Nail Trimming
VCA Animal Hospitals recommends building tolerance gradually rather than attempting a full trim on a dog who isn’t used to it. That means separate sessions just for touching paws, then sessions where the clippers are present but not used, before ever making an actual cut.
Trim when nails touch the ground while your Shih Tzu walks. Less active dogs may need weekly trims; dogs regularly walked on pavement may need it less often.
Dewclaws don’t touch the ground, so they never wear down naturally and need separate attention every time.
VCA notes that the quick, the blood vessel inside the nail, is visible as a pink line in light or clear nails, but not in dark ones. For dark nails, trim small amounts at a time and check the cut end after each pass rather than guessing and cutting deep.
If a nail has already grown long enough to be genuinely uncomfortable, VCA’s guidance is to get that first trim done by a vet or groomer, then start building an at-home routine from there rather than starting at a deficit.
Ear Cleaning
A dog’s ear canal is L-shaped, bending sharply partway down, which means debris and moisture can get trapped without draining naturally. This matters more for Shih Tzus specifically because of their small, sometimes hairy ear canals.
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Use a vet-approved ear cleaner Apply it to a cotton ball or pad until damp, not soaked and dripping.
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Clean only what you can see Never insert anything (cotton swabs included) deep into the canal. Clean the visible, outer part of the ear only.
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Let them shake Dogs typically shake their head after ear cleaning, which is normal and helps clear remaining moisture.
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Clean after swimming or baths Trapped water in a warm, dark ear canal is exactly the environment that leads to infection.
Dogs with skin allergies or a history of ear infections benefit from more frequent cleaning. If you notice redness, odor, dark discharge, or your dog scratching at or shaking their head persistently, that’s an infection sign that needs a vet, not just a cleaning.
Dental Care
This is the one owners underestimate most. Veterinary dental disease statistics commonly cited by clinics put periodontal disease in the majority of dogs over age three, and small breeds like Shih Tzus are especially prone to it due to crowded teeth in a small jaw.
At home, you can
- Brush teeth with dog-safe toothpaste (never human toothpaste)
- Offer dental chews designed to reduce plaque
- Watch for bad breath, red gums, or visible tartar
- Build up to daily brushing gradually
Only a vet can do
- Remove tartar below the gumline
- Perform a full dental exam under anesthesia
- Take dental X-rays to check root health
- Treat existing periodontal disease
VCA Animal Hospitals explains that a professional dental cleaning is done under general anesthesia specifically so the vet can scale below the gumline, where the most damaging tartar accumulates, something that simply isn’t accessible or safe to attempt at home no matter how cooperative your dog is.
The Bottom Line
None of these three things are glamorous, and all three are the kind of maintenance that only feels important once you’ve skipped it for too long. Go slow with nails, stay shallow with ears, and treat brushing as a daily habit rather than a rescue mission. Cooper still isn’t thrilled about clippers. He tolerates them now, which, four years in, I’ll take.
