Maintaining the health of your Shih Tzus will go a long way towards extending their life while making them a happier dog. The Shih Tzus requires some attention to maintain a happy, healthy lifestyle that avoids potential illness and diseases that shorten their lifespan. What follows are five simple methods you can use to extend the life of your dog.
Avoid Obesity
Your Shih Tzus will need to exercise and eat healthy to maintain a proper weight. Obesity is one of the biggest health risks for all dogs, so you should only feed them enough to nourish their bodies without adding extra weight. Going for a walk a few days a week helps along with some playtime to keep their weight at a normal level.
See the Vet
Regular trips to the vet will help keep your dog healthy by spotting potential issues in the early stages. By preventing possible disease and illness from striking your Shih Tzus, you can help prevent them from becoming sick which may extend their life. This means that they should get vaccinations and see the vet once per year when they become adults.
Healthy Teeth
While cavities and tooth decay are bad enough, such conditions may lead to infections in the body. Such infections may compromise vital organs, including the kidneys and the heart. By ensuring that your Shih Tzus’ teeth and gums are healthy, you can help them avoid infections that otherwise might shorten their lifespan. A combination of dry, hard dog food that scrapes away the plaque and brushing twice per week should do the job.
Good Exercise
Just like people need to exercise a few days a week, so does your Shih Tzus. You do not need to go overboard, but you should exercise your dog regularly for thirty minutes to an hour. The good news is that you do not have to walk them all the time, but rather mix it in with a healthy amount of play. All dogs, even the Shih Tzus, loves playtime and this will keep them physically and emotionally happy as well.
Lower Stress
The best way to lower the stress levels in your Shih Tzus is to let them relax. This means lowering the levels of anxiety in your home while getting in some playtime with your dog. It also means that there are times when your Shih Tzus will need a little time to themselves and that should be respected. Let them rest at least an hour a day when everyone in the household is awake and do not force them into activities they do not want to do.
The keys to living a long, healthy life for your Shih Tzus are pretty much the same for people. Good nutrition, exercise, seeing the doctor regularly, keeping the teeth and gums clean and healthy, and lowering stress is good advice for everyone. For your Shih Tzus, it will help them to lead longer, happier lives which means that everyone will benefit.
