How to Clean Shih Tzu Eyes: 5 Simple Tips
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Shih Tzus are small companion dogs that are loyal, loving, and bright. They make great house pets that are never happier than when they are spending time with their humans, and they especially like being given praise and being lavished with attention.
However, owners do need to provide regular care and maintenance to ensure that their Shih remains in good health and good condition, and one area that requires particular attention is that of the eyes. Shih Tzus are prone to teary eyes and if left unchecked these tears can lead to infection and other problems.
Below are 5 tips to help ensure that you do the best possible job of cleaning your Shih Tzu eyes.
How to Clean Shih Tzu Eyes
1. Start Young
As long as you do it regularly enough, cleaning a Shih Tzu’s eyes is easy and shouldn’t be uncomfortable for your dog, but you will need to start when your Shih is young. Not only does this help avoid eye problems but it also enables your dog to get used to having something placed very close to the surface of their eyes, which some adult dogs dislike.
2. Clean Everyday
Shih Tzu’s eyes water constantly, which means that tears form every day, and you will need to clean these tears away on a daily basis. You don’t have to stick to a strict schedule but doing so can help you and your dog get used to the routine. If you do miss a day, it isn’t the end of the world, and your dog shouldn’t suffer any illness as a result but try not to miss too many days.
3. Use an Appropriate Material
Use a soft, clean cloth. Or, alternatively, you can buy eye wipes that are designed for this very purpose and are already moistened. Wipes can be thrown away after use, whereas a cloth can be cleaned and reused.
4. Wipe from The Nose Area Out
Using your damp cloth or wipe, start at the nose end of the eye and wipe the top lid out to the edge of the face. Once you’ve done this, repeat the same process but underneath the eye.
5. Don’t Take Too Long
Try to get all of the tears in one swipe. Otherwise you will have to keep doing it and the more often you try wiping, the more restless the dog will get.
Why Do Shih Tzus Have Teary Eyes?
The Shih Tzu is a short-nosed breed, and this can lead to shallow eye sockets or unwanted growth of hair in the folds around the eyes. Both of these cause irritations and the tears that your Shih Tzu cries are the eye’s natural defense.
Signs of Eye Problems in Shih Tzus
Some tearing is natural in Shih Tzus, and as long as you keep on top of cleaning the eye area every day, it shouldn’t become a problem. However, you should monitor your dog. If they are closing or half-closing one or both eyes, or if they regularly and vigorously rub at their eyes, this can be a sign of a bigger problem. If you notice that one or both eyes are tearing a lot more than usual, this may also be a good sign that you should have the eyes looked at.
In Conclusion
Shih Tzus make great companion pets because they are loving and loyal. They will follow you around and they enjoy attention which means that cleaning tears from their eyes should be a relatively easy process in most cases. Start when they are young, clean every day, and do look for signs of bigger problems such as infection or injury to the eye itself.
Featured Image Credit: Radosław Zmudziński, Pixabay
