Being Allergic to a Shih Tzu

Overview

Despite the Shih Tzu breed being often labeled as hypoallergenic, allergies to this breed are possible. It's even possible to have reactions to this breed while tolerating others well. In this article, we'll explore why allergies to a Shih Tzu can happen and provide strategies to minimize allergic reactions.

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Why You Can Be Allergic to a Shih Tzu

Many people believe they won't be allergic to a Shih Tzu due to its coat of hair, which sheds less than fur. However, the common assumption that dog allergies are caused primarily by fur is incorrect. While fur can visibly accumulate on surfaces and clothing, causing allergic reactions, it's actually the allergens attached to the fur—like dander, saliva, and urine—that are the real culprits.

Additionally, breeds with thicker fur can trap more external allergens like dust and pollen, potentially exacerbating symptoms in sensitive individuals. Yet, dog allergies are highly individual. One might react differently to various breeds or even individual dogs within the same breed, unrelated to the type of coat.

The primary allergens from dogs include:

Dander: The most common trigger, consisting of flakes of dead skin.
Saliva Proteins: These can cause general allergies or direct contact reactions, like hives from a dog’s lick.
Urine Proteins: Less common, but contact with urine traces on a dog's coat during grooming or petting can trigger reactions.

Therefore, the concept of a hypoallergenic dog breed is a bit misleading, and the Shih Tzu is no exception. Despite its hair coat, it produces dander and has saliva and urine, all potential allergy triggers.

Bella, photo courtesy of Melody A.

Signs of Being Allergic to a Dog

The most common symptoms are:

Itchy eyes
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Sneezing
Itchy skin
Hives
Coughing
Wheezing

Testing to See if You Are Allergic to a Shih Tzu Before Getting a New Puppy

Before bringing a Shih Tzu puppy home, especially if you've had allergic reactions before, it's smart to test your sensitivity to the breed. Since dander and saliva protein levels vary between dogs, spending a full day with a Shih Tzu, if possible, is ideal for assessing your reaction. If not feasible, even a few hours can be indicative.

Possible Testing Methods:

Dog-sit a Shih Tzu: Offer to dog-sit for someone you know who owns a Shih Tzu. This hands-on experience can help gauge your reaction.
Visit a Shelter: Spend time with a Shih Tzu at a local shelter. Ideally, interact with a freshly bathed dog that's been isolated from others to minimize exposure to additional allergens.
Multiple Visits with a Puppy: Rather than making a quick decision based on the puppy's appearance, arrange several visits of 20-30 minutes each to check for allergic reactions. Keep in mind, a puppy's allergen production may increase as it matures.
Contact with a Puppy's Belongings: Request a blanket from the breeder that the puppy has been using. For highly sensitive individuals, this can trigger allergies quickly, providing insight into your potential reaction to the puppy.

These methods can provide a clearer understanding of how you may react to a Shih Tzu, aiding in a more informed decision about bringing one into your home.

Allergy Testing for a Specifically for the Shih Tzu Breed

In many cases, general allergy testing from your doctor will only test for canines in general. And even so, those results can be misleading. The National Institute of Health published a paper showing that people can have only slight positive or even negative results to testing while still experiencing dog allergies.

However, some allergists are able to test for specific breeds and therefore can use a sample from a Shih Tzu and even a specific dog when a hair sample is given. Yet again, this is not always accurate.

11 Things to Do if You Are Allergic to Your Shih Tzu

To manage allergies to a Shih Tzu, implementing multiple remedies is more effective than just one. The effectiveness varies from person to person, and in some cases, you might see significant improvement or only minor changes.

#1 Keep the coat clipped short. While the type of coat (fur vs hair) is not directly related to any allergies you may be having toward your Shih Tzu, keeping their coat short makes it easier to wash away dander, urine, and saliva, thus easier to reduce the true triggers.

#2 Bathe your Shih Tzu weekly. Typically, it is recommended to give a Shih Tzu a bath once every three weeks. However, if you are allergic to a Shih Tzu, a weekly bath should help quite a bit. Over-bathing can lead to dry skin (thus more dander); however, this can be counteracted by using a quality oatmeal-based shampoo and conditioner like Earthbath's Oatmeal and Aloe Set.

Rocky at 1 year old, photo courtesy of Don V.

#3 Brush & spritz often. Ideally, the person who is allergic to the Shih Tzu should not perform the brushing. Also, if the weather permits this, brushing should be done outside to prevent dander flakes from becoming airborne in the house.

A good full-body brush 3 times per week can be advantageous to removing dander and if you use a leave-in coat spray like The Stuff Conditioner & Detangler while you do this, all the better.

#4 Daily wiping. Wiping down a Shih Tzu with grooming wipes is an effective, yet often underrated method for maintaining cleanliness, reducing odor, and minimizing allergens like dander, urine, and saliva.

Using a quality canine wipe like Earthbath All-Natural Hypo-Allergenic Grooming Wipes removes 2 of those 3 elements (and all 3 if the dog tends to drool). You’ll want to go over the entire body (stomach, chest, legs, even the tail).

#5 Cover furniture. It’s not easy to keep a dog off of your sofa and other furniture if you want them to be part of the family. A good alternative is to obtain furniture coverings that are washable. If you are following all the rules of what to do if you’re allergic to your Shih Tzu, washing the sofa cover once or twice per week can often be just the thing to allow the allergy sufferer to sit where the dog has sat or to even relax together.

#6 Limit access. For those who are very allergic, it is best to keep the puppy or dog out of that person’s bedroom as that is the room that he/she will spend at least 8 hours.

#7 Create an area for your Shih Tzu. Set up a comfortable yet not isolated area where your Shih Tzu can go if you need some distance. It should contain all the essential supplies like a bed, blanket, food and water, toys, and pee pads. If you're allergic, avoid placing this area in a room with carpeting, as it can trap dander and aggravate allergies. Use a dog bed with a washable cover, laundering it weekly.

Zeus, at 1 year and 4 months, photo courtesy of Alex and Troy

#8 Your flooring. Carpeting will hold allergens more than hardwood floors; however, in either case, the house should be vacuumed or swept as much as possible and at the very least 1 time per week.

For vacuuming, make sure that you are using a vacuum with HEPA filtration, it is the only type that can trap tiny allergen particles. If not, it'll just spread them around. If you're looking for one, the VonHaus Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner with HEPA Filtration is a great choice. For sweeping, use a Swiffer-type broom that catches debris, not one that spreads it around or sends it airborne.

#9 Limiting contact. For those that develop hives when touching the dog and particularly for those that that get hives if the Shih Tzu licks them, it really is best to avoid direct contact. That person may still be able to teach commands, take the dog for walks, play fetch, etc.; but if the licking is stopped it can prevent this sort of reaction.

#10 Washing hands. For many people allergic to a Shih Tzu, symptoms only appear after that person touches their face. People often touch their face without realizing it, up to hundreds of times a day, potentially transferring allergens from their dog. Regular hand washing, particularly after handling your dog or their items, is crucial in reducing this. Wash thoroughly with soap for 20 seconds, and consider using a scrub brush under the nails to remove trapped pet dander.

#11 Clean the air. Air purifiers (you can get free-standing ones) or air filters (if you have central heating or AC) can help rid the air of tiny particles that can cause allergies. These are great for those who suffer seasonal allergies (and good for a dog that does as well) and if you use HEPA certified filters with the highest rating, they will remove 99.97% pet dander (and dust, dust mites and mold spores).

A free-standing one like the VEVA 8000 Elite Pro Series Air Purifier will trap pet dander, along with mold, pollen, dust, bacteria, germs, and even odors.

Lilo, photo courtesy of Lynn & Pat B.

Treatment for Dog Allergies

If you've simultaneously tried all the above measures and still suffer from allergies to your Shih Tzu, consult a doctor or allergist. Over-the-counter medications may help, but prescription nasal sprays, eye drops, or oral antihistamines can be more effective. Another option is immunotherapy (allergy shots), which gradually builds tolerance by injecting increasing allergen doses. While not guaranteed, it's effective for many and typically shows results within 12 months, with maintenance suggested for 3-5 years. Costs for immunotherapy can be around $1000 per year, often covered partially or fully by health insurance. This treatment is generally not recommended for children under 5 years old.

If You are Still Allergic to Your Shih Tzu After Trying All Methods and Treatments

Addressing allergies to a Shih Tzu requires commitment, and immunotherapy may not be feasible for everyone, especially if not covered by insurance. If home remedies fail and allergist help isn't an option, the difficult decision of whether to keep the dog may arise.

Remember, acquiring a dog is ideally a lifelong commitment, so finding alternatives to shelters is crucial if rehoming becomes necessary. Contact the breeder if the Shih Tzu is a puppy, as they might take it back to avoid shelter placement, though a refund is unlikely. Explore rehoming options with family, friends, or neighbors, and as a last resort, reach out to a local Shih Tzu rescue group.

Shih Tzu Puppy Teething - What to expect during the teething phase, how to react to gnawing on non-toy objects and a list of helpful teething toys for pups with strong chewing urges.

Shih Tzu Feeding Guidelines - Details of all food-related topics. Schedules, wet vs dry, grain vs grain-free, homemade foods, top recommendations and more.

Shih Tzu Dental Care - Oral health is at the top of concern for the Shih Tzu breed and all pet parents should be actively cleaning their Shih Tzu's teeth. See our top tips to keep your little guy or gal's teeth clean, to prevent infections and future tooth loss.