Shih Tzu Puppies for Sale: Health Checks to Request Before Buying

Before buying any Shih Tzu puppy for sale, ask to see records or clearances for four things: a recent veterinary health check, screening for kidney disease (renal dysplasia), an eye examination, and confirmation the puppy is breathing normally with no signs of airway obstruction. The Shih Tzu is a comparatively long-lived, robust small breed, but it's brachycephalic — flat-faced — which makes a handful of specific checks more important than they'd be for most other toy breeds. At The Barking Babies, every Shih Tzu puppy we place comes with health documentation and lifetime support, since the questions that matter most for this breed often surface months after you buy.

Why Health Checks Matter More for This Breed

Shih Tzus are genuinely durable dogs — a 2024 Royal Veterinary College VetCompass study of 11,082 UK Shih Tzus found a median age at death of 12.7 years, describing the breed's overall health as "surprisingly good" for a purebred. That's reassuring context, but it doesn't mean every shih tzu for sale listing is equally sound. The same research identified specific, predictable risk areas — and a responsible seller should be able to speak to all of them before you buy.

The Four Checks Worth Asking About

1. A general veterinary health check. Ask for proof the puppy has had at least one veterinary examination, alongside an age-appropriate vaccination and deworming record. This is the baseline, not the whole picture — but a seller who can't produce it shouldn't be trusted with the rest.

2. Kidney screening for renal dysplasia. Shih Tzus are predisposed to a congenital kidney condition that shows up in young dogs. This is one of the more serious inherited risks in the breed, and it's a reason to buy specifically from a source that screens parent dogs and can show you records, rather than one that can't answer the question.

3. An eye examination. The breed's shallow eye sockets bring a real risk of dry eye, corneal ulcers and, after trauma, proptosis. A basic eye check on the puppy — and ideally on the parents — is a reasonable thing to request before you commit.

4. Airway and breathing assessment. Because the Shih Tzu is brachycephalic, it cannot cool itself by panting as efficiently as a longer-nosed dog. Ask the seller directly whether the puppy shows any noisy breathing, snoring while awake, or struggles after mild activity. None of this disqualifies the breed — it's manageable with the right routine — but it should be disclosed, not discovered later.

Health Issues to Keep Watching for After You Buy

Even with clean checks at purchase, three conditions are worth monitoring through the dog's life: periodontal disease, the single most common disorder found in the VetCompass study at 9.5% prevalence, which a daily tooth-brushing routine directly addresses; mitral valve disease, the leading cardiac risk, best caught early through an annual stethoscope check; and patellar luxation and intervertebral disc disease, both joint and spine issues worth mentioning at routine visits rather than waiting for obvious lameness.

Questions to Ask Any Shih Tzu Seller

• Can I see health records for both parent dogs, not just the puppy?
• Has this puppy or its parents been screened for kidney or eye conditions?
• Can I meet the puppy — and ideally the mother — in person before paying?
• What support do you provide after I take the puppy home?

A seller who answers these clearly and without pressure to decide immediately is a far better sign than a listing with the lowest price. Genuinely health-screened Shih Tzu puppies for sale in Delhi NCR are not the cheapest option in the toy-breed market, and prices well below that range are the clearest warning sign of skipped screening.

Frequently Asked Questions

What health tests should Shih Tzu parent dogs have?

Kidney screening for renal dysplasia, an eye examination, and a general veterinary health check are the three most relevant before buying, given the breed's known predispositions.

Is a Shih Tzu a healthy breed overall?

Yes, comparatively. Large-scale UK data puts median lifespan at 12.7 years, which is long for a purebred dog, though the breed's flat face and a handful of inherited conditions still warrant specific checks.

How do I know if a Shih Tzu puppy has breathing problems?

Watch and ask about noisy breathing, snoring while awake, or laboured breathing after mild play — any of these should be disclosed by the seller before you buy, not discovered afterward.

Where can I find health-screened Shih Tzu puppies in Delhi?

Look for a source willing to show documentation for both parent dogs and answer specific health questions directly, rather than one offering only price and availability.

Buy With Confidence at the Barking Babies

At The Barking Babies, we've placed puppies with over 15,000 Indian families since 2001, and health questions are exactly what we expect and welcome before any Shih Tzu goes home. Every Shih Tzu puppy for sale through us comes with an adoption kit, health documentation and lifetime support — so you're buying based on records, not guesswork.