A Shih Tzu is quite a distinctive-looking dog that you can simply win over with love and attention. It is the perfect dog to snuggle with on the couch. The tiny dog makes for the ideal companion and possesses unique traits that make it highly desirable.
Shih Tzus are low-maintenance dogs that are sweet, playful, and friendly. They like to remain busy and are generally roaming around with curiosity. This intelligent dog is relatively easy to win over, making training them a treat.
As a Shih Tzu owner, you must know their intrinsic traits and learn how to take the little guy out of their shell. A Shih Tzu requires frequent attention, especially in terms of their health. Itchiness in a Shih Tzu can either be no cause for concern or a matter of urgency.
When persistent itching on your skin, it can become disturbing and annoying to deal with.
You should monitor the itchiness for a few days at home and try to determine its cause.
Here is a guide to help your Shih Tzu in the best possible way and stay ahead of the issue.
My Shih Tzu is Itchy; why?
An itchy dog should concern you as a dog owner because the little guy is miserable in this condition! You will often find the tiny dog scratching or biting at its skin while jerking back and forth and consistently getting back to scratching, trying to relieve itself of the itch.
As a dog owner, you are responsible for making sure your little Shih Tzu is taken care of and feels at ease. The primary thing you need to do is figure out the possible reasons behind the persistent itch.
Shih Tzus, in particular, is prone to various issues that may cause this condition. There are a number of problems that could initiate the itchiness in the toy dog. Veterinarians would term this itchiness pruritus.
There is also a chance your Shih Tzu might get dry skin due to excessive bathing.
Overusing bath products and also using poor-quality shampoos can trigger the phenomena in a Shih Tzu’s skin and cause itchiness.
Dryness in the coat of your little friend could lead to itchy skin. Also, be conscious that you should not use these dog shampoos for humans, not even baby shampoos!
Causes of Shih Tzu’s Itchy Skin
When you explore the topic, you are bound to come across various reasons why Shih Tzu dogs scratch themselves.
We can divide the reasons for this disturbing occurrence into two categories. There are some general reasons why Shih Tzus may become itchy, but some rare issues may cause it.
Some common ones include the following:
- Certain Allergies: many external and internal triggers could cause itching in your Shih Tzu. Foods and environmental factors such as shampoos, grass, etc., could be possible allergens.
- Infections: specific infections could showcase the symptom of itchiness in your dog, which is mostly fungal infections.
- Dry Skin: Extreme dryness on the skin or dryness in the air could be extremely triggering on a Shih Tzu’s skin.
- Bites or Stings from Insects: particular insects can cause itchiness on the Shih Tzus body, such as Chiggers, mites, Lice, Tick Bites, bees, wasps, and hornets
The lesser-known cause of itchiness in your Shih Tzu comprises the following:
- Lymphoma: this is a form of skin cancer in dogs
- Skin Fold Pyoderma is an inflammation of the skin between skin folds. It is usually seen in dogs with lots of skin folds, such as bulldogs.
- Hypothyroidism can actually lead to seborrhea which is itchy
- Anxiety or Stress
- Reactions to some drugs
It can be daunting to discern which of these reasons are the ones disturbing your Shih Tzu’s health.
The best course of action is to visit a vet and allow a specialist to discern what the issue could be.
With common issues such as allergies, there are some telltale signs that a dog owner should be aware of to help their Shih Tzus as soon as possible.
Just being aware of the possible symptoms could save your little puppy from a lot of undue pain.
Symptoms of Allergy In Shih Tzus
If your Shih Tzu suffers from an allergy, the primary sign to look out for is scratching or chewing.
Furthermore, your dog might also have dry skin or dandruff that showcases itself in clumps on its coat. In long-lasting allergies, your Shih Tzu may also start vomiting or having diarrhea as well.
Some of the most common allergens are:
- Food Allergies
- Environmental Allergies
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Contact Dermatitis
- Allergies to Fleas
A common sign of potential skin allergies is when dogs consistently seem to be chewing on their paws. Allergies also tend to have the ability to become severe.
Relieving A Shih Tzu’s Itchy Skin
If you see your Shih Tzu miserably trying to get rid of an itch, do not worry. There are specific common methods of making your Shih Tzu feel better soon.
Switch to a high-quality shampoo with which to bathe your little dog. A standardized product will make it easier for you to bathe your Shih Tzu several times a month.
High-quality conditioners of good quality will enhance the moisture in the coat of the miniature dog.
It will stop the drying out of the dog’s skin, making your Shih Tzu feel fresh and peaceful.
Furthermore, an additional precaution that you can take is to consistently utilize a conditioning spray mist prior to bruising or combing the hair of your Shih Tzu.
Ways To Help Your Itchy Shih Tzu
1. Provide Your Shih Tzu Fish Oil Everyday
Primarily you have to ensure that you are providing your Shih Tzu with dos quality fish oil. It contains Omega-3, which is a prime ingredient lacking in many commercial pet foods as it cannot survive the manufacturing processes.
2. Make Sure To Add Quercetin To The Diet of Your Shih Tzu
This ingredient has become quite popular in the past few years in assisting dogs in suppressing inflammation in their bodies.
3. Ensure Your Shh Tzu Trys Out A Colostrum Supplement
Colostrum contains immunoglobulins that assist in enhancing the performance of your Shih Tzu immune system.
4. Make Sure To Add Reishi Mushrooms To Your Diet
These forms of mushrooms contain ganoderic acid, which creates obstacles to the release of histamines. This powerhouse of an ingredient possesses anti-inflammatory characteristics as well.
5. Give Apple Cider Vinegar to it Topically or Also You Can Give It As a Dietary Supplement
Apple Cider Vinegar is a product that supports dogs’ digestive systems and provides them with relief from allergic reactions.
You can put a tiny amount of apple cider vinegar into your Shih Tzu’s water bowl and apply it on the top of the Shih Tzu.
Another way to try integrating it into your Shih Tzu routine is mixing it in equal proportions with water and applying it on areas of the dog’s skin where they are experiencing a rash or itchiness.
6. Give Your Shih Tzu Dog A Colloidal Oatmeal Bath
It is an extremely famous remedy for taking care of itchiness. This traditional relief method can work on your Shih Tzu as well. There are numerous methods and products accessible in the market on how to give an oatmeal bath.
7. You Can Massage Coconut Oil On Your Shih Tzu’s Skin As Well As Add It To Their Diet
You can apply this form of oil directly onto the skin of your little dog. Coconut oil is exceptionally good at helping to relieve itchiness.
Furthermore, it enhances the texture and looks of your Shih Tzu coat and skin. In general, dogs have also tended to like the taste of coconut oil.
It can pose a tiny bit of an issue, and your puppy might lick the oil off their skin immediately!
Taking Care Of Your Shih Tzu At Home
A lot of what you can do to keep your dog content and happy is common sense.
The health of your Shih Tzu is easy to maintain just like it is for us people. Look after your dog’s diet and ensure they get a lot of exercises.
Additionally, brush their teeth and coat to avoid entanglement in the coat and maintain the hygiene of the Shih Tzu. In case of an emergency, you can visit a hospital or a veterinarian if something seems unusual.
There are natural methods of stopping a Shih Tzu’s itchiness.
You can easily prevent Shih Tzu from going through extreme itchiness due to allergies just by being careful.
There are simple steps that dog owners can integrate into their daily routines with their Shih Tzu so that such a situation never arises.
Learn to read the details of the ingredients of the current food you are feeding to your Shih Tzu.
Make sure there are no by-products in there, and it contains pure sources of proteins.
Additionally, ensure that you are not feeding your Shih Tzu things that you should not feed your dogs. Some human foods are completely unsuitable for dogs, and this is something we should be particularly cognizant of.
Also, including Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids in the diet plan for your little dog will be immensely helpful in preventing dry skin.
Salmon Oil is an extremely viable option for helping Shih Tzus, especially in the wintertime.
Just using a few squirts on the food of the Shih Tzu multiple times a week.
You will eventually see how the dry, flaky hair dissipates.
These products are easily available for purchase on online stores such as Amazon.
Final Thoughts
Do not overthink the situation in case your Shih Tzu exhibits any cause for concern.
Ensure that you stick to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that are recommended for the Shih Tzu.
Just by adhering to this, you can easily circumvent any big issues. You can avoid any diseases or conditions common in Shih Tzus by performing the required “check-ups” and testing for diseases.
Looking after your Shih Tzu’s health can become expensive at some point. It is wise to invest in health insurance for your pet.
It is an essential step for caring for your pet as it saves you from the stress of the entire process.
There are bound to be certain medical tests and procedures that your Shih Tzu will need throughout their lives.
Pet insurance is essential to help you in covering these experiences.
If you manage to stay on top of the routine for your dog, you will manage to lead a happy life with your little friend.
Being a dog owner is a responsibility on its own, making their health your primary concern. Everything will fall into place by doing your research and acting on time.
