How to Keep a Shih Tzu Clean

Overview

Baths aren’t practical (or healthy) every day, but Shih Tzus can get messy fast. Muddy paws, stained faces, urine splash, and odor are common. This guide covers 8 easy ways to keep your Shih Tzu clean, fresh, and looking their best. This article will cover the 8 ways to keep your Shih Tzu super clean, looking good and smelling great.

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#1 Baths, But Not Too Many

There’s a fine line between keeping your Shih Tzu clean and overbathing. While baths remove dirt, they also strip away natural oils. Bathing too often can lead to dry, irritated skin because the body can’t replace those oils fast enough.

So, a Shih Tzu should have a bath just about once every 3 weeks. And, vital to this is to use a shampoo that is pH balanced for a dog’s skin (between 6.5 and 7.5) so that hair is not stripped, contains no soaping agents since these can be harsh on skin (a plant-based cleanser is best), has moisturizing properties (like aloe), and leaves a fresh scent.

A longtime favorite that meets all expectations is Earthbath All Natural Mediterranean Magic Shampoo. Everything in that line is fantastic, including their Sweet Orange to help get out stains and their Tea Tree & Aloe to soothe irritated skin. Be sure to follow that with a conditioner like Earthbath’s Oatmeal & Aloe Conditioner.

#2 Use Paw Wax to Act as a Shield

Dirty paws don’t just mess up your floors, they also spread grime onto your Shih Tzu’s coat, bed, and more. But there’s more to it than that: paws can trap things that lead to irritation, dryness, or itching. So, keeping them clean isn’t just tidy, it’s part of good care.

A good paw wax will:

Repel dirt and debris from outdoor walks
Protect against hot pavement in summer
Improve traction on slick surfaces year-round
Prevent painful snowballing between the toes in winter
Block allergens like pollen that cause itchy paws
Shield against lawn chemicals and pesticides, even from runoff
Guard against ice-melt salts and sanding grit
Keep paw pads soft and moisturized
Help heal dry, cracked, or peeling skin

One of the absolute best paw products is Mushers Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax. Apply every 7 days if your dog walks or plays outside regularly. It absorbs in seconds, but bedtime is ideal for massaging it into the pads and between the toes.

#3 Keep the Ears Clean

Ears can get surprisingly dirty, and keeping them clean helps prevent infections (one of the top reasons for vet visits). Shih Tzus’ drop ears offer some protection, but once moisture or debris gets in, the enclosed space traps buildup and raises the risk of problems.

So, there are two types of ear cleanings that should be done on a regular basis:

1. Clean the inner ear flaps every few days or weekly to remove dirt before it reaches the ear canal. Use ear-specific wipes; they’re less damp than grooming wipes and often contain soothing ingredients like aloe and witch hazel. We recommend Earthbath Specialty Ear Wipes which has all of these qualities. Once you clean one ear, flip the wipe over and use the opposite side to clean the other ear.

2. Clean the ear canal to loosen wax and remove debris that can lead to infection. Most Shih Tzus need this every 3 weeks, or weekly if prone to issues. Just add a few drops of cleaner, massage the base of the ear, and wipe with gauze, a cotton ball, or ear wipes. If you are looking for a good ear cleanser, Zymox Ear Cleanser is very effective yet gentle.

#4 Keep the Face Clean

If your little guy or gal’s face is always a mess, rest assured you’re not the only pet parent contending with this problem. Let’s see what can go wrong:

Wet facial hair from drinking water (common with breeds that have beards) can trap food particles, especially around the mouth and chin.
Eye discharge often builds up near the eyes or slowly travels down the face, creating mess and odor.
Tear stains (discolored hair under or around the eyes) can spread down the cheeks and are often caused by excess tearing from allergies, eyelash or tear duct issues, or irritation.
High iron in drinking water is another common cause of tear staining, especially when combined with frequent dampness.
Stains around the mouth or cheeks may also result from dyed kibble or eating from brightly colored plastic bowls.

That may sound like a lot to contend with, but the steps to keep your Shih Tzu’s face clean can be broken down in a simple manner:

1. Have excessive runny eyes diagnosed by the veterinarian. This breed is prone to entropion (the eyelid is partially inverted), distichiasis (a lash/es will grow in an odd place on the lid), ectopic cilia (the lash/es will grow through the inside of the eyelid inward toward the eye) and corneal abrasions. Though, airborne, food, or contact allergies can certainly be the cause as well.

2. Remove any current tear stains. Resolving tear stains on a Shi Tzu includes offering filtered water or spring water, using stainless-steel or ceramic bowls, feeding a kibble with zero artificial ingredients, and wiping the eye daily with grooming eye wipes (see next point).

3. Clean around the eyes and the entire face on a regular basis. While you can use a general grooming wipe for this if it is formulated to be gentle enough, you may want to opt for Earthbath Specialty Eye Wipes; This gentle specialty wipe is made for the sensitive eye area but also works beautifully on the cheeks, mouth, chin, and beard. Clean your Shih Tzu’s face at least once a day, or up to three times daily if they gets messy during meals.

#5 Brush the Coat Out

A coat full of dead hairs will quickly look messy and can lead to matting, especially if it’s longer than a short puppy cut. On top of that, the coat constantly picks up dirt, dust, and lint from both outside and indoors. Fallen hairs also collect body oils, which can cause odor if not removed. Since hair is always cycling through growth, rest, and shedding, regular brushing is key to keeping your Shih Tzu clean and smelling fresh.

So, brushing your Shih Tzu on a regular basis certainly goes a long way in keeping your Shih Tzu clean.

If your Shih Tzu has a long coat, it should be brushed every other day, minimum. Medium length coats should be brushed every 3 days. For this, polish tipped pin brush is best. A great one is use is the Chris Christensen 20 mm Little Wonder Pin Brush. We love the wooden handle brushes in this brand's line.

Very short coats can be brushed once or twice per week and for this length you will want to use a well-spaced bristle brush like the Safari Small Bristle Brush.

#6 Use a Leave-in Spritz

A secret weapon in keeping a Shih Tzu clean and smelling fantastic is to use a leave-in spritz or spray each time you brush the coat. A good one will have many benefits including helping to prevent split ends, protecting the coat from contact friction, keeping hairs moisturized, preventing tangles, adding shine, keeping hairs soft, and making a dog smell fresh and clean.

There are several good choices for this. The first one that comes to mind is Nootie Daily Spritz. This stuff is really fantastic and comes in some incredible fragrances that may cause you to have to remind yourself that your Shih Tzu is not a snack. There’s coconut lime, sweet pea & vanilla, cucumber melon, and warm vanilla cookie.

Another terrific one that has come to attention is BarkLogic Calming Leave in Conditioner Spraywhich in addition to the expected benefits of a leave-in, is infused with lavender essential oil, known as a calming and soothing aromatherapy scent.

Lavender as aromatherapy is such a great idea and is worth trying as an additional method to what you may already be doing to help your Shih Tzu with separation anxiety or other stress issues.

#7 Do Body Touch-ups

We’re almost to the end of our clean-up checklist and this one’s a biggie. Since dogs can’t exactly wipe themselves, it’s common for small splashes of urine or bits of feces to stick to the belly or rear. Add in a little outdoor rolling, and even a freshly bathed Shih Tzu can start smelling less than fresh in no time.

The good news? You don’t need to prep the tub; spot cleaning is a quick, easy way to stay ahead of the mess.

For everyday touch-ups, a thick and effective yet gentle grooming wipe like Earthbath All Natural Grooming Wipes are perfect. Whether you choose fragrance-free, puppy, mango tango, or green tea, they all work great. Use them daily or at least once a week, starting at the head and working your way down the body. A second wipe is helpful for the underbelly and rear.

It's best to clean fecal bits while they’re fresh, since dried pieces can stick so firmly they may require a sink or full bath. Bonus: regular wipe-downs also help remove allergens from the coat, which is great if your Shih Tzu has sensitivities.

If your Shih Tzu is a mess to the point that grooming wipes won’t cut it, but you don’t have the inclination or the time to offer a full bath, you may wish to opt for a dry shampoo like Wahl No-Rinse Waterless Lavendar Shampoo. This foam is massaged into the coat to loosen debris, then brushed out or wiped away with a towel. For medium or long coats, brushing is best; towel drying can cause serious tangles.

#8 Keep the Teeth Clean and Breath Fresh

Last but not least, keeping your Shih Tzu clean includes dental care; not just for fresh breath, but to help prevent painful decay and infections. Toy breeds are especially prone, and by age two, 80% of dogs show signs of periodontal disease.

Daily at-home care is essential, along with regular dental checks at the vet. Hardened plaque and tartar, especially below the gum line, usually can’t be removed at home and may require professional cleaning with an ultrasonic scaler. After that, regular maintenance helps prevent buildup from returning.

The best at-home method is to brush the teeth. Not all dogs love it, but many can learn with short, calm sessions. Use a toothbrush sized for small dogs and only canine toothpaste which is safe to swallow.

A nice kit for this is the Nylabone Advanced Oral Triple Action Dental Kit which has both an effective paste and a 3-sided brush which gets all sides of the teeth at the same time is. For puppies and Shih Tzu under 10 pounds, opt for the puppy size brush. For those 10 pounds and up, the adult size is ideal since the larger the brush, the easier it is to use it on dogs that tend to wiggle around.

In addition to that, other supplemental methods include a liquid plaque remover that is added to water (like Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Liquid Tartar Remover), a powder plaque remover that is added to food (like Proden PlaqueOff Dental Care), a dental spray that is spritzed onto the teeth (like Sonnyridge Dog Dental Spray), and dental chews like Greenie Teenie Dog Dental Chews which are meant to be given while supervised since these are very hard (they have to be, to remove plaque).

To Summarize

To keep your Shih Tzu clean, you may wish to do some or all of the following tasks:

Every day:

• Wipe the face.

• Brush the teeth. Use additional methods including sprays, water supplements, and/or a dental chew.

Every 1 to 7 days:

• Clean the inner ear flaps (frequency depends on how dirty your Shih Tzu’s ears get).

• Brush the coat (every 2 days for long coats, every 3 days for medium coats, every week for short coats).

• Use a leave-in coat spray each time you brush the coat.

• Apply paw wax (every 7 days).

• Wipe the body down with a grooming wipe or use a dry shampoo as needed.

Every 3 weeks:

• Give a bath.

• Clean out the ear canals.

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