The Eye Problems Are Insane
Shih Tzus have these pushed-in faces that make their eyes bulge out. It's part of what makes them cute. It's also part of what makes them expensive.
When Her Eye Actually Came Out
I was playing tug-of-war with Bella. Just gentle playing, nothing crazy. Then I heard her yelp and looked down, and her eye was... not where it should be.
I don't really want to describe it. It was horrifying. I grabbed her and drove to the emergency vet going way too fast, crying the whole way.
The vet popped it back in. Apparently this is common enough in Shih Tzus that they have a whole procedure for it. Cost me $800 that night, plus follow-up care.
Bella needed eye drops four times a day for weeks. Her eye is mostly okay now, but the vet said it could happen again. Any time. Over nothing.
Some Shih Tzus have surgery to make their eye sockets tighter. It's like $2,500 per eye. I'm still deciding if we should do it.
Dry Eye Is Just Normal Now
Bella's eyes don't make enough tears. The vet called it keratoconjunctivitis sicca, but dry eye is easier to remember.
Without treatment, her corneas would basically dry out and she'd go blind. So now we do eye drops twice a day, every day, forever.
The prescription drops are $45 a month. Not horrible, but it adds up. And she hates them. Getting drops in a Shih Tzu's eyes is like wrestling a very fluffy octopus.
Corneal Ulcers From Regular Life
Those bulgy eyes catch everything. Dust, hair, random debris. Things that wouldn't bother a normal dog scratch Bella's corneas.
She's had three corneal ulcers in the past two years. Each one requires antibiotics, pain medication, and sometimes a cone of shame for weeks.
The first ulcer got infected before I realized what was happening. That one cost $600 to treat. Now I'm paranoid about every eye rub and squint.
Everything Else That Breaks
Eyes are the main thing, but Shih Tzus have other problems too. Lots of them.
Breathing Like a Broken Air Conditioner
Bella snores. She snorts. She makes this weird wheezing sound when she gets excited. I thought it was just how Shih Tzus sound.
Turns out she has brachycephalic syndrome. Her airway is too small for her face basically. Common in flat-faced dogs.
The vet said surgery could help, around $3,000 to open up her airways. We haven't done it yet because she's managing okay, but hot days are scary. She overheats fast.
We bought a special cooling vest and never walk her when it's over 75 degrees. Summer in Texas with a Shih Tzu is stressful.
Dental Disasters
Bella's mouth is too small for her teeth. They're all crammed in there, overlapping and trapping food.
Her first dental cleaning revealed seven teeth that needed extraction. She was only three. $1,400 for that visit.
Now we do dental cleanings every year because her teeth are just that bad. The vet says it's typical for the breed. Small mouth, big problems.
The Knee Thing
Of course Bella's kneecaps slip around too. Luxating patella, same as yorkies and other small dogs.
She does this skip-hop thing when she runs. The vet rated it a grade 2, which means it's annoying but not surgery-urgent yet.
If it gets worse, surgery is $2,500 to $3,500 per leg. Most Shih Tzus with knee problems need both legs done eventually. Just another thing to worry about.
What Shih Tzu Insurance Must Cover
After everything with Bella, I know exactly what matters in a Shih Tzu policy.
Eye Coverage Without Limits
If your Shih Tzu insurance doesn't cover eye problems comprehensively, it's worthless. I mean that.
Emergency proptosis treatment, dry eye medication, corneal ulcer care, potential eye socket surgery. All of it. Check that there's no annual limit that would run out after one eye emergency.
Some policies try to exclude eye problems in flat-faced breeds. Avoid those companies like they have fleas.
Chronic Condition Coverage
Bella's dry eye isn't going away. Her breathing problems aren't going away. Insurance needs to cover ongoing conditions, not just one-time emergencies.
Look for policies that cover prescription medications long-term. Those monthly eye drops add up to over $500 a year. It's not glamorous coverage, but it matters.
Brachycephalic Syndrome Coverage
A lot of insurers try to call breathing problems in flat-faced dogs 'pre-existing' or 'congenital' and refuse to cover them.
Find a company that explicitly covers brachycephalic airway syndrome. If Bella ever needs that $3,000 surgery, I need to know it's covered.
Also make sure they cover emergency care for breathing distress. Shih Tzus can go from fine to crisis mode fast when they overheat.