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Summer Care

Shih Tzu Summer Care

Overview

Whether you are in an area that has several months of hot weather each summer or a year-round warm climate, when the temps rise there is a need to implement certain steps to keep a Shih Tzu happy, comfortable, and safe.

This is an important topic since Shih Tzu, being a brachycephalic breed, can easily become affected by the heat. They can struggle to say cool, have increased breathing issues, and be sensitive to heat-related factors.

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Chewbacca, at 3 years old, photo courtesy of Sheila Hull

Why the Shih Tzu Breed Has Trouble Tolerating the Summer Heat

Canines don't sweat like humans do; they cool themselves off by mainly by panting (and a small portion of body heat escapes through the pad pads). The hotter it is, the more a dog needs to pant, so being able to effectively pant heavy is necessary to avoid overheating.

But the Shih Tzu is one of a handful of brachycephalic breeds and this is directly related to panting. The skull is compressed (and the snout is short). This means that the internal breathing passages are much more compact than with their long-snouted counterparts. This alone can make it more difficult to take in deep or quick breaths.

In addition, the majority of Shih Tzu dogs have some level of stenotic nares (pinched nostrils) which can prevent long and deep inhalations. And, some Shih Tzu dogs have other issues commonly seen with the brachycephalic profile such as elongated soft palate, involving extra tissue at the back of the throat, which can become more inflamed during hot weather (often signaled with an increase in snorting sounds) and which certainly can interfere with being able to cool off.

Monkey, at 1.5 years old, photo courtesy of Robin M.

Top 9 Summertime Care Tips for Shih Tzu

Tip #1 Keep your Shih Tzu hydrated.

Don't count on your Shih Tzu to self-regulate their water intake in the summer. Many dogs get distracted or drink only once they are overly thirsty which makes it much harder for the body to keep up. So, proactively encourage your puppy or dog to drink all throughout the day, not just after exercising.

Methods to help a dog drink a bit more include: Cleaning the bowl at least once a day, refilling the bowl often, bringing along water when taking walks, and offering water-rich fruits like blueberries and strawberries.

Tip #2 Protect the paws.

Burns to paw pads are a common summertime injury for dogs but are preventable. The issue arises from underestimating how hot walking surfaces like cement, brick, and blacktop can get, often reaching temperatures high enough to cause burns. A study in Florida found these surfaces reaching 125°F (cement), 135°F (brick), and 140°F (pavement) by 2 PM.

To protect your sweet Shih Tzu, test the ground's heat with your hand (if it's too hot for 5 seconds, it's too hot for your dog), walk in shaded areas or on grass, avoid walking during peak hot hours (before 10 AM or after 5 PM), and consider using paw wax.

Paw wax on its own does not make paws invincible, but it does add a layer of protection, can prevent dryness, and can repel common summertime irritants like pollen, other allergens, and lawn care chemicals. We recommend Musher's Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax which should be applied every 7 to 10 days.

Tip #3 Make exercise adjustments.

There are numerous benefits of regular exercise for dogs such as muscle maintenance, regulating metabolism, releasing pent-up energy, and heart health, to name just a few. But at the same time, it's imperative that a Shih Tzu is not pushed too hard in the summer.

On exceedingly hot days such as a legitimate heat wave, it will be best to offer fun, indoor games and activities than risk overheating in dangerously high temps.

If you have a long hallway or several open-concept rooms, engage your Shih Tzu in regular sessions of indoor fetch with a toy like the Chuckit Indoor Roller Dog Toy. You can also see if your Shih Tzu enjoys swimming which is an excellent low-impact activity or have them romp around in a kiddie pool and/or sprinkler (supervised, of course).

Tip #4 Give your Shih Tzu a cooling pad.

Pet cooling pads, similar to personal ice packs for dogs, provide cooling relief in hot weather, benefiting Shih Tzus greatly. We recommend self-activating types (no cords or plugs) for portability. They can be used on a porch, patio, in a dog bed, car, pet stroller, or anywhere else. Crucially, during a summer power outage when AC isn't available, a cooling pad can be a lifesaver for a Shih Tzu puppy or dog.

For this, we recommend the The Green Pet Shop Cooling Mat for Dogs; the medium size is ideal for most Shih Tzu age 1 and up.

Tip #5 Make indoor adjustments, as needed.

What may have been an ideal relaxing or sleeping area during other seasons may present some issues in the summer.

If your Shih Tzu stays home alone, reassess their designated area to ensure that glaring sunlight is not streaming directly into their area. Also check to see if there are any strong AC currents near their area; though some cool air can certainly provide relief, continual cold air can cause chills and discomfort.

Bear, at 3 years old,

photo courtesy of Melody Aguiar

Tip #6 Use canine sunscreen, as needed.

Not all dogs need sunscreen, but there are a few instances when it's a good idea:

If your Shih Tzu has a light coat
If your Shih Tzu has a very close haircut
If they like to lie belly-up outside
If they spend time near or in water (which reflects the sun up onto the belly)
And/or if they have a history of getting sunburned

The main reasons to use sunscreen in these scenarios is to prevent overexposure to UV rays which can cause painful sunburns and is linked to certain skin cancers including squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanomas, hemangiomas, and hemangiosarcomas.

For this, you may want to consider Epi-Pet Sun Protector Spray for Pets which is the only FDA-compliant sunscreen for pets (at the time of this writing). You can spray this directly onto your dog or it can be applied by hand, massaging it into the belly and distributing it over the coat and main body. Note that you can also use this on the nose.

Tip #7 Protect your Shih Tzu from summertime insects.

A big part of caring for a Shih Tzu in the summer is to protect them from bugs, stinging insects, fleas, ticks, and other pests which are typically abundant when the weather is warm.

For stinging insects like bees, wasps, and yellow jackets, be aware of any nests on your property and have them removed. Don't let your Shih Tzu sniff under bushes and other shrubbery where ground-digger wasps may be nesting. Stay aware of your surroundings; if a stinging insect is swarming near your Shih Tzu, pick up your puppy or dog and leave the area. Small dogs like the Shih Tzu that are allergic to an insect's venom can be in danger from just one sting, so remove stingers ASAP and monitor your dog for reactions like swelling around the eyes.

For fleas and ticks, use a repellent. Note that typical flea collars can cause really horrific allergic reactions, so you may want to consider an all-natural alternative. One option is Natural Cedar Oil Insect Repellent by Cedercide, which works via cedarwood oil, a known, natural insect repellent.

Routinely check your Shih Tzu for ticks which can be in your yard, on the grass along the walking route, and other places; they do not just live in fields or forests.

See also: Shih Tzu Parasite Prevention for more details on fleas and ticks, as well as heartworms and other parasitic worms.

Shih Tzu on a raft in a pool in the summer

Bama'a Jaxon Tide, at 6 months old

photo courtesy of Tami Ingram

Tip #8 Consider a short summer 'puppy cut'.

Lots of hair can certainly make a dog feel hotter in the summer, so one of the wonderful aspects of the Shih Tzu breed is the options for coat length. Everything from shaved coats to long show coats can be done. And, since the coat grows fast, you can vary the length depending on the season, going longer in the winter and shorter in the summer.

Do please note that with shorter hair, your Shih Tzu may indeed feel cooler, however the risk of sunburn increases. For this reason, it may be necessary to use a sunscreen (see previous tip #6).

Tip #9 Know the signs of heat stress and how to react.

What to know:

A dog's average body temperature: 101-102.5 F (38.3-39.2 C).

Heat stress: Body temp between 103 F (39.4 C) and 105 F (40.5 C). Cool your Shih Tzu down quickly.

Heat stroke: More serious, body temp 106 F (41.1 C) or higher, life-threatening.

Watch for symptoms: Fast panting, red tongue/gums, thick saliva, tiredness, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, slow gum color return after pressing. If untreated, can lead to shock, coma, even death.

What to do:

Start by cooling down your Shih Tzu before heading to the vet.
Get your Shih Tzu indoors or to a shady spot, ideally with air conditioning.
Use cool (not cold) wet towels over their body and a fan to help. Offer water and keep checking their temperature until it's below 103 F (39 C), then head to the vet.
If outside with limited resources, use whatever you have (like wet socks or shirts) and call your vet for advice.

Brandy photo courtesy of Amla A.

Summertime Q&A

We've gathered up some questions that readers have sent in that are related to Shih Tzu summer care. Let's take a look:

Q: It's common for me to lose electricity at least several times in the summer and it seems to happen during the day when I'm at work. So far I've been lucky but aside from me leaving work which is not always possible what are some precautions I should be taking in case it happens while I'm gone and my 2 year old Shih Tzu is home?

And what would I do if we hypothetically had to live a couple of days without AC or power?

A: Here's how to keep your Shih Tzu safe during a power outage:

Sign up for electric company alerts to know about outages immediately.
Arrange for someone to pick up your Shih Tzu if you can't get home quickly.
If staying with friends or in an air-conditioned hotel isn't an option, consider staying home from work. Keep windows open at night, closed with curtains during the day, and use a cooling mat.
Ensure your Shih Tzu has access to fresh, cold water. If necessary, buy ice from the store.
If you have a car with AC, consider taking short trips to dog-friendly, air-conditioned places like malls or pet stores.
Watch for signs of heat stress or stroke in your Shih Tzu and respond accordingly.

Q: Do dogs eat less in the summer? I tend to eat a bit lighter in the summer, salads and such. And I think my 1.5 year old female Shih Tzu kind of feels the same way, not salads, but eating lighter. She seems to not be as hungry in the summer. She just nibbles on things she'd normally gulp down. Is it possible that the season is affecting her appetite?

A: Yes, it is not uncommon for a Shih Tzu to have a slight decrease in appetite during hot weather. This holds true even for those puppies and dogs that are not outside for long amounts of time.

Studies on this indicate that for each 10 degrees that the temperature rises, some canines eat 7% to 10% less per day. In most cases, this is nothing to worry about; appetite will return as the summer winds down. If your Shih Tzu is eating less to a point that concerns you, splitting up meals into more frequent, but smaller amounts may help.

Q: Is it normal for a Shih Tzu to develop dark spots all over their belly? My Shih Tzu has a lot of new dark spots that just seemed to pop up this summer that are each about the size of dime. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I can do to make them go away or at least fade?

A: Some Shih Tzu do develop dark spots on the belly, which is usually due to exposure to UV sun rays. This can cause pigment changes to the skin, resulting in grey, brown, or black spots.

In most cases there is no reason to be overly concerned, though this is your sign that the belly is getting too much sun and it's time to start using a canine sunscreen (see previous tip #6 Use canine sunscreen, as needed) since this sort of exposure, especially when chronic, can lead to some types of skin cancer.

In many instances, dark spots on the tummy will fade in the autumn or winter. Keep an eye on them and report any changes in shape or any raised bumps to the veterinarian.