"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." ... Will Rogers
Our objective is to "Share the Happiness", by bringing you healthy, happy, bundles of love with the AKC Shih Tzu Breed Standard in mind at all times.
We offer a 5 year written guarantee against congenital or genetic defects which would prevent your puppy from living a long healthy life...in the event of an affected puppy, we will replace him/her with another puppy. We will require that all pertinent medical and supportive data be supplied to us in an effort to identify the breeding pair or individual dog responsible for the defect. To facilitate this, we will require confirmation of the diagnosis..ie. necropsy. We make every effort to provide healthy, long lived puppies, so no one has to endure the heartbreak of loosing their beloved pet. We all need to understand, however, that hereditary and congenital defects can (and do) occur...
We are proud of the fact that, so far, we have NEVER had to replace a puppy. (5/08)
Health Concerns
Umbilical hernias and tight/pinched nostrils are relatively common in the Shih Tzu...it is our experience that the swelling caused by teething in the brachycephalic breeds is frequently diagnosed by veterinarians as stenotic nares ...the condition is almost always outgrown by 6 months of age without veterinary intervention. Umbilical (not inguinal) hernias are of little consequence...if you are concerned about these "imperfections", please ask if the puppy you are interested in is affected...umbilical hernias can usually be detected by two to three weeks of age...tight nostrils may not be evident until 4-6 weeks when the puppy starts teething. If our veterinarian feels surgery is necessary to correct either problem, we will use our discretion and do what we feel is appropriate for the puppy. We do not feel that the risk from anesthesia warrants surgery that is deemed unnecessary.
Shih Tzu, like many of the toy breeds, are susceptible to hypoglycemia and coccidia caused by the stress associated with separation and travel. The importance of making sure a puppy eats (especially during the first 24 hours after transfer) cannot be emphasized enough. It is imperative that the puppy be made to feel safe and secure during this difficult time. Lots of holding, comforting and loving are a must. If the puppy should refuse to eat or shows signs of depression, please contact us immediately.
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We are in the process of testing our adult dogs for the GENE that causes Renal Dysplasia in Shih Tzu. This DNA test is only done by DOGENES in Canada Please visit their website at www.dogenes.com for more information. Thank you for all your hard work in finding this gene, Dr. Whiteley!
The DNA testing done by AKC is for identification purposes only…be wary of breeders "implying" their dogs are DNA tested "healthy" by AKC.
