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Shih Tzu

Lifespan
12.8 years
95% CI 12.6 to 12.9 · McMillan 2024, n=12,007
Most carried variant
Degenerative Myelopathy
17% of 7,527 tested · Donner 2023
Behind this page
38 dogs
in the atlas · an early sketch · 7,527 tested for variants

Shih Tzus have a cited life expectancy of 12.8 years (McMillan 2024 / VetCompass, n=12,007, 95% CI 12.6 to 12.9). The most carried tested variant is Degenerative Myelopathy, in 17% of 7,527 Shih Tzus tested (Donner 2023), then Chondrodystrophy and Intervertebral Disc Disease Risk (16%) and Prekallikrein Deficiency (10%). 38 dogs stand behind the atlas figures here, so treat this page as an early sketch.

Shih Tzu
Photo: Canino21 · Public domain · Wikimedia

Also known as Chinese Lion Dog and Chrysanthemum Dog.

Mendelian-disease genetics

What genetic diseases do Shih Tzus carry?

From a panel of 250 Mendelian-disease variants screened in 1,054,293 dogs (Donner et al. 2023), Shih Tzus carry 23 of them at observable frequency. Carrier frequency is not clinical risk. Most recessive variants require two copies for disease expression; many dominant variants show incomplete penetrance. Read this as a population fingerprint of what's in the gene pool, not a per-dog prediction.

n = 7,493 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000157-9615 · omia.org →
FGF4what this gene does

FGF4 influences leg length by affecting bone growth, leading to shorter legs in certain breeds.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry this gene, it's worth discussing spinal health with your vet, but being a carrier doesn’t guarantee problems.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
moderate 17.1%
n = 7,527 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000263-9615 · omia.org →
SOD1what this gene does

SOD1 is a gene that helps protect cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals.

For your dog: If your dog is a carrier of SOD1 variants, it's worth discussing with your vet, but remember carrier status doesn't mean your dog will get the disease.

Prekallikrein Deficiency
Autosomal recessive
moderate 10.5%
n = 7,527 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000819-9615 · omia.org →
KLKB1what this gene does

KLKB1 is a gene that helps produce prekallikrein, a protein involved in blood clotting and inflammation.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry KLKB1 variants, it's worth asking your vet about blood clotting tests, especially before surgeries.

n = 85 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:002168-9615 · omia.org →
IGFBP5what this gene does

IGFBP5 is a gene that helps regulate growth factors involved in tissue development and repair.

For your dog: If you have a sighthound, it’s worth mentioning IGFBP5-related risks to your vet, but being a carrier doesn’t mean your dog will develop the syndrome.

n = 85 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:002203-9615 · omia.org →
TNXBwhat this gene does

TNXB is a gene that helps produce a protein important for connective tissue, which supports skin, joints, and other structures in the body.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry TNXB variants, it's worth discussing with your vet, especially if you notice unusual joint flexibility or skin issues.

marker disputed 0.43%
n = 7,527 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:000162-9615 · omia.org →
PDK4what this gene does

PDK4 helps regulate how cells use energy, especially in the heart muscle.

For your dog: If your dog is one of the breeds known to carry this gene, it’s worth discussing heart health with your vet, but being a carrier doesn’t mean your dog will develop disease.

n = 7,521 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001298-9615 · omia.org →
PRCDwhat this gene does

PRCD is a gene involved in the health of a dog's retina, the part of the eye that detects light and helps with vision.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry PRCD changes, it's worth discussing eye health and potential genetic testing with your vet.

Cystinuria Type I-B (SLC7A9 p.A217T)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
marker disputed 0.13%
n = 7,527 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:001880-9615 · omia.org →
SLC7A9what this gene does

SLC7A9 is a gene that helps transport certain amino acids in the kidneys. It plays a role in how the body handles cystine, an amino acid that can form crystals.

For your dog: If your dog is a carrier, it’s worth discussing with your vet to monitor urinary health and catch any issues early.

low <0.1%
n = 7,527 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001057-9615 · omia.org →
Cone-Rod Dystrophy (cord1-PRA/crd4)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 7,515 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001432-9615 · omia.org →
RPGRIP1what this gene does

RPGRIP1 is a gene involved in the function of photoreceptor cells in the eye, which help dogs see in different light conditions.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry RPGRIP1 mutations, it’s worth discussing with your vet to understand the risks and monitor eye health.

Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 7,526 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001466-9615 · omia.org →
DNM1what this gene does

DNM1 is a gene that helps nerve cells communicate properly by managing how they send signals during muscle activity.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to one of the breeds known to carry this gene variant, it's worth discussing EIC with your vet, especially if your dog is very active or shows signs of weakness during exercise.

n = 7,526 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001402-9615 · omia.org →
ABCB1what this gene does

ABCB1 is a gene that helps control how certain drugs are processed and cleared from a dog's body.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed that carries this gene variant, ask your vet about medication sensitivities before giving any new drugs.

Episodic Falling (EF)
Autosomal recessive
Pathogenic low <0.1%
n = 7,527 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001592-9615 · omia.org →
Lamellar Ichthyosis (LI)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 7,527 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000546-9615 · omia.org →
Primary Lens Luxation (PLL)
Autosomal recessive
Pathogenic low <0.1%
n = 7,527 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:000588-9615 · omia.org →
ADAMTS17what this gene does

ADAMTS17 is a gene that influences body size and also plays a role in certain eye conditions. It affects the structure of tissues in the eye and elsewhere in the body.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry ADAMTS17 variants, it’s worth discussing genetic testing and eye exams with your vet to stay ahead of potential issues.

Full ADAMTS17 gene page →
n = 7,527 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:001976-9615 · omia.org →
ADAMTS17what this gene does

ADAMTS17 is a gene that influences body size and also plays a role in certain eye conditions. It affects the structure of tissues in the eye and elsewhere in the body.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry ADAMTS17 variants, it’s worth discussing genetic testing and eye exams with your vet to stay ahead of potential issues.

Full ADAMTS17 gene page →
n = 7,439 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001970-9615 · omia.org →
RAB3GAP1what this gene does

RAB3GAP1 is a gene involved in nerve cell function, particularly in how cells communicate and maintain their structure.

For your dog: If your dog is one of the breeds known to carry this gene variant, it's worth discussing genetic testing with your vet to understand any potential risks.

n = 7,527 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:002120-9615 · omia.org →
NDRG1what this gene does

NDRG1 is a gene involved in nerve cell function and maintenance, helping keep the nervous system working properly.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry NDRG1 variants, it’s worth discussing with your vet, especially if you notice any mobility issues.

Show the other 3, ordered after these by severity, then carrier frequency.
Source: Donner J et al. 2023. Genetic prevalence and clinical relevance of canine Mendelian disease variants in over one million dogs. PLOS Genetics 19(2):e1010651 · Evidence: Limited (DTC ascertainment, tag-SNP proxy) · Confounding MEDIUM · License CC-BY-4.0 · Phene IDs from OMIA (Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney; DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70).
Sample size in this breed: 7,527 dogs from the Donner 2023 cohort.
In plain terms

What these results mean for a Shih Tzu

16.4% of Shih Tzus in the Donner 2023 cohort carried it (n=7,493).

  • Two extra copies of a growth gene, FGF4, shape dog legs and spines. The one on chromosome 12 is the one tied to disc disease; the one on chromosome 18 shortens legs.
    OMIA 000157-9615

    “Two FGF4 retrogenes (FGF4L1 on chromosome 18 and FGF4L2 on chromosome 12) have been identified to cause dwarfism across many dog breeds.” OMIA 000157-9615

    “Brown et al. (2017) reported that an FGF4 retrogene insertion in chromosome CFA12” OMIA 000157-9615

  • Carrying it raises risk. It does not say which dog will have a disc problem. In Dachshunds researchers found the test is not a valid risk indicator on its own.
    OMIA 000157-9615

    “the FGF4 retrogene insertion on CFA12 is not a valid risk indicator on its own” OMIA 000157-9615

What to do
Ask your veterinarian what a carrier result changes for your dog. What lowers risk in a carrier is not established in the sources this page draws on.

No test, or a mix
Without a test nobody can say whether a dog carries it. Leg length alone does not tell you: the disc-disease copy and the short-leg copy are different insertions.

17.1% of Shih Tzus in the Donner 2023 cohort carried it (n=7,527).

  • DM is a loss of function in the spinal cord that begins in adulthood and progresses to paralysis of the back legs. There is no treatment that stops it.
    OMIA 000263-9615

    “This is an adult onset degeneration of the spinal cord that progresses to paraplegia and tetraparesis. There is no successful treatment. A genetic test is available.” OMIA 000263-9615

  • Two copies of the SOD1 variant mean at risk, not affected. Some dogs with two copies never show signs.
    OMIA 000263-9615

    “some homozygous mutant dogs had no signs of degenerative myelopathy, which suggests incomplete penetrance or other causative loci” OMIA 000263-9615

  • One copy makes a dog a carrier. In the study that found the variant, every affected dog tested had two copies.
    OMIA 000263-9615

    “All affected dogs tested were homozygous mutant.” OMIA 000263-9615

What to do
A DNA result is not a diagnosis. Take the result, and any change in how the dog walks, to a veterinarian.

No test, or a mix
Without a test nobody can say how many copies a dog has. A breed's carrier frequency describes the breed, not this dog.

Which Mendelian variants matter most for Shih Tzus?

The Mendelian-disease table above lists variants screened in 7,527 Shih Tzus (Donner 2023). Two matter most by carrier frequency and impact.

Prekallikrein Deficiency

Prekallikrein deficiency in Shih Tzus is an autosomal recessive blood-clotting disorder caused by a KLKB1 variant. Affected dogs have prolonged bleeding times after injury or surgery. 10.5% of Shih Tzus carry the variant (n=7527). Severity is moderate; affected dogs are manageable with monitoring and transfusion protocols if needed, but the condition matters for surgical planning.

Testing is available. Breeders can avoid affected offspring through carrier screening.

How should I test my Shih Tzu?

A breed-specific panel covering CDDY (chondrodystrophy/IVDD), SOD1 (degenerative myelopathy), and KLKB1 (prekallikrein deficiency) is the high-yield starting point for breeding stock. Low-frequency variants like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (TNXB) and Bald Thigh Syndrome (IGFBP5) are each observed at 0.59% in a small sample (n=85, Donner 2023) and can be added if your lab includes them. Most commercial CLIA-accredited labs offer these as a combined panel. The 0.59% carrier frequency for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is based on a small sample (n=85), so the true population frequency is uncertain; ask your lab specifically whether the TNXB variant is included (Donner 2023).

What should I feed a Shih Tzu?

Feeding a Shih Tzu well means feeding around the breed’s spinal fragility and toy-size metabolism. Shih Tzus weigh 9 to 16 pounds at adult size, per the AKC breed standard. The CDDY variant at 16.4% carrier frequency means the breed carries real intervertebral disc disease risk despite normal leg length. Small toy breeds have limited glycogen reserves, and skipped meals can cause hypoglycemia (Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy, or consult your veterinarian for breed-specific guidance). Food choices matter more per pound of body weight than they do for larger breeds.

Toy-breed hypoglycemia is the first feeding priority. A 10-pound Shih Tzu fed twice daily rather than once daily, with consistent meal timing, avoids the blood-sugar crashes that can force emergency clinic visits. The NRC 2006 baseline for adult maintenance in dogs weighing 10 pounds is roughly 300 to 350 kilocalories per day. Divide that into two meals rather than one. Consistency matters more than the specific kibble for a toy breed.

Joint and spine support during growth matters because of the CDDY carrier frequency. A toy-breed puppy formula with calcium controlled between 1.1:1 and 2:1 calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (NRC 2006) supports skeletal development without over-loading growth plates. This is less critical for Shih Tzus than for giant breeds, but the IVDD risk in middle age is reason enough to avoid excess calcium in puppyhood. Adult-life weight management, keeping a Shih Tzu lean to reduce load on discs, is the other half of spinal care.

Coat quality reflects nutrition more visibly in Shih Tzus than in many breeds. The breed standard calls for a long, flowing coat. Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are foundational; a diet with fish meal or flaxseed, and a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 around 5:1 to 10:1, supports skin and coat health (NRC 2006). Grain-inclusive or grain-free matters less than consistent fat and protein quality. Shih Tzus do not appear at notable frequency in the FDA’s 2018 grain-free DCM investigation (FDA, “FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy,” 2018, fda.gov), so the cardiac-risk signal that shapes Golden Retriever feeding does not apply here.

What we don’t know

The true prevalence of symptomatic IVDD in the Shih Tzu population is not yet well characterized. We know 16.4% carry the CDDY variant. We do not yet know what fraction of those carriers develop clinical disc herniations, at what age, or how environmental factors (weight, exercise, furniture height) modify risk in this breed specifically. Breed-club records may hold that data; the peer-reviewed literature has not yet produced a Shih Tzu-specific IVDD epidemiology study.

Prekallikrein deficiency is real in Shih Tzus at 10.5% carrier frequency, but the clinical impact is not well characterized in this breed’s population. We do not have breed-specific bleeding-time data or a published case series describing age of onset or progression in affected Shih Tzus.

The atlas whole-genome sequencing cohort includes 38 Shih Tzus, which limits the power to detect rare variants or breed-specific environmental modifiers. The Mendelian variant screening covered 7,527 dogs (Donner 2023), a much larger base for disease-frequency estimates. Larger cohorts would clarify the spinal, cardiac, and hematologic landscape for the breed.

Frequently asked questions about Shih Tzus

Are Shih Tzus prone to back problems? Yes. The CDDY carrier frequency is 16.4%, which predisposes to intervertebral disc disease. Avoid letting your Shih Tzu jump on and off furniture, maintain lean weight, and watch for rear-limb weakness or reluctance to move.

How long do Shih Tzus live? Cited life expectancy is 12.8 years (McMillan 2024 / VetCompass, n=12,007, 95% CI 12.6 to 12.9). Individual dogs vary; longevity depends on genetics, weight, and healthcare quality.

What is the most common genetic disease in Shih Tzus? Degenerative myelopathy and chondrodystrophy-related intervertebral disc disease are the most common genetic risks by carrier frequency (17.1% and 16.4%, respectively; Donner 2023, n=7527).

Should I do a DNA test on my Shih Tzu? For breeding stock, yes. A panel covering CDDY, SOD1 (degenerative myelopathy), and KLKB1 (prekallikrein deficiency) is essential. Pet owners considering spinal risk can test for CDDY and SOD1 to understand their dog’s genetic background and make informed decisions about exercise and weight management.

What should I feed my Shih Tzu? Feed twice daily to avoid hypoglycemic crashes in this toy breed. Use a complete, balanced kibble with controlled calcium (1.1:1 to 2:1 ratio to phosphorus) during puppyhood. Maintain lean weight throughout life to reduce load on the spine. Quality protein and fat matter more than grain inclusion or exclusion for this breed.

Are Shih Tzus good with kids? Shih Tzus are affectionate and sturdy enough for older children, but the breed’s small size means rough play or drops from height carry risk of spinal injury (given the 16.4% CDDY carrier frequency). Supervision with young children is necessary.

What are the nearest genetic relatives to Shih Tzus? Pekingese, Tibetan Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, and Pug are among the nearest documented genetic relatives of Shih Tzus (Parker et al. 2017, Cell 169:945-959). Several of these share CDDY risk and toy-breed feeding challenges.

Do Shih Tzus have eye problems? Progressive rod-cone degeneration (prcd-PRA) occurs at very low frequency in Shih Tzus (0.21% carrier frequency, Donner 2023, n=7521). It is not a breed-defining concern, but testing is available if you are screening for all recessive eye variants.

Names & origins

Other names

The Shih Tzu is also recorded as Chinese Lion Dog and Chrysanthemum Dog.

Identified as Shih Tzu (VBO:0201223) in the Vertebrate Breed Ontology (Mullen et al. 2025, CC-BY 4.0) · registry IDs FCI 208 · iDog 218 · VeNom 14833.

For researchers Population genetics, disease models and every recorded condition Open the research detail for the Shih Tzu
What the atlas says about Shih Tzu

In the atlas, the Shih Tzu clusters consistently as Shih Tzu (100% of the 38 dogs here). Dogs here sit in a relatively sparse region of the atlas, fewer close neighbors than typical.

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the atlas genotypes say about Shih Tzu

Computed from the 14,478 CanVAS dogs in the Atlas, on an imputed genotype backbone: 77,215 directly typed sites per dog, imputed to 9.67 million variants.

The confidence below counts dogs, not reads: it is the size of the sample, and it is separate from how the genotypes were measured.

Dogs in the Atlas
38Founders
27 from Hayward2016, 10 from Spatola, 1 from JenkinsWGS
Genetic diversity
0.31Moderate
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. 57th most diverse of 107 ranked populations.
What does genetic diversity mean?

How varied a breed's gene pool is — the share of gene spots where a typical dog of the breed carries two different versions rather than two identical ones.

How to read it: Higher = more diverse. Among well-sampled breeds it ranges roughly 0.22 (least diverse) to 0.33 (most diverse).

Diversity is a strength, not a verdict on any individual dog. Lower diversity means it's worth paying attention to recessive-risk testing — not that a dog is doomed.

Cluster structure
Splits into two genetic sub-populations
Intra-breed RMS distance: 22.55 · likely working/show-line, regional, or kennel lineage split.
What does within-breed variation mean?

How much individual dogs within the breed differ from each other genetically.

How to read it: Higher = more internal variety among individuals of the breed.

Sensitive to how many dogs of the breed we've sampled.

Related breeds
Built from
Close cousins
In the Toy group
Explore the full lineage map →
VBO foundation stock (breeding records) · AKC breed group
Relatedness is documented lineage + kennel family. Genetic-ancestry distance measures diversity, not kinship, so it isn't used here.
How long they live
12.8years (life expectancy)
95% CI 12.6–12.9 · VetCompass, McMillan 2024, n=12,007. source
What does typical lifespan mean?

The median age dogs of the breed tend to reach.

How to read it: Higher = longer-lived. Compare to longevity-for-size to see whether it's just a size effect.

Drawn from population lifespan records; individual dogs vary widely with care, genetics, and luck.

n = 38 dogs · moderate sample · CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · Sniff Atlas
A gift to human medicine

Shih Tzus are a natural model for human disease

Because the same genes cause the same conditions across species, the inherited conditions documented in Shih Tzus help researchers understand, and work toward treating, the human diseases they model. This is the dog advancing human medicine. The breed models the human disease; it does not have it, and this is not a prediction for your dog.

Human equivalents via OMIA → Mondo / OMIM. Model-of, not identity. The named gene is the canine locus, not a claim that a pet has the human disease.
Documented in OMIA

Every condition recorded in the Shih Tzu

Beyond the testable carriers above, OMIA's literature catalogue records 19 genetic conditions in the Shih Tzu, 11 of which have a known human equivalent. This is the documented landscape across all Shih Tzus ever studied, not a prediction for any one dog.

Plus 1 more conditions recorded in the Shih Tzu in OMIA.

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA); Nicholas, Tammen & Sydney Informatics Hub, DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70
Documented in the breed's literature is not carrier status and not a forecast for an individual dog. Human equivalents are mapped via Mondo/OMIM. Carrier frequencies (above) are the separately-measured testable subset (Donner 2023).
The data behind this page

Where every number on this page came from.

This page draws on three primary data sources. Carrier frequencies for the Mendelian section come from Donner et al. 2023 (CC-BY-4.0). We grade these data at evidence Limited because the cohort is a direct-to-consumer ascertainment, which biases toward owners who chose to test their dogs. The panel also uses tag-SNP proxies for some variants rather than direct causal-variant assays. Limited is a study-design grade, not a quality grade: the Donner cohort is the largest open canine-genotype dataset in existence and we are grateful for it. We rate the confounding MEDIUM.

Population-genetic dimensions (heterozygosity, intra-breed PCA distance, nearest neighbors, trait-locus frequencies) come from CanVAS (Brundage 2026), harmonized through the Sniff Atlas. The exact release date and verification commit are pinned at the bottom of the page so a researcher can trace a number back to a specific snapshot. The disease-gene-variant graph comes from OMIA (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals; Nicholas, Tammen, and the Sydney Informatics Hub at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney; retrieved April 2026, DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70).

What this page does not yet have. Inheritance modes and per-disease penetrance evidence from Donner 2023 are in the structured data for every variant the panel covers. Mondo, OMIM, Ensembl, and HGNC cross-references live on the gene and disease pages this page links to, rather than being repeated here. What is still absent from this breed page is anything not in the cited panel, and each such gap carries its cause where it appears.

How to cite this page. The computed dimensions on this page are derived from the open Sniff Atlas v1.0.1 (Gehring 2026, doi:10.5281/zenodo.20566358, CC-BY 4.0). Full citation formats including BibTeX, RIS, and CITATION.cff at sniff.world/cite.

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References
  1. Donner J, Freyer J, Davison S, Anderson H, Blades M, Honkanen L, et al. (2023). Genetic prevalence and clinical relevance of canine Mendelian disease variants in over one million dogs. PLOS Genetics 19(2):e1010651. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1010651
  2. Brundage DM (2026). CanVAS: A Harmonized and Imputed Canine Variant Atlas. bioRxiv. doi:10.64898/2026.04.13.718238
  3. Nicholas, F.W., Tammen, I., & Sydney Informatics Hub. (2026). Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) [dataset]. The University of Sydney. https://omia.org. doi:10.25910/2AMR-PV70 (retrieved April 2026).
Last updated
Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · Donner 2023 · OMIA