Shih Tzu Care in Kerala: Heat, Eyes, Coat, Grooming Price, Training and Boarding

The Shih Tzu is a brachycephalic, or flat-faced, breed. Cornell University's Riney Canine Health Center lists the Shih Tzu among breeds affected by brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), in which the shape of the skull and upper airway restricts airflow. Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting, so a restricted airway makes heat harder to shed.

In a 2020 study of more than 900,000 UK dogs under veterinary care, published in Scientific Reports, brachycephalic dogs had about twice the odds of heat-related illness (odds ratio 2.10) compared with dogs with medium-length muzzles. The study did not find the Shih Tzu itself at significantly higher risk than the reference breed, but the flat-face finding and Kerala's combination of heat and humidity are reasons enough for caution.

A Kerala heat plan for a Shih Tzu:

• •Walk only in the early morning or after sunset, and keep walks short and gentle.
• •Keep your dog indoors through the hottest part of the day, in the coolest room.
• •Have a plan for power cuts in a flat: a battery fan, a cool tiled floor, or a neighbour's or relative's cooler room.
• •Never leave a Shih Tzu in a parked car, even with the windows down.
• •Keep the coat short in summer, but not shaved to the skin.
• •Use a harness instead of a neck collar, as Cornell advises for BOAS-prone dogs.
• •Keep your dog lean. Cornell lists a healthy weight as a key part of managing BOAS.

Watch for noisy breathing, snoring or snorting that is getting worse, and tiring easily on short walks. These are signs of BOAS worth discussing with your vet. Heavy panting that does not settle, drooling, a bright red or bluish tongue, wobbliness, vomiting or collapse are emergency signs of heatstroke: go to a vet now.

Shih Tzus have large, prominent eyes and hair that grows towards them, and eye problems are common. A 2017 VetCompass study of over 100,000 dogs in England found corneal ulcers in 3.45% of Shih Tzus, with about ten times the odds of crossbred dogs. A 2024 study of Shih Tzus in UK veterinary care found eye disorders in 11.9% of the breed, the third most common group of problems, and noted that eye problems became more common with age.

The daily routine:

• •Wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft cloth or cotton pad dampened with clean water, using a fresh one for each eye.
• •Keep the hair around the eyes trimmed short, or tie the head hair into a topknot with a soft band, so it does not poke the eyes.
• •Wipe the muzzle and the fold above the nose after meals, and dry it. Food and moisture trapped there can cause soreness and smell.
• •Look at both eyes in good light: they should be clear, bright and equally open.

See your vet the same day if your Shih Tzu squints, keeps one eye closed, paws at the face, or has a cloudy, red or bulging eye or sudden thick discharge. Corneal ulcers can get worse quickly. Brown tear staining on its own is common in the breed, but ask your vet to check the tear ducts if it suddenly increases. Ask your vet for an eye check at every annual visit, especially as your dog gets older.

Small mouths crowd the teeth. In the 2024 UK Shih Tzu study, periodontal (gum) disease was the single most common diagnosis, recorded in 9.5% of the dogs, and retained baby teeth were common in young dogs. Brush your Shih Tzu's teeth with a dog toothpaste several times a week, start while your dog is a puppy, and ask your vet to check the mouth at every visit, especially if your puppy still has baby teeth at around six months.

The ear canals of a Shih Tzu are hairy and the ears hang down, so check them weekly for smell, redness or discharge, and keep water out during baths. Ear infections need a vet's diagnosis rather than drops from a pet shop.

A Shih Tzu's coat keeps growing and holds loose hair rather than dropping it. In Kerala's humidity that trapped hair felts into mats quickly, usually behind the ears, in the armpits, between the back legs and around the rear. A matted coat holds moisture against the skin, which is how itchy, smelly skin problems start.

You have two practical choices:

• •Keep a longer coat and brush it right down to the skin every day with a slicker brush, then check it with a comb. This looks lovely but is hard to maintain in Kerala.
• •Keep a short puppy cut or teddy bear cut, about 2 to 5 cm long. Most Trivandrum owners find this far easier, and the coat dries faster after baths and rain. It still needs brushing every day or two.

Whichever you choose, ask for a sanitary trim so urine and faeces do not cling to the rear, and a paw trim so the feet dry quickly in the monsoon. Bathe about every two to four weeks with a dog shampoo, always after brushing, and dry the coat completely, right to the skin. Our step-by-step home bath guide explains the drying routine in detail.

As a guide, book a professional groom every four to six weeks for a longer coat, or every six to eight weeks for a short puppy cut, with brushing and eye care at home in between.

Neolokam grooms at your home in Trivandrum with a two-person team. Travel, all products and equipment are included; you provide accessible water, one bucket and a safe, raised, non-slip area. Prices for a Shih Tzu, all plus 18% GST:

• •Regular complete groom: ₹1,700 (₹2,006 including GST). Brushing and combing, shampoo bath, blow-dry, nail cutting, ear cleaning, hygiene and paw-pad trimming, and scissor shaping of the head, face, belly and tail. This covers a puppy cut or teddy bear cut.
• •Full shave, for a coat matted to the skin: ₹2,000 (₹2,360 including GST). Shaving out severe mats is often kinder than hours of painful dematting.
• •Medicated bath for a skin problem: ₹2,200 (₹2,596 including GST).
• •Reactive dog: ₹2,000, subject to safety suitability.

Send a recent coat photo on WhatsApp so the team can confirm the category, and treat ticks with a vet-recommended product before the visit. Standalone grooming is done at your home only, not at the boarding farm.

Shih Tzus were bred as companion dogs. They are usually friendly and keen to be with their people, which helps training, but they respond poorly to pressure and can switch off if sessions are long or repetitive.

• •Keep sessions to five minutes, two or three times a day, and end while your dog is still keen.
• •Use small, soft food rewards and praise. Count training treats as part of the daily food so your dog stays lean.
• •For house-training, take your puppy out after every meal, nap and play session, and reward immediately outdoors. Accidents are normal for weeks; clean them without scolding.
• •Teach a reliable recall, sit, wait at the door and a calm response to handling of the face, paws and ears. Handling practice makes grooming and vet visits much easier.
• •Socialise gently with calm dogs and new people while your puppy is young, following your vet's advice on vaccination timing.
• •Walk on a harness, never by yanking a neck collar.

If your Shih Tzu barks a lot, guards food or toys, or snaps during handling, ask a trainer for help early. Neolokam's dog training in Trivandrum starts with an assessment of your dog; ask the team about the options.

Neolokam is a dogs-only, cage-free boarding farm on 1.5 acres east of Trivandrum city, towards Kattakada, with trees, shade, open ground and three dedicated staff on site providing 24/7 human care. Dogs are grouped by temperament after a mandatory trial visit, so a small Shih Tzu is not simply put in with large, boisterous dogs.

Boarding requirements are a trial visit and temperament assessment; up-to-date rabies and core vaccinations with the record; current tick and parasite prevention as advised by your vet; and dogs must be comfortable around other dogs.

What to tell the team about your Shih Tzu:

• •Any snoring, noisy breathing or past heat trouble.
• •Eye drops or other medicines, with written instructions from your vet.
• •Food: Neolokam serves home-cooked meals, or you can leave your dog's own dry food to keep the diet unchanged.
• •Coat care preferences. Dogs already boarding can be groomed during their stay; ask the team.

Long-term boarding is ₹444 per day plus GST at the standard rate, or ₹555 per day for additional care, and the 3-Day Dog Village Vacation is ₹5,555 plus GST with meals, grooming, home pickup and drop, and videos. You receive daily photo or video updates.

• •Daily: wipe both eyes, check they look clear, brush the coat, wipe and dry the muzzle.
• •Several times a week: brush the teeth with dog toothpaste.
• •Weekly: check ears, paws and under the tail; check for ticks after walks.
• •Every two to four weeks: a bath with dog shampoo, dried completely.
• •Every four to eight weeks: a professional groom with face, paw and sanitary trim.
• •Every day in summer: walks only early morning or after sunset, indoor rest at midday, a cool spot for power cuts.
• •Always: a harness, a lean body shape, and fresh water.
• •Every year: a vet check including eyes, teeth and weight, plus vaccinations as advised.
• •Go to a vet now for heavy panting that will not settle, collapse, a bluish tongue, or a painful, cloudy or closed eye.