AKC & Int'l CH Pien Ji's Chun Kee Mun Kee	Pien Ji Shih Tzu- Where Type Meets Temperament

All
pups from reputable breeders are sold on spay/neuter contracts unless going to show homes. That is how Pien Ji kids are sold, and if someone is selling pups otherwise, you would be better off looking elsewhere for a reputable breeder. And reputable breeders likely sell pups for less than the others! Sounds like a win-win, doesn't it?

New Puppy Info

Prepared for you

by Charlee Byford
of Pien Ji Shih Tzu

Puppy Food:

I only leave them on puppy food until 4 months- when the rapid growth slows down. I use Royal Canin's Sensible Choice Natural Blend Puppy.

It has no meal and no by-products, and good ingredients. You can find this at Petco. I supplement with brewer's yeast tabs with garlic (you can get them at any pet store- even Walmart carries them) and salmon oil capsules for coat and Omega 3s.

By-products are bad. Meal isn't as bad, but they have to process it at such high heat that it is nutritionally compromised. (What's Really in Pet Food) So if you can find a decent pet food with no meal- bonus! Less poop because they need less because it is more nutritionally dense.

Feed twice (or more) a day if you do not always have food available (I prefer leaving dry always available). Little guys burn energy quickly!

When your pup is older, I like Natural Balance Ultra. It has several protein sources, so you won't get your dog so used to one he can't tolerate others. The ingredients are really good, and dogs that have allergies or hot spots often clear up when put on this food with no other medications or special shampoos at all! My dogs will happily eat it right out of the bag, which is always a big help.

Another food I really like is Wellness 5 Chicken by Mother Hubbard. Places that carry specialty foods can often order this for you even if they don't routinely stock it. My feed store orders it for me- that may be an option for you. Wellness Chicken has de-boned chicken as a first ingredient, and fruits, vegetables, and brown rice. It has no by-products AND NO MEAL. If you want a nice priced but good food that's easier to get, continue with the Authority. It has no by-products. Again- by-products: bad.

Try a capful of vinegar in the water bottle. It is supposed to change the ph of the urine and make it stain less, and it does help cut down on yeast growth, which is what causes reddish or pinkish face staining. They may not care for it at first, but get used to it quickly.

If you travel much, or just prefer a more natural approach to feeding- NRG is a wonderful dehydrated product. My dogs love it, and it is sure convenient to travel with!

A raw food diet is tempting, but it would be hard to make sure they are getting enough of the right minerals and vitamins. That’s why I don’t do it. If you go this route, be sure to use a good vitamin supplement. I would rather see you feed table scraps and vitamins than poor quality dog food, though.

Snacks:

Use a specific word for treats- this can be useful at times. (I use 'bities')

Mine love Old Mother Hubbard puppy biscuits. The ingredients in these are awesome! You can find pet stores that carry these in bulk, and the price becomes much better!

Raw carrots, green beans, bananas, pears, berries and apples (go easy on the apple for breeding bitches- tannin should not be a large part of the diet.)

Be careful with raw foods- Shih Tzu try to swallow anything whole. Make bites small enough to swallow or big enough to require chewing.

Supplements:

Any source of Omega 3s is good. PetSmart and Walmart carry a coat supplement that is Brewer's Yeast, Omega 3s, and garlic. They like it, too. Give this every other day or twice a week.

Salmon oil for coat and skin. Give one capsule every other day or twice a week - use the 'people pills.' I used to use Vitamin E until they started saying that it has detrimental long term effects. Better safe than sorry!

(Mine will take both of these pills from your hand and eat them)

Snuffles:

Teething Shih Tzu often have snotty noses. This almost always clears up when they are through teething. A very few have pinched noses that are problems requiring surgery when adults. After teething is finished, breathing should be free. If not, check back with your Breeder for evaluation. Beware of a vet telling you they need surgery. Many vets don't know Shih Tzu well and are in too big a hurry to do surgery. Waiting hurts nothing. Surgery is risky. Don’t even consider it until they are six months old and through teething.

You can give (if you really feel it is necessary) many cold supplements in Pediatric form- check with your vet to find out which ones are safe. A good vet will tell you which ones to use. Don't use them a lot- loading your pup with meds just isn't a good idea.

Grooming

Bathing

Shots and Worming

Your puppy will have been wormed twice and have his first two shots. You need another combined vaccination at four and six months and rabies at either 5 months or 7 months. Don't give Rabies within one month of the combined vaccination- there is some evidence that they have adverse reaction when given together. Don't use a combined vaccination that includes Leptospirea. Repeat vaccinations yearly, and rabies as local laws call for.

Diarrhea

If your puppy gets diarrhea, give ¼ pill of Metronidazole (Flagyl) twice a day. This will normally clear it up quite quickly. See your vet for this. A friend of mine is on city water, but there seems to be giardia even in the city water supply! Flagyl clears this up quite quickly. If there is vomiting or your pup isn't eating, it’s vet time. If your pup doesn't respond almost immediately to the Flagyl, vet time again. Normally, they have a better stool or don't go for a while after the first dose. SOME PUPPIES GET PARVO EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN INOCULATED! It is a wicked disease. If it does not responds almost immediately to flagyl, suspect parvo, though there are other things that could be the culprit. Parvo needs vet support in the form of IVs. Heads up- vets don’t always go to treating with Flagyl first, for some reason. They will try antibiotics, or choose to forego antibiotics (which parvo doesn’t respond to). If you have gone to a vet and get a negative parvo test- push for flagyl to be administered. I give Flagyl BEFORE testing as 90% of the things that are not Parvo respond to the Flagyl.

If your dog gets diarrhea from your water, administer flagyl, and boil the water or use bottled. If you have been to a dog show, suspect a new thing they call 'dog show crud.' They always have diarrhea, and often vomiting. Crud causes the stomach and intestinal bacteria to grow wildly. Crud DOES NOT respond to Flagyl, but DOES respond to Keflex. BE SURE to tell your vet if you have been at a dog show, and if he doesn't know about crud, tell him to look it up or call a vet that deals with show dogs more.

Emergency Meds Kit

Terramycin antibiotic cream for eye injuries. Use at the first sign of excess tearing. Get this at the dog shows or through KV Vet. I always keep this on hand, and it has saved me from serious eye problems several times.

Pedialyte- use for support if the dog gets diarrhea.

Hi Calorie paste- use for support if the dog gets diarrhea

Metronidazole (Flagyl)- works on diarrhea if not from Parvo. See your vet- ensure it is NOT dog show crud or parvo (be aware that some dogs get parvo even after being innoculated. It is a wicked disease.)

Include normal bandaging supplies, peroxide, Neosporin, betadyne, and vet wrap and you should be ready just in case!