Ask Me Help Desk - Puppy shih tzu

Puppy shih tzu

I would like to know, the puppy I would like to get her nose is not develop yet, I'm just scared I may have to drill her nose just so she can breathe. The breeder said the mom is the same way, and her nose is fine. The dad has a big nose and sister already has a nose, the pups are right now are 5 weeks old. Can you help?:confused:

She should have a fully developed nose when she was born. It is a defect and may need surgery to correct it. I suggest you go to the vet asap if the dog is having trouble breathing because of it.
Edited because I only just read that the puppy is 5 weeks old! Just asking if the breeder sold you a puppy at 5 weeks old? Or haven't you taken the puppy yet?

Are they really hard shih tzu to potty train. And how often do you take them out. And for how long and what is the best food to give them as puppy, so they don't have diarrhea?
This is my first pup and I just want to do it right. I already love her so much that I can smell her. But than I don't want pee and poo all over my house.:)

I think you need to sort out the health issues before you start thinking about that. Get the puppy vet checked before you take it home.
And I probably can't help you with food brands as I think we would have different ones here in Australia.

I won't get the pup until mar 14 she'll then be 7 weeks, I mean you can see opening in her nose there is just no cartilage like her sister.

You are confusing me... why did you disagree with my original post? I know it's a shih tzu

It is actually illegal to sell puppies younger than 8 weeks old.
Although shih tzus are prone to breathing problems I would still get it checked out by a vet.

Go to this site: it is all about shih tzu puppies development and the stages of growth
How A Shih Tzu Puppy Grows

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

You are confusing me... why did you disagree with my original post? I know it's a shih tzu

I'm sorry I didn't realize that was your name.:rolleyes:

Lol that's all right then :)

I think the breathing problem you are describing is called stentotic nares. If you look at the other pups, they have round nostrils, and this one probably has more vertical slits. The little extra flaps of tissue sort of act like a one-way valve, and they try to shut when the pup breathes in. They can generally breathe out fine. It is not uncommon in a lot of the "push-face" dogs and is fairly easily corrected with surgery. It is probably genetic and I would certainly not consider breeding this dog.
See if the breeder will let you take her to the vet for a pre-purchase exam--and be very wary of a breeder who won't agree to this!

Stentotci nares? Her sister nose is black, put the other has no blackness but u can see the opening of her nose. Is that still concerned stentotci nares?

Also is 7 weeks to early to release from mom?

You really should wait until 8 weeks old to take the pup.
The color of the nose is irrelevant, that is just the pigment, some dogs have pink noses when they are born and turn black as they get older, others will have pink spots.

Pink spots? There is no nose, except holes? Is that stentotic nares?

http://www.gloryridge.com/images/HB1_month_old.jpg

This is off the 'how a shih tzu puppy grows' site... this puppy is 28 days old its nose should look like this ones. You will probably have to get Carol back for a technical explanation!

And thisis a picture of stenotic nares (this picture was too big to post)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St...es_before1.jpg

Thanks for that pic, that is exactly how the other pup looks like but not the other I'm interested in her nose looks nothing like that. So that is a defect right?:confused:

Quote:

Originally Posted by maria_ramirez64

thanks for that pic, that is exactly how the other pup looks like but not the other im interested in her nose looks nothing like that. So that is a defect right?:confused:

This is a awesome site and you have help out tremendously. Thank you:)

I would say it is yes. But in saying that the puppy might be fine and grow up perfectly happy or it could need corrective surgery. There is no way to say exactly what is wrong with the puppy without seeing a photo or anything. The only way you are really going to know is with a vet check. Sorry I can't help you out more...

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

She should have a fully developed nose when she was born. It is a defect and may need surgery to correct it. I suggest you go to the vet asap if the dog is having trouble breathing because of it.
edited because I only just read that the puppy is 5 weeks old! Just asking if the breeder sold you a puppy at 5 weeks old? or haven't you taken the puppy yet?

No I have not purchased the pup

Quote:

Originally Posted by maria_ramirez64

Stentotci nares? her sister nose is black, put the other has no blackness but u can see the opening of her nose. Is that still concerned stentotci nares?

Also is 7 weeks to early to release from mom?

Thanks for answering

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

You really should wait until 8 weeks old to take the pup.
The color of the nose is irrelevant, that is just the pigment, some dogs have pink noses when they are born and turn black as they get older, others will have pink spots.

You have answered my questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by maria_ramirez64

Pink spots? There is no nose, except holes? is that stentotic nares?

U have answered my questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by maria_ramirez64

u have answered my questions

Thank you for answering questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

I would say it is yes. But in saying that the puppy might be fine and grow up perfectly happy or it could need corrective surgery. There is no way to say exactly what is wrong with the puppy without seeing a photo or anything. The only way you are really going to know is with a vet check. Sorry I can't help you out more...

I'm going to see the pup today, so I will try and get a close up pic but she wants me to choose which one, and I will tell her about taking her to a vet and see what she say.

Thank you for all your help:)

Let us know how it goes :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

Let us know how it goes :)

I have called the vet in our area, to get the pup a phyiscal examination. It won't happen until Friday, so I am going to ask the breeder, if I can take the pup to the vet. Than I called another breeder in the area who is a actual breeder and ask about the nose, she said you can until if the nose is going to grow or not just by looking at the nostrials, and that it doesn't necessary have to be black (like it is going). We see what happens.

Also if all goes well, I am going to enroll her in puppy kingarden school.
:)
That's for all the info.:)

Good to hear :)
And puppy kindergarten is a very good idea, don't expect him to behave to well when he's so young but it's good to socialize them as early as possible :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

Good to hear :)
And puppy kindergarten is a very good idea, don't expect him to behave to well when he's so young but it's good to socialize them as early as possible :)

Yes I believe that too. And he is a she.

Lol sorry! That's twice I've done that today, I was calling Altenweg's bunny a she and it was a he!

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

lol sorry! that's twice i've done that today, I was calling Altenweg's bunny a she and it was a he!

That's funny, we all make mistakes.

You know with this shih tzu, I don't want to make a mistake. It could be costly. And I just can't afford that.

Hey could you possibly send me a pic of the pup without a nose and just showing the nostrils, is that possible?

I'm not sure if this is what your pup has but this is a pic of stenotic nares:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...es_before1.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

I'm not sure if this is what your pup has but this is a pic of stenotic nares:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...es_before1.jpg

no... its like completely flat!! around the nose, there is no cartilage of a nose forming.

I know that all puppies need love, but if you are not financially prepared to handle the bill that this puppy may leave you with, my suggestion to you would be to look for another. This is the breed that I have, I have two of them and they are costly without the extra vet bill of having this troubled breathing condition. Please consider all costs. Good Luck

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsMewiththat

I know that all puppies need love, but if you are not financially prepared to handle the bill that this puppy may leave you with, my suggestion to you would be to look for another. this is the breed that I have, I have two of them and they are costly without the extra vet bill of having this troubled breathing condition. Please consider all costs. Good Luck

Thank you I just went to look at her nose and they are only 4 weeks old, and her nose is forming, so she is still young. I can financially afford to care for my puppy I just did not want the add cost.. and I'm only getting one, not two.

You have mentioned they are four and five weeks old? Puppies like babies develop their parts inside the womb. This puppy would have been born with a nose if it was going to have one. Non the less I think you missed the point. They do have a very short nose and maybe it looks like it isn't there, however you have described no nose and just too nostrils in the face. I am aware that you are after one dog and not two. The additional expense will come from caring for a dog born without a nose. Choice is yours, glad that you are prepared to care for it.

It would be really interesting if you could get a good close up picture of this pup's nose, I'd love to see what it looks like! It is obviously able to breathe, so it may not be anything more than a cosmetic problem.

Hi I have a shih tzu look up Google about the food. These dogs are kind of hard to train but just show the puppy daily that's what I did with mine and it took about three months to train him how to go outside. These dogs are smart look up you tube and it will show you how smart these dogs are. They are very stuborn that's why it takes them a while to learn.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsMewiththat

you have mentioned they are four and five weeks old? Puppies like babies develop their parts inside the womb. This puppy would have been born with a nose if it was gonna have one. Non the less I think you missed the point. They do have a very short nose and maybe it looks like it isn't there, however you have described no nose and just too nostrils in the face. I am aware that you are after one dog and not two. The additional expense will come from caring for a dog born without a nose. Choice is yours, glad that you are prepared to care for it.

Thanks it does have a nose it was just really tiny, and I have never seen a shih tzu puppy before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolbcac

It would be really interesting if you could get a good close up picture of this pup's nose, I'd love to see what it looks like! It is obviously able to breathe, so it may not be anything more than a cosmetic problem.

The pup has a nose. I was just really paranoid, when I say her she was only 3 weeks old. And her hair was in the way. I have never seen a shih tzu as a puppy. And it is my first pup. Just be caution.:)

It sounds like you are getting this pup from a backyard breeder that didn't do genetic testing before breeding. The nose isn't the only thing that could be wrong with this puppy.

I would never advise buying from a backyard breeder, that just sends the message that what they are doing is okay. Having said that, if you are determined to get this puppy you really need your vet to do a complete physical. Genetic testing would also be a good idea but it's expensive. Just from the nose alone, I think this puppy is going to cost you a lot in vet bills for this and any other defects it may have.

Shihtzu's have a lot of genetic problems to begin with, it's even worse when people who don't know what they're doing breed.

Please, don't make a decision until this pup has been seen by a vet.

Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

It sounds like you are getting this pup from a backyard breeder that didn't do genetic testing before breeding. The nose isn't the only thing that could be wrong with this puppy.

I would never advice buying from a backyard breeder, that just sends the message that what they are doing is okay. Having said that, if you are determined to get this puppy you really need your vet to do a complete physical. Genetic testing would also be a good idea but it's expensive. Just from the nose alone, I think this puppy is going to cost you alot in vet bills for this and any other defects it may have.

shihtzu's have alot of genetic problems to begin with, it's even worse when people who don't know what they're doing breed.

Please, don't make a decision until this pup has been seen by a vet.

Good luck.

I do plan on having the pup check by a vet, and she has already told me that if there is something wrong with the pup I can return her and get my money back.
Thank you:)