Open the Shih Tzu file with identity, origin and face photos
A Shih Tzu record begins with microchip details, ownership papers, breeder or rescue history, age, coat colour and clear photographs. Photograph the face straight on as well as the body, because a Shih Tzu's coat can be clipped into very different styles that change recognition. Note the groomer style your dog wears if you keep one, such as a shorter puppy cut, so descriptions stay accurate between appointments.
Keep the handover information in full: food and amounts on arrival, any eye or breathing comments from the breeder or rescue, previous vet details and known sensitivities. Shih Tzus have short faces and prominent eyes, so any history about snoring, heat sensitivity or eye irritation belongs in the file from the start rather than being mentioned casually and lost.
Track vet visits, weight and breathing observations together
The health section for a Shih Tzu should hold vaccination records, vet notes, parasite prevention dates and follow-ups in order, with weight recorded at each visit. Write breathing observations in everyday words: noisy breathing at rest, snoring changes, panting on short walks, or struggling in warm rooms. Note the temperature and activity at the time. If breathing looks laboured, the dog cannot settle, gums look pale or blue, or collapse occurs, that is an urgent vet call, not a diary entry to review later. For slower changes such as reduced exercise tolerance, bring the dated notes to a routine appointment.
Give eyes and teeth their own dated Shih Tzu log
Eyes need a dedicated line in a Shih Tzu record. Note daily face cleaning, any discharge, redness, cloudiness, squinting or pawing at an eye, and what the vet advised at each check. Teeth deserve the same attention. Shih Tzus commonly have crowded mouths, so log toothbrushing, dental checks, loose teeth in puppies, retained baby teeth you were told about, and any bad breath or difficulty chewing. A groomer or sitter who can read when the face was last cleaned and what eye drops or care, if any, the vet has directed will continue the routine without guessing.
Log coat care by style, products class and skin response
Coat records for a Shih Tzu should say more than that a groom happened. Note whether the coat is kept long or clipped, bath dates, detangling sessions, mats found under ears, armpits and belly, and how the skin looked afterwards. Record the class of shampoo used and any itching or flaking that followed, so a product that did not suit this dog is not repeated by a different groomer.
Between grooms, log quick daily checks: hair tied or trimmed away from the eyes, face wiped after meals, and bottom area kept clean and clipped. Those small entries build the schedule your Shih Tzu actually needs, which may differ a lot from a generic six-week grooming interval once coat length and skin response are visible in the record.
Keep the complete Shih Tzu packet ready for other carers
A Shih Tzu often has more people involved than the owner expects: groomer, vet, sitter and family all need overlapping pieces. Keep one current packet with identity, health, eye and breathing notes, feeding and coat routine, and make sure superseded instructions are clearly replaced. Back it up digitally so a grooming appointment does not depend on remembering to carry a paper folder.
Review the packet after each vet or grooming visit and add the outcome the same day, while details are fresh. When a Shih Tzu's records are gathered in KinsLe inside its Pet Passport, everyone helping with that dog works from the same complete packet rather than from fragments held by different people.