Best Dog Insurance for Shih Tzus

SHIH TZU DOG GROUP – Utility

We have spent some time researching the best dog insurance for Shih Tzus. After looking at the breeds history, health, personality and temperament, we have compiled a list of the best dog insurance policies that may compliment this particular breed.

Overview of the Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu is a sturdy, lively, alert small dog with long flowing double coat. Regal looking, befitting it's Chinese ancestry as a highly valued and prized companion.

Shih Tzu love their people as one would expect from a companion dog, but true to their heritage, they will bark at strange sounds and intruders. It's important to tone down their yappyiness and train them when not to bark. They are courageous and think they are larger than they actually are. Affectionate and loyal, they are a good dog for a first-time owner.

History of the Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu were highly prized for thousands of years by Tibetan monks. They were known to be good companions and watchdogs. Dogs called Tibetan Lion Dogs were sent to Chinese Emperors as gifts. It is possible that these little dogs may have been crossed with short faced Chinese breeds which includes the Pekinese and the Chinese Pug.

The Chinese Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi set about establishing a successful breeding programme and this is possibly why the breed is recognised as originating in China rather than Tibet. Their name Shih Tzu translated to English from Mandarin, means Little Lion.  A few dogs did arrive in Europe before the First World War and they also arrived in Britain in 1928 when Lady Brownrigg, wife of a Quarter Master General to China bought two Shih Tzus back with her.

Gay Garforth-Bles was to become one of the main people to develop and promote Shih Tzus as they are today throughout England, and around the world. In 1949, the Shih Tzu was recognised as a breed by The Kennel Club.

How big is a Shih Tzu?

The Shih Tzu are small sized dogs. Males generally reach a height of 20-28 CM and weigh around 4-7.2 Kg. Females are normally a bit smaller.

Health of the Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu is a purebred dog and being a small breed live for anywhere between 13 - 16 years. They are known as a brachycephalic breed (they are bred with a short snout) which can give rise to some issues, although there are no serious widespread problems.

Common Shih Tzu illnesses

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) – this can cause severe breathing problems and is caused by their shorter faces. This is more prevalent among BOAS breeds than some other illnesses.

These symptoms include:

1. Noisy breathing and/or snoring. Often brachycephalic dogs will breathe through their mouths most of the time as breathing through the nose is too difficult.
2. Inability or disinterest in exercise. This is due to them being unable to take insufficient oxygen and therefore it requires more stamina to help them cool down and breathe.
3. Overheating. The nasal cavity plays an important role in a dog’s temperature regulation and so dogs with BOAS struggle to maintain the correct body temperature in hot weather.
4. Collapse or ‘fainting’. The dog may collapse or faint, caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the brain. This is often exacerbated by exercise or hot weather. In severe cases, these collapses can lead to death.

Hernias - The two most common types of hernia found in the Shih Tzu are Inguial or Umbilical. A hernia is a protrusion of body tissue, fat or even organ, through an abnormal opening in the tissue area. In most cases the hernia can be moved back into place. The situation becomes serious if it can't be pushed back as there is a danger of the blood supply being cut off and immediate veterinary intervention will be required.

The most common type is the umbilical hernia and is fairly common in Shih Tzu's. This is caused by the umbilical ring not being completely closed and whilst inherited influence, is possible, it's mainly thought that the issue is caused by the chord being severed too close to the abdominal wall at birth. Most hernias will disappear as a dog grows, however surgery can cost anywhere from £500 - £2,500 depending on the severity. It is something to bear in mind as some Insurers will not cover Umbilical hernias.

Dry eye - This is simply where the tear glands don't produce enough fluid to keep the eye sufficiently lubricated. It is an extremely common condition in lots of dogs and is easily treated, however if left it can lead to serious infection and ultimately blindness.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) - This is a degenerative and incurable disease. The retina may start to decline from about the age of 6, and ultimately leads to complete blindness. Some instances of PRA have been reported in Shih Tzu's but it certainly not widespread in the breed.

Allergies and Skin Conditions - The Shih Tzu breed can be sensitive to allergy's that normally present themselves as itchy skin, a rash, or dermatitis. These can be treated with special shampoo's or diet, but it important that you check your dog on a regular basis.

Hypothyroidism - This is quite common in Shih Tzu's and is caused by the thyroid gland not producing enough hormone called thyroxine. This hormone controls the dog's metabolism. Symptoms are loss of hair, or a thin dull coat, weight gain and overall lethargy. The treatment is an oral medication, which will need to be taken for the rest of the dogs life and can cost upwards of £30 per month.

Bladder stones - There are several different types of bladders stones Struvite, more common in bitches and Oxalate more common in males. The symptoms are difficulty in passing urine or blood in the urine. This condition can be treated with a special diet. Some Insurers will cover the full amount of this treatment, some only 40% and some won't cover it at all.

Personality and Temperament of the Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu learn quickly if motivated. To keep their attention, keep training sessions short and fun, as the Shih Tzu will become bored if made to repeat the same thing too many times. As adorable as this breed is, it's important to start training as early as possible.

Shih Tzu are people dogs, they don’t like to be left alone. Not a good dog if out working all day and can be noisy and have a big bark for a small dog. This makes them good watchdogs but not guard dogs, something to consider if living in an apartment.

The Shih Tzu is clever, lively, and courageous to the point of rashness and can be stubborn. They have a reputation for being entertaining, loving, and fearless, but what they want most is to cuddle with their family. For many owners, this characteristic outweighs having to deal with the breed's insistence, on sometimes ignoring instructions. They love to come on the sofa for a cuddle

Caring for your Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu needs about 30 mins a day exercise (two lots of 15 minutes) and will also be happy with play at home sometimes if you are short of time or working from home.

Shih Tzu have fine silky hair that should be brushed every day to prevent mats from forming, especially around their elbows and ears.  The typical fine, and silky Shih Tzu coat has also been listed by many popular dog information websites, as being hypoallergenic.  But this questioned by some experts in allergies. In comparison with many other breeds, Shih Tzu do not usually shed to the same amount of hair as some other breeds.

 Feeding your Shih Tzu

There are many suitable brands of dog feed on the market, most supply feeding guides. The quality of ingredients is very important to your dogs health. A company like AATU who provide super premium food for dogs and cats, contain a minimum of 80% single source meat protein (80/20 diet), designed in this country by nutrition experts. Use the code HELLO10 to save 10% on their products when you make your first order.  

The Shih Tzu with other pets and children.

Shih Tzu get on with other pets if introduced when young. They don’t like to be alone so many owners have two Shih Tzu dogs. Be aware two dogs barking may cause you extra stress if not trained properly. They are companion dogs so usually like everyone, including other pets, but like all dogs need careful introduction.

If raised with children and socialised from a young age a Shih Tzu will be happy with children in its own family. They love children large or small. Children should be taught to respect these small dogs, as they may be hurt in boisterous play.  So, playtime should be supervised. Most problems arise from poor socialisation and boredom, so include children in a training regime.

The Best Dog Insurance for a Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu lifespan is around 13 to 16 years, although some can live much longer. (The oldest recorded age being 29 years) Heart failure is a leading cause of death in older Shih Tzus.

When choosing dog insurance for your Shih Tzu, pay special attention to the age at which an Insurer will either no longer quote. A pedigree Shih Tzus can cost up to £2,000, especially if they are Kennel Club registered, so it's important you choose an Insurer that will provide a death benefit of at least this amount.

This make finding the right dog insurance now, even more important, because if you make the wrong choice and have to change Insurers midway through your dogs life, certain conditions may be excluded by any new Insurer. To help you understand more about Dog Insurance, we have produced a comprehensive guide to pet insurance.

It is also key to ensure you really understand Dog Insurance, what is and isn't covered, the policy conditions and requirements. You can find out all this information by reading our Pet Insurance Reviews.

Many Dog Insurers require a co-payment once your dog reaches the age between 6 and 8, and is something you should bear in mind when choosing a policy.

How much does the cost of Insurance increase as your Shih Tzu gets older?

The most popular complaint about dog insurance is that the renewal premium increases every year.

Aside from claims experience and increased vet costs, the primary reason for a hike in the renewal premium is an increase in the age of your dog. Just like humans, the older they become, the more likely they are to suffer a medical condition. Dog Insurers must factor this in when calculating premiums and as a result the costs of dog insurance goes up every year.

To give you an idea of the increase in costs you can expect over the life time of your shih tzu, we have created a graph showing the average premiums across the whole dog insurance market for ages 1 - 15. This is based on a lifetime policy (which is the most expensive dog insurance policy you can buy) with a vet fees limit of at least £5,000.

The biggest jumps in cost are when your Shih Tzu reaches 6 or 7 (entering middle age) and again at 9 or 10 (entering old age).

What is the difference in cost between individual covers?

The cheapest type of dog insurance is accidental only cover, which as the name suggests only covers your dog against accidents.

The three main types of dog insurance are Time Limited or 12 months policies, maximum benefit and lifetime policies. Time limited policies cover individual conditions up to a certain amount, but any claim is limited to 12 months, either from the date is was first noticed, or the date it was first treated depending on the policy. This is fine if the condition or injury is short term and can be treated within a 12 month period.

Next, the Maximum Benefit policy. Some maximum benefit policies cover per condition and some set an overall maximum limit. The difference is that the maximum benefit policy is not tied to 12 months. As long as you don't exceed the set limit, any claim can be treated for as long as required.

Finally and generally the most expensive policy is the lifetime policy. Again some lifetime policies cover per condition and some set an overall limit. The difference between this type of policy and the maximum benefit policy, is the cover is rolled over and reinstated upon renewal. So if your dog has a long term or lifetime condition, this policy would cover it.

We have illustrated the difference in premium between the three types of policy in the graph below. The results how the average premium across the whole market for a 5 year old male Shih Tzu with a minimum of £2,000 vet fees.

Which are the best dog insurance policies for Shih Tzu's?

We have carried out careful research on the whole of the pet insurance market (not just those listed on comparison sites), to present some the best dog insurance policies for the Shih Tzu breed of dog. (Note that these are not specific recommendations, as we do not have your exact details. Whilst they hopefully point you in the right direct, you should carry out your own research before deciding on a pet insurance policy).

The search criteria was for a pedigree Shih Tzu, costing £1,000, residing in the home counties area. Quotes were based on a one year old, a six year old and a ten year old male and showed the best policies that we rated 3 stars or higher.

Please note that these are specific recommendations, as we do not know your