup distilled water and ¼ teaspoon sea salt and apply the mixture on the affected dry by using a cotton ball or dropper. You can also try cleaning the eyes using 2-3 drops brewed Chamomile or Eyebright tea 2-3 times a day. Just make sure that the tea is of room temperature and blot the area dry afterwards to prevent bacterial proliferation.
