Care Tips Regarding Your Shih Tzu and Issues Relating to COVID-19

This article will be continually updated as new information develops.

We also encourage our readers to routinely check the CDC's site for information regarding the coronavirus.

Originally published: March 14,2020.

Latest update: February 09, 2024

Overview

Just about everyone was affected in one way or another by COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. And as a pet parent, you may still have lots of questions. This article will sort out some of the most common questions and help you stay informed and be prudently prepared.

Our belief is that there should be a focus on facts, not fear. For this reason, we encourage you to read through this entire article to gain a full understanding of all aspects.

Please note: AllShihTzu is reader-supported. Some links below are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission on products through these, at no extra cost to you.

FAQ Regarding the New Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Shih Tzu Puppies and Dogs

What is the difference between the coronavirus that dogs are vaccinated for and this new coronavirus?

There are several different types of coronaviruses that canines can contract.

The one that vaccines cover is for canine enteric coronavirus (CCV); it is a non-core vaccine, meaning that it is only given if a puppy is deemed to be at risk for catching it (puppies in multiple-dog kennels, etc.). CCV leads to canine coronavirus disease (CCoV) which is a type of intestinal infection with diarrhea as the main symptom and is not the same disease as COVID-19 which is caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

To summarize, the coronavirus vaccine that puppies may receive is not linked in any way with the new coronavirus. They are completely separate things.

What is the difference between normal colds or the canine flu and the new coronavirus?

Dogs can catch common canine colds from viruses such as canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV). This is a fairly recent disease discovered in 2003. There is no vaccine for it, but symptoms are usually mild to moderate. More serious cases are sometimes linked to canine kennel cough.

Signs include runny nose, nasal or chest congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, headache, and/or body ache. Canine colds are species-specific and are not contagious to humans. The CRCoV virus that causes many canine colds is not the same as the new COVID-19 coronavirus.

Dogs can also catch the canine flu. There are actually two strains of canine flu (H3N8 and H3N2). Both are relatively new. H3N8 was identified in 2004 in Florida with Greyhounds and is thought to have initially spread from horses to canines. And H3N2 was identified in 2006 (in China, Thailand, and S. Korea) then in the United States in 2015 and is thought to have initially spread from birds to canines.

Both canine flu strains are mainly respiratory diseases with cough (dry or wet), but other signs may include runny nose (which may be thick or pus-like), watery eyes, sneezing, lethargy, difficulty breathing, body aches, headache, and/or fever. The canine flu is species-specific and is not contagious to humans. The canine flu is not the same as the new COVID-19 coronavirus.

The new coronavirus is different in many ways, including that it was just discovered in late 2019 and that, so far, dogs that tested positive were not symptomatic. We'll cover the details next.

Can canines catch COVID-19?

Before we dive into some details, it’s important to note that testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and become sick with COVID-19 (the disease it can cause) are two entirely different things.

Keeping that in mind, there are some pets and zoo animals that have tested positive for SARS-CoV-19. It does appear that canine can both test positive for the virus and contract the disease, but it is rare.

Overseas, there were 2 dogs in Hong Kong, a German Shepherd and a Pomeranian, that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus but did not become ill (they were asymptomatic). It is believed that they contracted the virus from their owners (who also tested positive).

In the U.S., a German Shepherd named Buddy, who lived in New York tested positive and had respiratory symptoms (was symptomatic). It is believe that he caught the virus from his owner. The Shepherd has since passed away, but a thorough autopsy was not performed before he was cremated.

Any cases with canines are believed to be a matter of human-to-animal transmission and not the other way around. And there is no evidence that dogs that test positive could transmit the infection to humans or to other pets.

Things are a bit different in regard to cats. Several domesticated house cats and several lions and tigers from zoos have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and some of them did show signs of being ill with the COVID-19 disease.

What should I do if my Shih Tzu is sick with cold or flu symptoms?

The first thing to keep in mind is that canines can catch common species-specific colds (from viruses such as the canine respiratory coronavirus) and flus (caused by Influenza Type A H3N8 and H3N), as we touched on earlier. These can be super-contagious between dogs (but are not transmitted to humans). Symptoms can mimic those we've seen with humans that have COVID-19 but are not the same.

So, if your Shih Tzu does have a cold, chances are that it’s due to one of the known viruses that canines contend with. There are also other issues like seasonal or other allergies and other respiratory conditions that could be at play.

That said, if your Shih Tzu has cold symptoms and especially if they were recently in close proximity to someone that tested positive for COVID-19, call the veterinarian to inform them about the contact (if applicable) and relay their symptoms. The vet will guide you from there.

You will also want to seek veterinary care if your Shih Tzu has trouble breathing, has serious or worsening symptoms, or does not respond to or get better with home care (see next). Note that most colds and flus with dogs last 2 to 3 weeks.

Ways to help treat common canine colds at home include encouraging a dog to rest, drink enough, and eat enough (bland foods such as plain cooked chicken along with plain rice, oatmeal, sweet potato may be given), wiping down the face with a warm, damp wash cloth if there is nasal or eye discharge, and running a cool-mist humidifier such as the Cool Mist Humidifier by Bontill next to their resting and sleeping area if they are congested.

See also: Shih Tzu Colds and Flu.

Are veterinarians doing coronavirus testing on dogs?

The answer, in most cases, is no. Most vets are not testing right now and it is not known if routine testing for coronavirus with dogs, cats, and other household pets would become commonplace.

That said, test kits should be available. In mid-February, 2020, Idexx Labs, which is headquartered in Maine, USA, started testing specimens from thousands of dogs and cats for SARS-CoV-2 (the new coronavirus). This was part of their validation protocol for a new veterinary test system for the COVID-19 virus.

It must be noted that the dogs and cats were not necessarily suspected of having COVID-19, but nevertheless, all results came back negative.

The senior director of Idexx Labs states, "COVID-19 is primarily transmitted person to person and that pets are not likely to contract the disease and probably have a low likelihood of spreading the disease."

Are there any safety tips?

So far there is no evidence that dogs testing positive for SARS-Cov-2 can transmit it, but it's definitely common for pet parents to want to take measures to keep their Shih Tzu healthy and safe.

So, out of an abundance of caution, here are a few tips from various officials (as noted), as well as our own advice to help stop the spread of germs in general and to help promote good hygiene.

#1. Keep your pet clean, as is recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). We at AllShihTzu recommend that during this time you should give your Shih Tzu a bath any time you deem it necessary, and you can temporarily increase the frequency of routine baths to as often as once per week (as opposed to the regular once every 3 weeks) if you're taking walks outside and feel better doing this. Just be sure that you're using a really good shampoo and wash-out conditioner so that your Shih Tzu's skin does not dry out.

You can also use grooming wipes like Earthbath All Natural Grooming Wipes to help keep your little guy or gal clean; these can be used all over the coat, on the face, and to wipe up urine splashes or dribble.

#2. Keep your pet's food and water bowls clean, as is also recommended by the AVMA. Because germs can live on hard surfaces (like bowls) for up to several days, routinely wash these using hot water and soap.

#3. We would add to this to routinely wash dog toys, dog clothes, and bedding (dog bed cover, etc.) as well. Also wipe down leashes and harnesses, as needed.

#4. Keep your dog's paws clean by washing or wiping them, as is recommended by the AKC. This is excellent advice in general to help reduce the spread of germs. You can certainly use an outside hose (weather permitting) along with your Tzu's shampoo or an indoor sink or tub, but if you want to keep dirt and germs contained, you may wish to use a portable paw cleaner like the Dexas MudBuster Dog Paw Cleaner.

#5. Have your Shih Tzu also follow social distancing rules. Daily exercise is very important for both physical and emotional health, so we do recommend continuing to walk your Shih tzu or otherwise offer daily physical activity (more tips ahead) but keep your Shih Tzu on a leash while outside and have them follow the general rule of maintaining at least a 6-foot distance from others.

#6. As of now, there are no recommendations from veterinary health experts for dogs (or other pets) to wear face masks. And this is unlikely to change in the near future.

#7. If you, or another household member, is sick with COVID-19, there are guidelines to help protect pets, and this info is up ahead.

Is it safe to walk my Shih Tzu outside?

For concise information regarding safety guidelines in your particular city or town, check with your city and state's official list of instructions which should be posted to their public websites.

In regard to walks in the neighborhood, in general, even with 'stay at home' or 'shelter in place' instructions, it is considered safe to take dogs for their daily walks. In fact, some cities are encouraging it, since exercise, fresh air and sunshine is so beneficial to both physical and mental health. Of course, social distancing should be done, at least for right now, in regard to both you and your Shih Tzu.

You may wish to follow the previous steps to stay healthy such as wiping down the coat and washing the paws after being outside.

Take care in regard to the possibility of more dogs being walked than usual, including larger, unknown dogs that your Shih Tzu is not used to, possibly being walked by owners that are not practicing social distancing. So, remain alert and stay distanced.

In regard to dog parks, in many areas with 'stay at home' or 'shelter in place' instructions, many dog parks are temporarily closed. This makes sense since it can be difficult to maintain social distancing at these places. Again, check with city's officials; this info may be posted to their public websites.

What are the guidelines if you have a Shih Tzu and are under 'home care and isolation' at home?

The CDC has specific recommendations for pet parents who are under ‘home care and isolation’, which refers to the instructions given to people with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. This is different than simple 'self-isolation' which refers to the voluntary act of staying home when you're feeling fine as a social distancing technique. Below we summarize the CDC's recommendations, using our own format and added details and advice.

#1. Make sure that your healthcare provider knows that your Shih Tzu (and any other pets that you may have) is part of your household. Your doctor may then relay this information to your state's public health veterinarian (but as of now, this is not mandatory) in order to help keep track of statistics.

#2. During home care and isolation with COVID-19, it's recommended to maintain distance and separation from pets just as should be done in regard to other people in the house. So, this means that if at all possible, another person should walk, feed, groom, and otherwise care for your Shih Tzu during that time. And all contact should be avoided, so no kissing, petting or cuddling. The only exception is that service animals should be allowed to stay with their handlers.

#3. If there are no other household members and you alone must care for your Shih Tzu, wash your hands both before and after any care tasks and wear a face mask (if you have one) while interacting with your puppy or dog. We'd like to add that it would be prudent to sneeze into the crook of your elbow or into tissues (that are thrown in the trash right away) and to keep a distance from your little guy or gal the best that you can, even if you are home alone with your Shih Tzu.

7 Ways to Prep for COVID-19 in Regard to Your Shih Tzu’s Care and Well-being.

If there is a time when you will be self-isolating at home for several weeks (or longer) it’s a good idea to plan ahead for this. The CDC has a detailed guideline for how to prepare your household. Below are our additional recommendations that specifically apply to your Shih Tzu’s care and well-being.

#1. In the slight chance that you are temporarily unable to care for your Shih Tzu, try to have a back-up plan. In some pet households, it’s common for just one person to do most of the care (feeding, baths, etc.), so now may be a good time to have other household members be more involved with these things so that your Shih Tzu gets accustomed to several different caregivers.

#2. Have enough dog kibble, snacks, and training treats supplies. The CDC currently recommends having food supplies for 2 weeks, but some pet parents are stocking up for a bit longer, up to 2 months. If you are buying larger bulk bags of dog food (say, 10 lbs. instead of 4), you may want to consider storing the kibble in something like the Vittles Vault Airtight Pet Food Container to prevent it from going stale.

#3. Consider your Shih Tzu’s drinking water needs. Due to the many toxins, including carcinogens, found in unfiltered tap water across the US (and other countries), our recommendations remain in place to avoid straight tap water if possible. Since shortages of bottled water may be common in supermarkets, you may wish to consider other options. There are some very effective filtering systems that link up to sinks and catch a wide range of contaminants (but these can also be expensive), as well as filter tap systems and filter pitchers like the Levoit Water Filter Pitcher Purifier which filters water as its being poured out.

#4. Have enough care items on hand. It's best to have supplies for at least for 2 weeks, but many pet parents are stocking up for a bit longer, up to 2 months or more to play it extra safe. Check your Shih Tzu’s supplies to ensure that you have enough shampoo and conditioner, dental chews, any supplements, pee pads (if applicable), enzyme cleanser (if applicable), and any other items that are part of your Shih Tzu’s normal care routines.

#5. If your Shih Tzu takes any prescribed medications, speak to the vet regarding having an extra one or two-month supply.

#6. Think ahead to exercise needs. If you believe that there’s a chance you may be cutting back or stopping daily walks, plan for other ways to help your Shih Tzu receive enough regular exercise. Keep in mind that most healthy dogs should have at least 2 sessions of moderate cardio each day that last a minimum of 20 minutes.

A great alternative to walks, or done in addition to them, is games of fetch, which can be played outside in a yard or inside down a hallway or across a living room. Having some colorful Zanies Mini Tennis Balls for Dogs is one way to make fetch fun and engaging.

#7. Consider having boredom-busters on hand. If you and your Shih Tzu will be staying home more than normal, things can get boring. So, you may want to think ahead to some ways you can keep your Shih Tzu happy and busy during that time.

A snuffle mat like Joe’s Home Dog Snuffle Mat can be a super-fun way to keep a dog occupied. These are cloth mats that have various flaps where you hide treats. It allows a dog to use their foraging instincts, which most find to be very satisfying. And this sort of toy is ideal for independent play since the treats they find keep a dog rewarded as they go along.

Tip: As your Shih Tzu becomes more skilled at this, use fewer yet strongly-scented yummy treats, like Sojos Good Dog Natural Apple Dumpling Treats, so that they must really work to sniff them out.

For times that you’d like to play alongside your Shih Tzu, a challenging puzzle like the SPOT Seek-a-Treat Flip 'N Slide Treat Puzzle Toy can be lots of fun. It’ll be your job to teach your little guy or gal to nose or paw the colorful sliders and flip up the container lids to reach treats hidden underneath.

And if your Shih Tzu perks up when they hear sounds, they might love a Pet Qwerks Blinky Babble Ball. This makes all sorts of silly noises (dinging sounds, banjo music, etc.) when a dog noses, paws, or otherwise interacts with it. It'll keep going as long as your little guy or gal is playing and then it'll go into 'sleep mode' to conserve batteries when they take a break.

A Final Thought

We will be updating this page as new information is available. AllShihTzu newsletters will be sent to AllShihTzu members for major coronavirus updates as it applies to pet care; however, we also recommend routinely coming back to this page as well as the CDC site. If you are not yet an AllShihTzu member, you may wish to sign up here (it's completely free), so that you can receive our newsletters, updates, and special messages.

Do you have your book?

If you have a Shih Tzu, you will absolutely love our book, AllShihTzu's GIANT Book of Shih Tzu Care. It is the most comprehensive book of its kind and it's available as a softcover paperback (huge 8.5 x 11" size) or a PDF eBook.

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Shih Tzu Grooming - For all grooming tips, this is the place to start. You'll find helpful overviews which lead to more detailed information.

Shih Tzu Dental Care - What you need to know in order to take proper care of your Shih Tzu's teeth for excellent oral health now and in the future.

How to Keep a Shih Tzu Clean - Though this breed is small, it's super-easy for a Shih Tzu to look unkempt and/or get a bit smelly in between baths. See our top tips to have your little guy or gal looking tidy and smelling nice.

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