Shape the daily entry around a small companion dog
A Shih Tzu log needs to suit a small, indoor companion whose meals are tiny and whose face needs daily care. Each evening, write the food and amount offered, the amount eaten, any treats, the short walks or indoor play, stool quality, and a note on eyes and face wiping. Shih Tzus have prominent eyes and long facial hair, so record whether the eyes looked clear, whether tear staining increased, and whether the face was wiped after meals. Add a one-word energy note such as playful, settled, or sleepy, and the entry stays brief enough to maintain on busy days.
Treat small appetite changes as meaningful
For a Shih Tzu, missing a quarter of a meal is not a trivial detail, because the whole daily portion is small and a missed meal can represent a large share of intake. Record amounts in the same unit every day, for example a level scoop or a weighed portion, and note whether food was dropped, chewed slowly, or refused after a dental-sensitive bite. Also note whether the dog still begged for treats while refusing the main meal, since that distinction helps separate pickiness from genuine appetite loss. When appetite drops for more than a day, or arrives with vomiting, loose stool, coughing, or unusual sleepiness, contact a vet promptly rather than waiting for the dog to catch up on its own.
Weigh on a kitchen scale and note body shape
A household bathroom scale often cannot register a Shih Tzu's small weekly change, so weigh on a kitchen scale in a basket or by holding the dog and subtracting your own weight, always on the same scale and at the same time. Write the figure beside the week's appetite notes, and add a rib-feel note through the long coat, which can hide weight gain easily. A slow climb often follows extra treats, table food, or a richer food, while a slow fall may follow dental discomfort, a food change, or a period of reduced appetite already visible in the daily entries. Photographing the dog from above once a month, after grooming, gives a useful visual check alongside the numbers.
Include grooming dates in the Shih Tzu record
Grooming belongs in a Shih Tzu diary because coat state changes how the dog eats, sees, and feels. Record bath dates, haircut dates, and whether mats were found behind the ears, under the collar, or between the toes, and note whether facial hair was trimmed away from the eyes. A dog who eats better and plays more after a trim is showing you something the log can confirm across appointments. Also note sneezing, snoring changes, or noisy breathing at rest in plain words, with the date, so a vet can see whether those signs are new, steady, or slowly increasing.
Review the month for linked patterns
At month end, read the entries together: did appetite dip in the same weeks as eye irritation, coughing after excitement, or reluctance to walk in heat? Shih Tzus can struggle in warm, humid weather, so note heat, panting, and recovery time after play as part of the care record. Bring the dated summary, not just the latest weight, to a vet visit, and flag any repeated pattern rather than a single odd day. A consistent little log, kept in one place, lets KinsLe Pet Passport show a vet exactly how a Shih Tzu has eaten, weighed, and felt across the whole month.