MANCHU

SHIH TZU SOCIETY

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Winter 2016

NEWSLETTER

Shih Tzu Officers and Committee

Patron Robert Elegant Esq. MA MS

President Mrs. Thelma Burnell

Vice Presidents Mr. John Carter, Mrs. Val Goodwin, Mrs. Di Harding,

Mr. Tom Richardson & Mrs. Eileen Wilson

Chairman Mr. T Richardson

89 Belt Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire WS12 4JJ Tel:01543 424107

Acting Secretary Mrs J McIntyre

4, The Green, Lodge Lane, Saughall, Chester CH1 6JP Tel:01244 657906

Acting Treasurer Mrs. S Sadler

190 Clements Road Yardley, Birmingham B25 8TS Tel:0121 604 7266

Committee Mrs. J. Anderton, Mr. G. Carter Mr. J. Carter, Mrs. S. Crossley

Mrs. G. Dolphin, Mrs. V. Goodwin Mr. S. Jones, Miss A. Spooner

Introduction from your new Editor

Happy New Year to all readers.

I have taken over the post of editor for this magazine and would like to take this chance to introduce myself to everyone.

I have been in Shih Tzus for 20 years but only showing for 6 years, a “newbie”. I have been lucky enough to have two doyens of the breed take me under their wing, Jenny Clifford “Cedarhythe” and the late Margaret Stangeland “Weatsom”. Without these two ladies I would not have progressed as I have or learnt as much. However there is still so much to learn and I love showing. I love listening to all the people who show and gleaning from their knowledge. One thing I have taken on board is that there are several different view points to all aspects of showing and we must walk our own path.

I and my daughter are now learning the “art” of becoming a judge, it seems a natural progression. We have attended several seminars and my interest is growing.

I am sure most of you will also know my husband Graham Herring who is my “go-fer”. He is my calming influence and he enjoys the showing world as much as I do.

We have increased from one to five ShihTzus in six years and have a very happy home because of these delightful dogs

I am looking forward to this role as Editor and would ask for some assistance from everyone who reads this newsletter. If there is any thing of interest to you, remember it could be of interest to other Shih Tzu lovers so please share it with us. If you would like me to research a certain topic for the newsletter please ask. To make this newsletter more interesting lets have some interaction from readers.

Contact me on e mail: gherring@tiscali.co.uk Tel: 01884 38133 Mobile: 07807333240 or facebook me.

Come on lets have lots of news

The Creation

When God had made the earth and sky

the flowers and the trees,

He then made all the animals

the fish, the birds and bees.

And when at last He'd finished

not one was quite the same.

He said, "I'll walk this world of mine

and give each one a name."

And so He travelled far and wide

and everywhere He went,

a little creature followed Him

until it's strength was spent.

When all were named upon the earth

and in the sky and sea,

the little creature said, "Dear Lord,

there's not one left for me."

Kindly the Father said to him,

"I've left you to the end.

I've turned my own name back to front

and called you DOG, My friend."

Author Unknown

Breathing Issues After some brief research from breeders, exhibitors and owners, it seems that many people are coming across a few health issues relating to breathing problems within our breed. Many of these it would seem derive from non-researched matings, which as we all know can be easily rectified by a good sensible breeding practice. Here are a few articles I have found online and will be crediting the authors accordingly. Please note some of the information is from the USA .

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome This is the term given to brachycephalic breeds, such as the Shih Tzu that have breathing issues related to their body structure. It is a general term that includes at least one of four health issues, stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, collapsed larynx (voice box) and trachea issues (abnormally small or collapsed trachea). The three most common issues seen with the Shih Tzu are elongated palate, stenotic nares and tracheal issues. With 50% of Shih Tzu that do have airway syndrome, both elongated palate and stenotic nares are present. The most common symptoms seen with Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome include:

● Breathing fast – This may worsen when the dog is excited and/or in hot weather

● Panting – The Shih Tzu may have episodes of breathing fast and heavy ● Trouble eating – The dog may gag or even regurgitate food ● Snoring – The degree of snoring may vary depending on the humidity level in

the house and the position in which the Shih Tzu is sleeping. ● Noisy breathing – There may be gasping, rattling or wheezing noises ● Coughing – During an attack, the dog may inhale in such a way that sounds like

coughing or the Shih Tzu may have an actual cough; sometimes sounding like honking noises.

● Exercise intolerance – Not only may breathing become difficult when the dog is active, it may force him to stop, as he gasps for breath.

● Collapse – In very severe cases, the dog may collapse.

Reverse sneezing This is a very good description about a condition in which the dog seems to be unable to get its breath and begins to honk or snort. It is most often caused by a slightly elongated soft palate that “sticks” until the dog takes a deep breath through its mouth. The most effective way to stop this is to put a finger over the dog’s nostrils, thereby forcing it to breathe through its mouth. Sometimes just a hug and some reassurance will do the trick! Unlike more serious problems found in brachycephalic (short-faced) dogs, reverse sneezing in the Shih Tzu is quite common and is not life-threatening. (Quintessential Shih Tzu)

Elongated Soft Palate The soft palate is the flap of skin at the back of the throat. If the palate is too long it can partially block the entrance to the trachea, or windpipe. This increases airway resistance which can lead to breathing problems. Just about 10% of Shih Tzu have elongated soft palate, again due to the facial structure of the breed. It can range from very slight which causes no symptoms at all, moderate which will cause some problems to be noticed and severe which interferes with the dog’s quality of life. Shih Tzu’s with breathing problems as puppies should be examined for this issue, because

with moderate or severe elongated palates, signs are noticeable when the Shih Tzu is young and it is most commonly diagnosed by the age of 3 years old. The Symptoms • Newborn puppies may dribble milk from the nose when feeding • Excessive panting • Unable to calm down quickly when excited • Choking on food • Spitting up whole pieces of food • Loud, raspy breathing when overheated • Snoring • Excessive saliva • Fainting from lack of air (in extreme cases) How This is Diagnosed - In minor cases, when it is deemed safe, the vet will examine the mouth when a dog is awake. However, if a judgment call is made that the examination will cause a dog to become overly excited and this in turn will cause dangerous breathing problems, the dog will be sedated. The veterinary surgeon may perform: • Pre-anesthetic complete blood count and biochemistry • Blood gases – to check blood pH and CO2 concentration • X-rays – The vet will also be looking for a narrowed trachea and any heart abnormalities Treatment - In minor cases, some changes can be made to help a Shih Tzu breathe better. This includes limiting the dog’s activity during hot weather, trying to avoid over-excitement and encouraging different sleeping positions via canine beds and pillows. However, in most cases in which the obstruction is causing breathing distress that interferes with the dog’s quality of life, surgery is recommended. It is important to note that this issue often worsens as a dog grows older, in time ligaments in the lynx may stretch, often to the point of collapse. Surgery involves shortening the palate. Many vets prefer to do this after a Shih Tzu has reached the age of 1-year-old. This is because the palate may still grow when a pup is still maturing and if done too early, another procedure may be required at a later date. Sometimes a dog may need to have his tonsils removed and the vet should do this during the palate clip if required. Laser surgery is now the most common way to shorten the palate. It cauterizes as it cuts, which decreases bleeding and swelling, and shortens recovery time. During post-op recovery, only soft food should be given to allow the throat time to heal. This can include rice with minced pieces of chicken, eggs, oatmeal and sweet potato. Dog food can also be softened with warm water, warmed gravy or warmed low-salt chicken broth. Healing time varies, but the typical healing time is between 2-3 weeks.

Pinched Nostrils and Teething Shih Tzu puppies often have slightly pinched nostrils that generally open with time. The bubbly discharge from a Shih Tzu puppy’s nose is NOT serious if the discharge is clear and watery and the dog is otherwise thriving. This problem is most acute during the teething stage, even the nostrils of a dog that has difficulty simultaneously eating and breathing or is lethargic at this time may open satisfactorily as the dog matures. *** Pinched Nostrils and Teething go together ***

Teething Problems Some puppies in this breed experience teething trouble. The noses swell and pinch off some and they may have a little clear discharge. They make some snorting and snuffling sounds. They will usually outgrow this after the adult teeth come in. If they are playful, active, eating and drinking well, they are ok. If they can’t eat or drink well and are lethargic or the discharge changes colour, they may have developed infection and need to be checked and treated. Most Shih Tzu pups are fine after teething and it is recommended not letting any surgery be done until after adult teeth are in. Many Shih Tzu puppies noses will become tight during the teething phase, it will often cause them to snort and mouth breathe. This will go away usually around 12-16 weeks of age sometimes longer. It is very different the Stenotic Nares (Pinched Nostrils). Which is noticed from birth. Stenotic Nares on the other hand are completely different and are present at birth. From the time the baby is born he has difficulty breathing through his nose and struggles with nursing from early on due to the inability to breath and eat at the same time (this can happen with tight nostrils also, however the pup is generally almost weaned by this time). Some of the time (but not always) surgery will need to be done on Stenotic Nares as the puppy may always have this issue and over time could cause other health concerns. However, even with Stenotic Nares the puppy can outgrow the condition. It is advisable to wait and have surgery done when the puppy is over a year old, as it is a possibility that as they mature, they could outgrow the condition. Some Vets are way too eager to perform surgery, when it may not be needed, however, I am not a Vet and you should never take my advice over a vet unless you yourself choose to do so (just my disclaimer).

Tight Nostrils or Stenotic Nares? Tight nostrils are very VERY common in the Shih Tzu breed. A lot of people think that tight nostrils and Stenotic Nares (pinched nostrils) are the same thing. In reality, they are very different. Tight Nostrils will generally come on when the puppy is teething and sometimes not go away until the adult teeth have fully come in (even up to a year old). Sometimes it will come and go as the puppy’s gums are swelling off and on from the teething process. Some puppies can hardly breath out of their noses at this time, but as long as they are active and eating and drinking normally it is of little concern. Never have surgery done on a puppy that just simply has tight nostrils as it will eventually go away. Some dogs will have tighter nostrils than others and some will snore and snort more than others during their entire life, but tight nostrils to the point that they can't breathe through their noses and cause health concerns will generally go away with time.

Breathe Better tips Even if all serious conditions have been ruled out, a Shih Tzu may still have some minor breathing problems. And this, of course, can be frustrating and worrisome for owners who are being told that everything is normal, but they still see their puppy or dog having breathing difficulties. There are some steps that you can take to help a Shih Tzu breath better: 1) Take action to avoid overheating is key. Follow all summer care guidelines for the Shih Tzu. Limit exercise during very hot weather. Since daily exercise is very important for good, overall health, in the summer take walks early in the morning and then again about 1 hour before the sun sets, as these are the coolest parts of the day. Be sure to bring along water any time you are out and about with your dog and take frequent breaks in the shade. 2) Keep moisture in the air. For some Shih Tzu, breathing in very dry air can make breathing more difficult. The use of humidifiers can help with this. If you cannot set them up over the entire house, one placed near the dog’s sleeping area can be helpful for night time breathing problems. 3) The position in which your Shih Tzu rests and sleeps can cause issues and this is particularly evident with snoring. The dog should have a quality, supportive bed in which his body does not sink into the mattress. In addition, placing a small pillow under his head to elongate the neck can help him breathe better at night. 4) If your Shih Tzu seems to have problems when excited, try to intervene before it reaches a point of affecting his breathing. This can include taking short breaks from play, making interval introductions to a new place or when meeting new people and distraction if a Shih Tzu is responding to a trigger. 5) A collar can cause breathing problems in two ways. If too small, it can constrict the neck and breathing passages; collars should be loose enough for you to easily slip two fingers under it. If a leash is connected to the collar, this puts stress on the neck, which not only can interfere with breathing, but can also lead to tracheal injury, particularly with a Shih Tzu that is already prone to this congenital condition. Always use a harness instead. Authors, "Quintessential Shih Tzu" & " Allthings SHihtzu"

Sadly this Summer Mum lost one of her six rescued African Grey

parrots due to long term breathing problems. This resulted in

another large bed in place of Ossie’s cage. The existing small bed

was tucked behind the dining room table which I decided would be

my den/hidey-hole. I just fit in with my teddy. I did catch

Buttercup in it a couple of times but chose to ignore it as she

does not stay long preferring Mum’s chair with Snowdrop.

1. The picture shows me looking smug in my new den

For us the summer was filled with fun, flowers and barking. The

Maltese race about at tremendous speed using a rather comic gait.

They have certainly enlivened Rosy Chin. We have never seen her

so active trying to keep up with Snowdrop and Buttercup who are

so much smaller than her. Nan Chin has on the other hand become

quite maternal with them. Mum has let Snowdrop’s hair on the top

of her head grow and puts these ridiculous flowers and bows in her

topknot. Everyone thinks she looks gorgeous. On occasions two of

us, I am not mentioning any names, pull off the bows et al and

leave the evidence and the culprits rapidly disappear.

2. The picture shows Snowdrop and Sue in matching florals. It was the last straw this summer when Mum put my sunshades on

Buttercup while she was with Auntie Carol. Then Mum proceeded

to take pictures – cheek! I decided to spoil the photo she was

taking for this article and I think I performed beautifully-ha ha. It

backfired though because Mum included it anyway.

3.The picture to the

right shows Buttercup,

Carol and little me. I did get to wear my

shades eventually but of

course Blossom had to

sneak a peek behind

Carol. 4.Picture to the

left is self explanatory I

do not know how

Buttercup does it but she

manages to pick up two

tiny Wainrights biscuits

at once and still places a

paw firmly on my bone.

After Mum had mended

the cheepy chicken

which Blossom had been

a bit heavy mouthed with

Buttercup decided she was having it and will not let it out of her

sight. As the chicken is quite large she has mastered the cheeping

by grasping it in a certain way until it cheeps nonstop driving us all

mad. The picture to the right shows Snowdrop having a bad hair day and

Buttercup with her brown teddy and keeping an eye on the chicken.

Poppy’s Journal 17

The Players.

Four legged all neutered. Me! - Poppy a brown and white Shih Tzu

bitch. Blossom a black and white Shih Tzu

bitch.

Rosy a Japanese Chin bitch. Nan a Japanese Chin bitch.

Buttercup aka Cupcake a Maltese

bitch. Snowdrop a Maltese bitch. Four legged not neutered. Maude a jenny donkey. Two legged, sleeping indoors, all African Grey Parrots. Rosie, Bertie, Eric, Pookie, Jessie and Wilson Ossie recently deceased

To be continued …………..

It's not cute to bunny hop! I have often heard around the ring the whispers and curious thoughts spoken aloud as to why is that dog "bunny hopping".... After many years of research and study of the canine anatomy, I do not proclaim to be a vet nor a specialist in this field, I am simply sharing some of the knowledge I have procured and accept no responsibility for its accuracy. In the larger breeds this can be caused by hip dysplasia which occurs when the dog has a loose fitting hip joint and can cause arthritis from wear and tear the inflammation and pain can cause the dog to 'skip' along rather than extending and retracting the sore leg in the joint cup. Genetics play a vital role in preventing this and a simple test can be done 'prevention is better than cure' However, the smaller breeds are more prone to luxating patella such as the Shih Tzu, Pekinese, Bulldog, Toy Poodle, Chihuahua and so on, but it must be stated that it can also affect dogs of all shape and sizes. This is a condition where the knee cap (patella) pops out of its groove, this can range in severity from where the stifle joint can appear normal to the severity of where surgical intervention is necessary. When the knee cap is out of place a ‘hop’, ‘skip’ or ‘three legged walk' can be easily seen. Acute lameness and ongoing 'hopping' can be a cause of medial patellar luxation and rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament these are intertwined in many ways. It is estimated that at least up to 20% of dogs with patellar luxation will eventually rupture their cranial cruciate ligament. Ever wondered why some judges are lifting a dog’s rear leg up and down after it has been moved. One of the reasons for this is that a luxating Patella can often be felt when cupping the dogs stifle joint gently in your hand and bending the joint up and down, a slight pop or 'pip' sound can be felt but always if you are ever unsure LEAVE ALONE! There are studies done by the numerous 'official bodies' where the overwhelming majority of patellar luxation are congenital and certainly hereditary. So, this can be prevented by not using affected dogs in ongoing breeding programs. This is not a condition that should be overlooked or dismissed as it does and will cause unnecessary pain to the dog and possibly it's progeny. This is never to be confused with juvenile excitement where the dog will often do these strides as they have not yet fully developed and cannot contain their excitement when moving. Mrs P Baines