Can Shih Tzu drink tap water

Can Shih Tzus Swim: The Complete Shih Tzu Water Guide

I receive a lot of questions from owners about whether or not Shih Tzus can swim and whether its safe for them to be in the water.

Its a great question with some very important answers. As this is commonly asked Ill explain everything you need to know about Shih Tzus and water.

Ill also provide some guidance on getting your Shih Tzu to be comfortable and safe in the water should they want to go for a swim!

Can Shih Tzus Swim?

Shih Tzus can swim, thats for sure. But there are crucial things owners need to know first.

Shih Tzus, like most dog breeds, have the physical ability to swim.

However, due to their distinct physical characteristics short legs, dense coat, and brachycephalic (flat) face swimming can pose certain challenges for them.

Due to their natural disadvantage at staying afloat, this can cause obvious risks owners need to be aware of.

Are Shih Tzus Natural Swimmers?

Unlike breeds like Labrador Retrievers or Golden Retrievers, Shih Tzus are not natural swimmers.

Their short legs and compact bodies make it more difficult for them to stay afloat. But hey, they make up for that with their cuteness!

In addition, their flat faces make it challenging to keep their nose and mouth above water.

Remember, each Shih Tzu is unique, and while some may take to water like a duck, others might be more apprehensive or struggle with swimming.

Its always best to proceed with caution.

Is It Safe for Shih Tzus to Swim?

It can be safe for Shih Tzus to swim, but precautions are necessary.

Due to their physical characteristics, Shih Tzus can tire quickly in the water and are at risk of inhaling water due to their flat faces.

As per the guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), its crucial to keep a close eye on your Shih Tzu while they are in the water and to never leave them unattended.

A life jacket specifically designed for dogs can provide an extra layer of safety and is always recommended for Shih Tzus.

Can Shih Tzus Enjoy Water Activities?

Absolutely! Many Shih Tzus enjoy playing in shallow water.

A kiddie pool or a shallow beach can be a great place for your Shih Tzu to cool off and have fun.

Remember to introduce your Shih Tzu to water gradually and in a controlled environment.

Allow them to explore at their own pace and never force them into the water if they seem scared or uncomfortable.

While owners can build a positive association betweeen their Shih Tzu and water, some will be more scared than others and take a lot longer to be comfortable. This is something owners must accept and be accommodating with.

When Can Shih Tzus Start to Swim?

Shih Tzus can be introduced to water at a young age. However, its important to do it gradually and under close supervision.

As Shih Tzus are so small, the level of water you can introduce them to will need to be very shallow, at least at first.

What age can Shih Tzus start swimming? For safety reasons its best to wait until your Shih Tzu is at least 6 months before trying to get them to swim.

Make sure the water is shallow and the environment is safe. Puppies, like children, can quickly get into dangerous situations around water, so constant vigilance is necessary.

Tips for Introducing Your Shih Tzu to Water

Introducing your Shih Tzu to water can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it requires patience, care, and attention to detail.

Whether its their first time or theyve been hesitant in the past, here are detailed tips to help your Shih Tzu become more comfortable around water:

• Create a Calm Environment: Start in a quiet, familiar environment where your Shih Tzu feels safe. This could be a kiddie pool in your backyard or even your bathroom. Avoid noisy or crowded places that might stress your dog.
• Gradual Introduction: Start by letting your Shih Tzu explore the area around the water. Let them get used to the sounds and smells. Gradually encourage them to get closer to the water, but always let them move at their own pace.
• Use Positive Reinforcement: Praise your Shih Tzu for every small achievement. If they step into the water, give them a treat or their favorite toy. This will create positive associations with the water.
• Join Them: If possible, get into the water with your Shih Tzu. Your presence can reassure them and make them feel more secure.
• Keep Sessions Short: Keep initial sessions brief to avoid overwhelming your Shih Tzu. Over time, as their confidence grows, you can gradually extend these sessions.
• Invest in a Dog Life Jacket: A dog life jacket can provide your Shih Tzu with extra buoyancy and make them feel more comfortable in the water. Ensure it fits correctly and gives them full movement.
• Teach Them to Enter and Exit Safely: Make sure your Shih Tzu knows how to get in and out of the water safely. This is particularly important if youre introducing them to a pool.
• Dry Them Properly After Each Session: Shih Tzus have a dense coat that can retain water, leading to potential skin issues. Make sure to dry them thoroughly after each swimming session, paying particular attention to their ears to prevent infections.
• Monitor Their Reaction: Always observe your Shih Tzus behavior around water. If they seem scared or anxious, dont push them. It may take time, but with patience and positive reinforcement, many Shih Tzus can learn to enjoy water.

Remember, not all Shih Tzus will love water, and thats okay. The goal is to ensure theyre comfortable around it, even if they dont turn into avid swimmers.

As the RSPCA advises, its always essential to respect your dogs boundaries and never force them into situations where they feel uncomfortable.

Potential Health Concerns

Water activities can pose certain health risks for Shih Tzus. As mentioned earlier, they can quickly tire in the water and are at risk of inhaling water due to their flat faces. Hypothermia can also be a concern if theyre in cold water for too long.

Maintaining your Shih Tzus health is of paramount importance, and consistent veterinary visits are essential for this purpose.

The VCA Hospitals emphasize the need for vigilant observation of your Shih Tzu both during and post-swimming to identify any indications of discomfort or abnormal behavior promptly.

Here are some potential health concerns:

• Ear Infections: Shih Tzus are prone to ear infections, and water in the ears can exacerbate this issue. Always dry your Shih Tzus ears thoroughly after swimming. If you notice any signs of an infection, such as redness, swelling, or a bad smell, consult your vet.
• Skin Issues: The Shih Tzus dense coat can retain moisture, which can lead to skin issues like hot spots. Make sure to dry your dog thoroughly after swimming, and regularly check their skin and coat for any problems.
• Water Intoxication: This is a serious but rare condition that can occur if a dog ingests too much water. Symptoms include lethargy, bloating, vomiting, and loss of coordination. If you notice any of these signs, seek immediate veterinary attention.

Expert Opinions on Shih Tzus and Swimming

Experts generally agree that while Shih Tzus can swim, its not an activity that comes naturally to them, and they should always be closely supervised around water. According to Dr. Jerry Klein, the AKCs Chief Veterinary Officer, Its crucial to introduce Shih Tzus to water gradually and to always prioritize their safety and comfort.

In Conclusion

While Shih Tzus are not natural swimmers, they can certainly enjoy water activities with the right precautions.

Always supervise your Shih Tzu around water, and consider investing in a doggy life jacket. Remember, each Shih Tzu is unique and may react differently to water.

Always respect your dogs comfort level and never force them to swim if theyre not willing.

With patience, positive reinforcement, and a focus on safety, you and your Shih Tzu can enjoy plenty of fun and refreshing times around water.

As always, when in doubt, consult with your vet or a professional dog trainer. The ultimate goal is to ensure the health and happiness of your furry friend!

Disclaimer

Before making any decisions that could affect the health and/or safety of your dog, you should always consult a trained veterinarian in your local area. Even though this content may have been written/reviewed by a trained veterinarian, our advice to you is to always consult your own local veterinarian in person. Please read our full dislcaimer if you have any questions.

A Dog Water Bottle is Just What the Doctor Ordered?

A Dog Water Bottle is Just What the Doctor Ordered?

By Janice Jones |Last updated 07-14-2021

Do they actually drink out of those water bottles? a puppy buyer recently asked me during a visit to my home.

Shewas referring to a water bar of sorts that lines one of my frontwindows.

While my canine bar is not likely to be featured in the latesthome dcor magazine, it serves the purpose.

Why use water bottles instead of water bowls?

Oneof the nicest features of the Shih Tzu breed is their facealmost humanlike, a puppy buyer once told me.

Human?

Maybe not, but theirchrysanthemum face is adorable--long whiskers and a beard, roundlytrimmed to resemble a flower.

But those long whiskers and beards canget very wet with each drink of water.

Now, who has time to pull outthe blow dryer each time their dogs takes a drink of water?

Dog Water Bottle Bar

Many Shih Tzu dogs have figured out how to drink with their tongues,but some of my dogs decided the only way to get a good drink is tosubmerge their entire head in the bowl. What resulted was a wet dogface.

On a hot summer day, that wetness probably felt good to them, butthose kinds of wet faces insisted on giving me wet kisses. Uck!

Worsethan a wet face was a perpetual blob of hair that began to radiate an odorthat resembled mold. They had developed a fungal infection that wasnteasy to treat. Their white hair turned a lovely shade of red-brown thatdidnt wash out in the bathtub.

Personally I prefer white hair on awhite haired dog. I needed a quick solution. That is when I discoveredwater bottles.

Do you have one of these underwater slurpers?

If so, read on.

A dog water bottle may be your best investment.

How do water bottles work?

Justlooking at a dog water bottle, one might assume that it drips all the time,but luckily that is not the case. Each bottle has a vacuum valve.Whether you use a plastic or a glass bottle, they all feature a metaldrinking tube with one or more metal ball bearings inside.

The vacuumforms in the sealed bottle because the little metal ball allows a filmof water to remain on the ball and the end of the tube. The small ballserves as the opening and closing of the metal straw.

My Personal Recommendation

Two little balls inside the tube will keepthe bottle from dripping at all.

However, my experience has taught methat my Shih Tzu dogs have to work too hard to get the water out andwill not use the bottles with two balls.

Take one of the balls out, andthey begin to enjoy a clean fresh drink.

Two balls would work great if you have a big dog. (Yes, even my big bulldog loves to drink from the bottle)

When the dog licks the ball, the water runs and the dog drinks.When the Shih Tzu stops drinking, the small ball settles back in placeand the valve closes.

You can see a droplet of water at the end ofthe tub after the dog leaves, but that does not mean that the bottle isleaking. Rather, the bottle is re-establishing the vacuum.

This Shih Tzu puppy has learned to drink from a water bottle by the age of eight weeks.

Setting Up the Dog Water Bottle

There is a trick to setting up the bottleso it does not leak. You can mount it to any stationary surface thatallows you to use the metal brackets that come with the bottle.

1. Fillthe bottle to the brim so there is little or no room for air.
2. Replacethe seal and tap the ball a couple of time to remove any water.
3. Tappinghelps equalize the vacuum pressure.
4. Place the bottle at the height of your dogs mouth so they dont need to work too hard to get the water.

An added benefit of having your dog drink from the water bottle is that you can serve him water when you are out and about without having to pack the messy water bowl.

Purchasing a Dog Water Bottle

Many bottles are available online and off, but the ones listed below by this manufacturer are the ones I recommend if you have something to attach them to such as a crate.

They come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes.

A 16-ounce bottle is fine if you have one dog, but if you have more than one, I recommend getting at least a 32-ounce bottle.

The ones listed below can be purchased directly from Amazon.

Stand Alone Water Bottles

Finding a water bottle that comes with a stand is idea because you won't need to worry about attaching it to a crate, a gate, or an X-pen. These are very versatile and can be placed in any room. They're about the right height for a puppy or smaller dog and they rarely drip. Even if they do, the water goes directly into the base bowl.

What I Love:

• Easy to assemble, fill
• Just the right size for a Shih Tzu
• It comes with a non slip base
• You can choose how fast the water flows by adding or removing the stainless steel balls
• Sturdier than other similar products

What I don't like:

The bottle is very small so I need to fill it up frequently.

What I like:

• Easy to assemble
• Adjustable
• Easy to fill

What I didn't like

• Maybe a little too colorful
• Small bottle

Trouble Shoot Leaky Dog Water Bottles

Some brands are better than others.

The bottle cap must have a rubber gasket. If it is missing or damaged, the water will continually pour out.

Theremust be a vacuum seal, so be sure to fill the bottle to the rim,allowing little or no air to remain. Tap a couple of times to removeany excess air.

Place the bottle vertically in the metal brackets and tap a couple of more times to remove any more air.

Dispelling Myths Surrounding Dog Water Bottles

The dogs wont get enough to drink.Mydogs actually drink more out of the bottle because the water tastesfresher and clean. Tastes? Yes dogs, unlike humans, are one of thosespecies that can taste water. Most dogs would choose clean over dirtywater when given a chance.

The dog wont drink from a tube.Giveit a try. My dogs were reluctant at first too. I put the bottle inplace and introduced it to the dog. I encouraged the dog to sniff. Ofcourse it had my scent all over the bottle. I then tapped the ball anddemonstrated how the water came out. They licked the water from myfingers. We did that several times a day while still allowing them todrink from the bowl. Eventually all the dogs began to try it out. Istill use containers where the bottles are impractical, but most preferto drink from the bottle.

How to Clean a Dog Water Bottle

According to the Lixit website,(did I mention that was my favorite brand), plastic bottlescan be hand washed in soapy water and rinsed well. A bottle brush can beused to remove any slime build up.

Lixit recommends that you clean your bottle weekly.

Youcan disinfect the bottle and tubing with bleach, the same way that acommercial facility might do. Use a ratio of 10 parts water to one partbleach and submerge for at least 10 seconds.

Air dry thoroughly before using.

Thereare other types of disinfectants, but bleach is easy and readilyavailable.

Disinfecting is an added precaution against germs, but hotsoapy water, followed by a hot rinse and air dry will kill mosthousehold germs.

Additional Tips

• Use cool water and replace daily
• Use a small bottle brush to scrub inside the bottle and rinse out the metal tube daily.
• I try to have an extra bottle handy that can be cleaned and allowed to air dry between uses.
• If you use on a crate or x-pen, the bottle may drip if the dog moves or shakes the enclosure.
• If you are worried, place a shallow pan under the bottle to catch any small drips, if desired.

If You Found This Article on Dog Water Bottles Helpful

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About Janice

Janice is the voice behind Miracle Shih Tzu. Having lived with dogs and cats most of her life, she served as a veterinary technician for ten years in Maryland and twelve years as a Shih Tzu dog breeder in Ohio.

Her education includes undergraduate degrees in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a master's in Mental Health Counseling.

She is a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Her favorite breed for over 50 years has been the Shih Tzu.

When not writing, reading, or researching dog-related topics, she likes to spend time with her eight Shih Tzu dogs, her husband, and her family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Small Dog Place and smart knit crocheting.