Breathing and sleep notes for a flat-faced Shih Tzu
Breathing comes first in a Shih Tzu's weekly diary, because this flat-faced breed's airway comfort varies with heat, excitement and weight. Record resting breathing at home: quiet or noisy, mouth open or closed, and any snoring that is new, louder, or paired with restless sleep and frequent position changes. Note episodes of reverse sneezing, gagging after drinking, or exercise that ended with heavy panting on a short, mild walk, with the temperature that day written beside it. Also record whether your dog chose cool floors, avoided stairs in warm weather, or slept with the head propped or neck extended. Those small comfort choices, dated weekly, show a breathing trend far earlier than a single dramatic episode in the middle of summer would suggest.
Eyes, tear staining, and face comfort in a Shih Tzu
Eyes need a dedicated weekly entry for a Shih Tzu, whose prominent eyes and hair growing toward them make irritation common and easy to miss. Note discharge amount and colour, tear staining that is deepening, redness, squinting, cloudiness, or pawing and rubbing the face on carpet. Record whether the hair around the eyes was trimmed, tied up, or left long that week, because a week of face rubbing that follows a missed trim has an obvious first explanation. Write left and right eye separately whenever only one is affected. Check that both eyes look equally bright and that your dog tracks a treat smoothly to each side, and note any new bump on an eyelid margin while you are looking that closely anyway.
Teeth, ears, appetite, and digestion in a small mouth
Teeth and appetite belong together in a Shih Tzu diary, since a small, crowded mouth makes chewing problems a frequent reason for picky eating. Lift the lips weekly and note tartar, red gums, loose-feeling teeth, bad breath that is worsening, or chewing consistently on one side and dropping kibble. Record meals finished, food texture offered, and whether wet food was eaten eagerly while dry food was left, a pattern that points toward the mouth rather than the stomach. Note ear scratching, head shaking and ear odour under the heavy, hair-covered ear flaps, plus stool firmness and any straining. Linking a fussy week to a dental observation on the same page saves guesswork at the next appointment for everyone involved.
Coat, skin, mats, and when a Shih Tzu needs a vet
Coat and skin entries for a Shih Tzu should record brushing done, mats found and where, especially behind the ears, in the armpits and around the collar, and any redness or odour where a mat held moisture against the skin. Note bath dates and whether itching followed grooming, and check the belly and paw pads while brushing. Contact your veterinarian for breathing that is laboured at rest, a blue tinge to the tongue, an eye that is squinting, cloudy or bulging, appetite loss with mouth pain, or repeated vomiting. Eye changes in this breed deserve same-day advice rather than a week of watching. Keeping the diary in KinsLe under Pet Passport ensures your Shih Tzu's breathing log, eye notes and dental record arrive together at the clinic.