Shih Tzu Health & Vaccines

doctorbearc When your pawrents were children, they had to get vaccines before they went to Kindergarten. Yep, it's true! When YOU were a teeny little pup, you too, had to get a series of vaccines called 'puppy' shots. These are kind of like the same thing.

Now, here's the deal. AFTER the pawrents had their shots, did they have to CONTINUE to get shots, year after year? I don't THINK so! Yet, why is it that WE 4-legged ones are forever reminded by a little postcard each year to come in for our 'annual vaccines?' Doesn't this seem a bit, well, unfair and fishy to you? It sure does to me!

Current and on-going medical (research) studies are showing that over-vaccinating pets may lead to the Big C (cancer). Yikes! In other words, getting annual vaccinations or boosters might NOT be the best thing to do, particularly if you do not NEED those shots. Makes sense. Too much of ANYTHING IS simply NOT good. Period. (see article about cancer below)

So, what do you do with regards to all the vaccines, you may ask. I shall be more than happy to share my opinions with you!

Me, Dogtor Cheli, had my puppy shots AND Rabies, as necessary. Yes, indeedy! The puppy shots are a series of three sets of shots and provide the innoculations for the BIG ones. Rabies shots are required by law.

When it came time for the so-called annual 'boosters,' this is when my mama her research to work for ME. Yes, indeedy! Instead of just getting the vaccinations when 'reminded,' mama said, "No way! I want Chelsea to have her TITER LEVELS tested, please."

got milk What is Titer Testing?

Titer testing is a test that shows how much immunity or antibody protection levels (titers) are still in the system from the original vaccinations. Puppies receive many natural immunities from their mama's milk and system. By the age of 6-months, puppies' immune systems are fully developed! Conscientious puppy owners should have also had their puppies fully immunized by this time as well (all puppy shots). Puppies' immunities are now 'set' and getting any additional boostesr can only lessen or negate the antigens from the original puppy shots! EEEK!

The test for titer levels (i.e., antibody protection levels) checks to see if immunity from the puppy shots are still in effect. If levels of immunity are low, then a booster is needed. If levels of immunity are still good, then there is no need for a vaccination. (Why get more shots if i isn't necessary?)

Guess what…I am now 4-years old and my immunity is still EXCELLENT. This means I haven't had to get any additional vaccinations. What does this tell you? I would venture to say that it shows that MOST people will vaccinate their pets without giving any thought to whether or not it is a necessity to do so!

How much does Titer Testing Cost? Is it really worth the cost?

Titer testing IS a bit more expensive (costs about $70–$100) than annual booster vaccinations. If you think about the cost of your pet's health in the long run, however, with the potential for risks like CANCER, then titer testing is CHEAP! True, titer testing is not a guarantee but, it can definitely help in keeping your pet from getting too much of a 'good' thing. If your pet does end up getting cancer, and you decide to go with chemotherapy and you don't have pet health insurance, you can expect to pay at least $5000 for chemotherapy and lab and doctor visits. Minimum. (this number is a very conservative amount and is from personal experience)

Vaccinations specific to the Shih Tzu?

There are two vaccines included in the 'cocktail' of shots that may not be necessary for Shih Tzus. Check and see if you veterinarian is including Leptospirosis and Corona in the vaccine cocktail. The Leptospirosis strain has been the cause of many a Shih Tzu's allergic reactions to vaccines. The Corona strain is now also not recommended.

Uh oh…have you been chewing your paws? Chances are HIGHLY likely that you have an allergy! That's right! Shih Tzus and others are notorious for indicating they have allergies; they do so by chewing or licking on the front paws.

If your pet is licking or chewing on his/her front paws, you will need to start determining just what your pet is allergic to.

You can begin by checking the ingredients listed on the FOOD your pet is eating. (Info on food can also be found on the Healthy Eating page) If you can determine what food product your pet is allergic to, why, you've practically won the battle! (Trust me on this…Britanny was allergic to chicken and all other poultry and I am allergic to beef and corn).

What do you do if my pet HAS an allergic reaction?

If you find our pet has an allergic reaction to something (starts itching like mad, gets red skin, skin gets bumpy, etc.), the best thing to do is to give him/her 1/2 a tablet of a children's Benadryyl. The new formulation of Benadryl's for children is a melting-type tab so the tablets are easy to break into two pieces and they are also flavoured so pups are more apt to happily much on one!

If your pup has an allergic reaction, giving 1/2 of a Benadryl should quickly provide some relief. If it doesn't, you can always give the other half. Most of the time, if you do take your pet to the vet, you will end up getting more Benadryl (if not, the pet gets a shot of Benadryl)!

A dog's eyes are extremely sensitive and your regular veterinarian should not be the one diagnosing or dealing with the eye. Why, you may ask. Well, let me tell you…

Armstrong nursery Britanny, one of mama's former Shih Tzus, was once diagnosed with cataracts (Brit was only 4-years old at the time) by her regular veterinarian. After a crying jag, mama located a specialist, an animal ophthalmologist (Dr. Lavach, the founder of Eye Care for Animals). Guess what. Britanny did NOT have cataracts. Nope. She had a condition called 'dry eye.' She basically did not produce enough tears and all she needed was some daily drops to keep her eyes moist and hydrated. Had mama stuck with the original diagnosis, Britanny would have undergone an expensive and unnecessary surgical procedure and one she NEVER needed, even by the time she crossed the Rainbow Bridge!

Dry eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca) is a very common problem in Shih Tzus and other big eyeball doggies. Daily drops will usually take care of this problem.

Eyelashes growing where they don't belong (Distichiasis, trichiasis, and ectopic cilia) are conditions that may occur in Shih Tzus and other dogs causing problems with vision. Your dog may rub his/her face because the eyelashes are bothersome and you don't realize just what is causing the annoyance.

Regular vets are simply not trained to specialize in the eyeball. I don't care just how good they are. Eye Care for Animals is the place I recommend. They specialize in ocular issues and work not only with dogs but ALL animals. Tell them Chelsea sent you.

TifannyandMonarchs1 Cancer…this is something you NEVER want to hear when you go to the veterinarian's…but, unfortunately, it is something that is one of the many diagnoses that we now hear. Pets do get cancer and the age at which most are diagnosed is between four and seven. The causes? Who knows, but one thing that may contribute to an increase in cancer diagnosis in dogs is over-vaccination.

What are some of the signs of Cancer?

There are some definite signs that you should be on the look-out for that may indicate the possibility of the Big C in your dog. I wasn't aware of these signs when Tifanny was diagnosed but now, am definitely aware of what to look for and want to share the signs with you.

Unusual Swelling: Swelling or swollen glands around the neck, shoulders, behind the knees…these are things to definitely take notice of, particularly if the swelling doesn't go down or begin to actually get larger. (Tifanny's 'shoulders' seem to get unusually large; this was actually her lymph glands swelling up)
Lethargy and Lack of Overall Energy: If your normally energetic pup seems to be really tired and doesn't want to go for walks or play like usual, get its blood levels checked.
Loss of Appetite or Difficulty Eating or Swallowing: Dogs like to eat and if yours doesn't want to eat its favourite treat or has difficulty eating or swallowing, get to the veterinarian immediately.
Bleeding or Discharge from any Body Opening: Unusual bleeding or strange discharge (liquidy stuff) from any body opening is not good!
Weight Loss: If your dog begins to lose weight all of a sudden, then you should definitely worry! It could mean other things (like intestinal worms, too) but, any time a dog begins to lose weight and isn't on a diet, then a vet visit should be a priority.
Sores that do not Heal: Just like with humans, if your pet's sores and cuts are not healing, it is time to worry.
Difficulty Breathing: This is a no brainer!
Difficulty Urinating or Defecating: Although this may not seem like a big thing, pets should be able to urinate and defecate regularly and as a pet owner, you are aware of your pet's habits. Anything unusual should be reported.

The first thing you will want to do if you suspect Cancer is to get a complete CBC (blood panel test). This will help to determine what is going on and if the white blood cells are in overabundance, you will know if there is a problem.

Can you prevent Cancer in Dogs?

Just like with anything else, there may be some things you can do to help prevent cancer. For example, with the vaccinations, instead of blindly getting a vaccination each year, get your titer levels tested. This is discussed above. Too much of anything is not good. Period!

Food: Eating a good diet is key. Keeping the diet low in grains is helpful. Cancer feeds on carbs so a diet lower in carbohydrates (grains) is better.

Water: Drinking filtered or distilled/purified water may be helpful as it eliminates impurities that may contain contaminants.

In the Garden: Eliminating the use of all pesticides is KEY. Dogs absorb chemicals through the skin of the pads on their feet. So, when chemicals are used on the lawn (fertilizers, pesticides/insecticides), and we walk on it, the chemicals are absorbed right into our bodies! This can also be a potential cancer problem. The same holds true for sprays and systemics used in the garden.

In the House: Begin using organic cleaning compounds. Clorox Greenworks, Seventh Generation, Ecover, Trader Joe's, …there are SO many different green ways to clean (you can even make your own!). Stop using stuff like Swiffer. Just keep thinking, "My dog can absorb this stuff through his paws!"

What if my dog GETS Cancer?

The first thing is, DON'T FREAK OUT! (yeah, easy to say, I know…mama cried hysterically) Click here…

Clip art from DJ Inkers is used with permission.