7 Common Mistakes that can Shorten your Shih Tzu's Life!

[Music] we all love our Shih Tzus and want them to live a long and happy life but unfortunately many of us unknowingly make mistakes that can shorten their lives let's have a look at them mistake number one over feeding your shih tzu shih tzus as a breed are prone to obesity it makes sense after all it's really hard to say no to them when they beg for food with their puppy eyes you need to feed them as per their recommended daily calories growing puppies need around 55 calories per day while adults need 40 calories per pound of their weight daily you can find the number of calories per cup on the dog food package so make sure to have a look and feed accordingly finally snacks should only make up 10 of their daily calories even if your little one disagrees mistake number two neglecting their dental hygiene Shih Tzus are also prone to dental disease a little more than other breeds which is why it is very important to brush their teeth regularly but make sure not to use human toothbrushes and toothpaste our toothbrush is just too soft and our toothpaste is actually poisonous for them so get a canine dental kit and brush them at least three times a week ideally every day mistake number three not spaying or neutering your dog if you don't intend to breed your Shih Tzu it's a good idea to get them spayed or neutered early with six to nine months being the best time spayed females won't go into heat Cycles more importantly they will be less at risk for ovarian uterine and breast cancers males will be less Territorial and have a lower risk of prostate cancer so spaying or neutering can help your dog have a longer life you can always do this later if you are planning to breed them mistake number four missing vet visits many parents skip visiting the vet unless there's something wrong with their Shih Tzus please do not do that routine vet visits can help identify any developing conditions early on giving your dog the best chances for treatment you must have your dog to the vet for regular Health checkups at least once a year and ideally once every six months mistake number five skipping exercise time Shih Tzus like to sleep a lot especially as puppies when they sleep for 16 to 20 hours each day adult Shih Tzus like their naps too although they'll nap a little less with 12 to 14 hours a day being the average amount despite their love for napping Shih Tzus need 70 minutes of exercise a day as adults while puppies need 30 to 40 minutes this could include activities like playing around the house and going out for a walk just be sure to divide it into two or three separate sessions so your dog doesn't get exhausted mistake 6 forgetting to teach your old dog new tricks it's essential to engage your dog's mind especially when they are starting to get up in the Years while you may have heard that you can't teach an old dog new tricks this is definitely not the case older dogs can learn new tricks and more than that they're quite eager to do so just keep sessions limited to 10 to 15 minutes at a time and see what happens you'll both have a good time and constant lifelong learning will go a long way towards your dog's Mental Health mistake 7 leaving your shiitsu alone for too long your shiitsu was bred to be your companion while all dogs are pack animals Shih Tzus need a little more attention than most so you must be careful about how much time they spend alone leaving them alone in the house for too long every day can make them sad and could even lead to depression if you work full time then consider putting them in a doggie Care Center where they can play around with other dogs under supervision with puppies you don't have the option to leave them alone for more than an hour it will affect their personality they will become more timid and fearful young puppies need constant attention and care I hope this video was helpful to you do make sure to subscribe to our channel for more Shi Tzu care videos Zia

Channel: Shih Tzu Care

Views: 200,090

Keywords: 7 Common Mistakes that can Shorten your Shih Tzu's Life!, mistakes that can shorten shih tzus life, shih tzu care, never do this to your shih tzu, shih tzu puppy care

Id: -EZfZ_LPzdI

Length: 4min 34sec (274 seconds)

Published: Thu Nov 24 2022