Shih Tzu Parasite Protection -
Ticks, Fleas, Heartworms and Other Parasitic Worms

Overview

Protecting a Shih Tzu from ticks, fleas, and parasitic worms including heartworms can seem difficult to navigate. Owners want to limit exposure to chemicals and strong drugs as much as they can; but, at the same time, products that effectively repel or prevent these infestations often do contain these elements. To make matters worse, it is often the veterinarian that recommends products, and owners may feel pressured to go along with that advice.

This article will cover recommended products for parasitic control and prevention, with a focus on giving the most tolerable medications and all-natural no-chemical products (when possible).

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Are you looking for advice regarding just one of these?

To learn about heartworms and recommended prevention, jump to Heartworms.

To learn about hookworms, roundworms and other worms, jump to Parasitic Worms.

To learn about ticks and recommended repellents, jump to Ticks.

To learn about fleas and recommended repellents, jump to Fleas.

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.

Heartworms

Overview:

Heartworms are a serious danger to dogs of all ages.
Heartworms are transmitted only one way: Via female mosquitoes that are infected with heartworm larvae.
Once the larvae are transmitted into a dog’s body, they grow into adult worms that take over the lungs, heart, and surrounding tissues.
There are often no signs of heartworm infection for months; hence the nickname ‘the silent killer’.
A full-blown infection can consist of hundreds of worms that clog vital organs.
Left untreated, this is fatal.
If detected, treatment is risky. It involves the use of very powerful parasitic drugs and/or surgery.

What to Know About Heartworm Prevention:

Heartworm prevention does not actually stop the transmission of the larvae, but rather kills that larvae before it can grow into adult worms. Though there are supposed holistic prevention methods, there is no proof that any of them work and some are dangerous. The only true protection is via medications that contain anti-parasitic drugs.

But, many heartworm products can cause adverse reactions, some more than others. A dog may have an allergic reaction which may include nasal or eye, discharge, skin reactions such as hives or rash, itchiness, and/or hair loss. A dog may also have an adverse reaction, which can be quite serious and includes breathing issues, depression, excessive drooling, decreased appetite, vomiting, confusion, vision issues, seizures, irregular heartbeat, coma, and even death.

To decrease the risk of adverse reactions, there are several things you can do:

#1 Avoid heartworm meds that are known to have the highest rates of adverse reactions, particularly for small breeds. This includes the combination of ivermectin and pyrantel, the combo of milbemycin oxime and lufenuron, the combo of spinosad and milbemycin, selamectin, and any injectables (currently those in ProHeart6).

#2 If you live somewhere that receives cold weather during the winter season, speak to your Shih Tzu’s vet about halting heartworm meds after the first frost or when temperatures consistently stay below 50 F. Resume treatment 45 days before temperatures are expected to rise above 50 F again. This practice is based on mosquito behavior; females typically hibernate or die off in colder temperatures, with eggs hatching once temperatures sustain 50 F or above for 10 days. Additionally, heartworm transmission requires certain temperatures, with studies suggesting a range of 57 F to 64 F for effective larvae transfer through a dog's skin.

#3 While every heartworm prevention has risks, one that toy breeds like the Shih Tzu tend to tolerate better than others is Advantage Multi. Note that this requires a prescription.

#4 Offer the lowest dose possible. Dosing is based on weight. So, if your Shih Tzu is on the borderline, speak to the vet about opting for the lower dose.

#5 Since some veterinarians receive a kickback from manufacturers, if your vet is pushing a brand that is known for having a high risk of dangerous side effects, it may be time to locate a new vet.

#6 Since heartworm larvae are transmitted by mosquitoes, consider using a canine mosquito repellent spray; these are usually within repellents for other insects such as ticks: See also: Tick Prevention below.

Parasitic Worms

Both Shih Tzu puppies and adults need to be protected from parasitic worms including roundworms, whipworms, pinworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. But, this is done in very different ways. Let’s take a look at the difference between very young pups and Shih Tzu age 6 months and up:

Puppies – A large number of puppies are born with roundworms because even well-protected dams can carry dormant larvae, passed to pups during pregnancy or through nursing. Pups are also prone to other worms from contaminated environments. Therefore, they require de-wormer rounds to eliminate active roundworms and prevent other infections. Due to the need for precise dosing of potent medications at a young age, this process should be managed by a veterinarian. De-worming typically starts at 2 weeks old and is repeated at 4, 6, and 8 weeks, with a possible final dose at 6 months.

Shih Tzu 6 months and up – After puppy deworming is completed, continued with worm prevention for your Shih Tzu is usually covered by heartworm preventatives like Advantage Multi, which also protects against hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. Additionally, prevent worm transmission by keeping your Shih Tzu away from feces of other animals and avoiding drinking or playing in standing water. Regular veterinary checkups will test for worms and other parasites.

Ticks

Overview

There are at least 15 species of ticks; however, there are 4 that are most likely to bite dogs: The American dog tick, the Lone Star tick, the Blacklegged tick (also known as the deer tick), and the brown dog tick.
A tick bite can transmit disease. While Lyme disease is a top concern, there are other serious diseases that can be transmitted by tick bite including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis.
Ticks can be a year-round concern, they can be active on any day that it is above freezing.
Ticks are found in every state in the US and in many areas of Canada, the UK, and around the world.
Your Shih Tzu does not need to be taken through a field of tall grass to be at risk for a tick bite. Ticks can be found in any backyard, park, or pathway, most often on the grass or in areas of low vegetation.

Tick Prevention:

It’s wise to protect your Shih Tzu from ticks, but at the same time, you will want to stay away from products that contain deet or pyrethroids, which can cause an array of allergic reaction or serious adverse reactions including seizures, heart damage, and even brain damage.

The biggest challenge is finding a product that is all natural since chemicals like deet and pyrethroids found in many applications and sprays can cause a wide range of allergic reactions including brain damage, heart attacks and seizures. There were 1600 pet deaths linked to pyrethroids over a 5-year time frame.

The most important thing to note is that it is a tradeoff. If you want to offer nearly 100% protection, that will only be found with chemicals pesticides, but those have the risk of adverse reactions, some which can be quite serious. And if you want to offer safer, all-natural products, they work to some degree, but it's not 100%. So, as a pet parent, you'll have to make the choice.

This said, we personally recommend the all-natural approach, as long as your Shih Tzu is not at high risk and you take steps to keep them away from areas with a heavy tick presence and/or check them for ticks every day. For this, we like 3 Moms Organics TickWise All-Natural Spray which works to repel ticks and other insects (like mosquitoes, thus helping to prevent heartworm larvae transmission); it works via a blend of cedarwood, geranium, citronella, peppermint rosemary, and lemongrass. Note that these are natural oils, but over-spraying can cause some skin irritation, so keep it at a light spray.

Fleas

Most pet parents are really caught off guard the first time their Shih Tzu catches fleas because the old stereotype about fleas being exclusively linked to unsanitary conditions is not true. It’s very easy for a well-kept dog to catch fleas if a prevention method is not used. Fleas can jump several feet from one dog to another and they can live up to 4 days on all kinds of surfaces, just waiting for a dog to come by.

It’s recommended to choose a prevention method without lapse since a flea infestation can cause severe itching that triggers obsessive chewing and scratching. Dogs with suffer quite badly. In addition, not only will a dog need to be treated, but the entire house as well since fleas can burrow deeply into mattresses, carpeting, furniture, and other areas.

As with other care products, the best thing for your Shih Tzu is to go all-natural when possible and fortunately, you can stay completely away from chemicals in regard to flea repellants and control.

Let’s take a look at some options:

For prevention - Cedarwood oil is a known natural flea repellent, and this can be a good choice if you want to avoid chemicals. We like Natural Cedar Oil Insect Repellent by Cedercide.

For removal – If your Shih Tzu has a current flea infestation, it is important to kill all four stages of the fleas (eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult fleas) both on your dog and in your home (they will dig deep in to carpets, sofas, beds, etc.).

An all-natural effective product for this is Vet's Best Flea and Tick Spray. This is a plant-based spray that works via peppermint and eugenol (derived from clove plants). You’ll want to do at least 3 full body sprays on your Shih Tzu, spaced 24 hours apart. As soon as you spray it on, you may see dead fleas dropping off your little guy or gal. Even so, use a flea comb to go over the entire coat. Also, spray the house down very well, including all bedding, furniture, carpeting, etc. And wash linens, throw rugs, doggie clothes, and other washable items in hot water.

Shih Tzu Parasite Protection -Ticks, Fleas, Heartworms and Other Parasitic Worms

Overview

Heartworms

Parasitic Worms

Ticks

Fleas

Shih Tzu Parasite Protection -
Ticks, Fleas, Heartworms and Other Parasitic Worms