Shih Tzu Dog Aging Well: Eye, Teeth and Coat Care First

An older shih tzu dog often still wants the same lap, the same short walk, the same evening routine — just with cloudier eyes and a mouth that needs more help.

The decision fork most owners face at 9 or 10 is simple: keep chasing joint supplements, or put eyes, teeth and skin first while still supporting mobility. For this breed, with its long lifespan and flat face, coats and prominent eyes, I recommend the second path. Expectation first: joints may help support comfort, but vision, mouth pain and matted skin end more good days for senior Shih Tzus.

Vets often see the shift happen quietly. In practice, an 11-year-old neutered male like Aldo, who lives with Suzanne in El Paso, Texas, will start bumping a chair leg at dusk, turn away from crunchy kibble, and mat behind the ears after only three missed brushing days. No single crisis, just a count that adds up: two watery eyes, one sore mouth, one restless night.

Your midnight checklist for the aging shih tzu dog

Use this as your baseline for the week ahead:

• Eyes daily: look for squinting, cloudiness, green-yellow discharge, or a paw at the face
• Mouth weekly: check breath, drool, dropping food, pawing at the muzzle, red gums
• Coat and skin every 1-2 days: short comb-through, clean face folds, trim hair away from eyes
• Breathing and heat: snoring change, panting at rest, trouble in warmth, exercise intolerance
• Comfort and behavior: night waking, getting stuck in corners, house-soiling change, appetite change
• Vet baseline: senior exam every 6-12 months with eye check, dental assessment and weight trend

That list may look long. Most steps take five minutes.

Eyes deserve first place

The American Kennel Club describes the Shih Tzu as outgoing and sturdy, with large, round eyes that give the breed its expression and also its vulnerability. Prominent eyes dry faster, collect hair and debris, and ulcerate more easily after a scratch.

Watch for the low-stress handling version: same dog, same light, once a day. Is one eye wetter, more red, more half-closed than yesterday. Wipe gently with a damp, soft cloth, trim the topknot away from the cornea, and keep dusty fans and low branches out of the face path.

Call promptly for a held-shut eye, sudden cloudiness, visible spot on the surface, or discharge that turns thick and colored. Corneal ulcers in dogs explains why Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine treats a painful or non-healing surface defect as urgent — brachycephalic eyes can worsen quickly.

Dry eye is also common with age. It may help support comfort to ask your veterinarian about tear testing and routine lubrication, rather than guessing with over-the-counter drops.

Teeth and gums decide how well dinner goes

Small mouths crowd teeth. Crowded teeth hold plaque. Plaque hardens, gums recede, and chewing hurts long before an owner sees a loose tooth.

Look for quieter signs: chewing on one side, dropping kibble, preferring wet food overnight, new breath odor, blood on a chew, or a face-shy flinch when you lift the lip. Periodontal disease in dogs outlines how VCA Hospitals stages dental disease and why professional assessment matters once tartar, gum loss or pain appear.

What may help support a senior mouth at home:

A doable dental baseline

• Brush with a soft brush and enzymatic dog toothpaste when your dog accepts it, aiming for the outer upper molars first
• Offer VOHC-accepted chews or diets if chewing is still comfortable, and stop any chew that causes gagging or gum bleeding
• Weigh monthly; slow loss often traces back to mouth pain, not pickiness
• Schedule anesthetic dental care when your veterinarian advises it, with pre-anesthetic bloodwork and a plan for extractions versus monitoring

Daily brushing is ideal. Calm consistency beats perfection.

Coat, skin and nails keep rest possible

A senior Shih Tzu coat mats at the friction points: behind ears, under collar, in armpits, around the hind legs. Mats pull, trap moisture and hide hot spots.

Keep it preventive with a short routine every one to two days. Comb to the skin with a steel comb, then brush. Clean the face folds and around the eyes. Trim sanitary areas to stay dry. Many older apartment dogs do well with a shorter puppy cut that you can maintain between grooming visits every four to six weeks.

That maintenance matters for neighbors too. A dog that can settle without scratching or panting all night is easier to live with in close quarters, which is the same test described in apartment living.

Bathe only as needed with a gentle dog shampoo, rinse well, and dry completely to the skin. Check nails every two to three weeks, since less activity means less natural wear and long nails change gait.

Breathing, weight and joints still count

Joints still deserve support. They just should not crowd out the rest.

Keep weight lean — ribs felt with light pressure — because every extra half-pound loads short legs and worsens breathing. Favor two or three short sniff walks over one long march, with shade and water in heat. Flat-faced seniors overheat faster, so watch for noisy breathing, prolonged panting or needing to sit down mid-block.

Soft bedding, rugs on slick floors, a low ramp to the couch, and a raised food bowl for a stiff neck may help support mobility and rest. Gentle range-of-motion play and veterinarian-guided joint nutrition can fit here, with realistic timelines: comfort over weeks, not overnight change.

Ask about coughing, fainting, blue-tinged gums, or exercise intolerance at the senior visit. Those signs point to heart or airway evaluation, not just age.

Night waking and worry need a plan too

Older Shih Tzus often wake more, pace, or shadow their person. Keep nights boring and predictable: last potty at the same time, dim lights, white noise, a familiar bed near you. Note new confusion, staring, getting stuck, or house-soiling in a previously reliable dog and bring that log to the exam.

If you share the home with cats, protect sleep for everyone with baby gates and separate feeding corners, the same low-conflict setup that helps in homes that already have cats.

Small steps settle shaky nights.

Where this lands for the next month

Pick one eye habit, one mouth habit and one coat habit. Five minutes for eyes and face, a weekly lip lift, a comb-through every other evening. Book the senior baseline if it has been more than a year, and bring notes on appetite, water intake, breathing, sleep and weight.

Long life is the gift of this breed. Clear eyes, a comfortable mouth and a tangle-free coat are how you help an old friend keep enjoying it.