No other dogs in the apartment but mynah birds do come into the kitchen. Could they be the cause of the corneal ulcer when they peck at the Shih Tzu? Or could the ulcer in the cornea be due to injuries?

A recent corneal ulcer in the right eye. Tearing and rubbing of the eye. Note that the hairs from the facial fold (raised skin fold between the eye and the nose) has hairs poking at the eye ball.

This dog could not be intubated when the endotracheal tube was inserted twice. He had a very sore throat and tonsillitis. So gas mask anaesthesia was used in order not to prolong anaesthesia which may cause death on the operating table.

The subconjunctival antibiotic injection was given. A horizontal 3/0 absorbable suture stitches up the upper and lower eyelids. Antibiotic eye ointment was applied and given daily for 5-7 days.

As the dog's right eyeball is closed, the painful corneal ulcer is not irritated by the drying air and dust. The ulcer heals very well. Usually, the ulcer heals over 70% in 7 days. The stitch breaks down in 7-10 days due to eyeball motion and tension but the ulcer should heal well as it is treated early, around 2 days after failure of treatment by the owner.

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For many Shih Tzu owners, money to pay for the veterinary treatment is the issue.

Therefore I don't recommend surgical removal of the facial fold. This surgery will have prevented further problems of corneal ulceration in Shih Tzus and also the Pekinese.

The facial folds have hairs growing into the eye ball and therefore causing ulcerations of the cornea. For owners who get the facial fold hairs clipped every 2 months for the rest of the dog's life, there should be no problem. But many owners have no time for regular grooming.

Eye care is especially important in the Shih Tzu if you want clear corneas and freedom of painful eyes for your pet.

A facial fold surgery may be the solution if you don't have time for regular grooming because the facial fold hairs will no longer be around. Removal of the facial fold flattens the area below the eyeball as in other breeds. So there is no more growth of hair towards the eyeball. No more irritation, rubbing and corneal ulceration for the life of the Shih Tzu --- enabling the corneal ulcer to be clear and transparent and saving the owner lots of worries, veterinary treatment and the dog lots of pain due to corneal ulceration. 

You will see many older Singapore Shih Tzus with cloudy, rough, black pigmented corneas and red blood vessels as the owners do not have time for treatment of the corneal ulcers.

The Shih Tzu rubs its eyes till the cornea becomes hardened and pigmented as a consequence of the lack of care. Some develop dry eyes as tears stop flowing. Treatment to recover a transparent cornea is too late. The dog lives with the eye pain and the dry eyes.

Maybe the best thing for a Singapore parent to do is not to buy Shih Tzu puppies for your children. Consider other breeds with no facial folds.  

BE KIND TO SHIH TZUS
Corneal ulcerations are emergencies.
Consult your vet promptly before the dog becomes blind.

2006. Health Concerns in the Shih Tzu - Dr Sing Kong Yuen