Is my Shih Tzu puppy's long snout normal? Will it get a mushy face?

This is not a purebred Shih Tzu, which is why the muzzle is long. You can do DNA testing to determine what other breed(s) make up your puppy, especially if you paid a lot of money for him as a purebred. He still is awfully cute, though!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Puffy. I do not believe that her hair coat indicates any disease process. Rather it is likely result of her genetics. What breed was her father? My guess is that her appearance is closure related to him than the other pups. I hope this information helps!

With Tucker being a shih Tzu, and their noses being so small, they can have a lot of respiratory issues. If he has a small amount of clear liquid coming from his nose, that's probably normal. But if there is color to it I would be more worried about an infection and would consult your veterinarian. Depending on how small his nostrils at there are surgical procedures to help widen them that may help him breathe better that can be done at the time of his neuter surgery.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very common for Shih tzus to have small nasal openings. Sometimes they grow as the puppy grows and sometimes they need cosmetic surgery to open the nostrils. This typically causes a lot of sneezing. I would worry the coughing could be something else, like Kennel Cough. I recommend discussing this with Coco's vet so they can see the size of her nose and listen to her lungs. Good luck and kisses to your new baby!

The hair around the mouth and lips is usually not as dense as on other parts of the body, but it looks patchy, sparse, or if the skin looks irritated or different in some way, then I would get her checked by the vet. If you've recently changed bowls that she east or drinks from, she could be allergic to them, especially if they're plastic.

If this abnormal for Maggie, then I would recommend taking her to the vet ASAP for evaluation. Since Shih Tzus have short noses, they aren't able to move air like a more normal shaped nose. Any decrease in the air flow (such as something stuck in the nose/mouth/throat, inflammation from allergies or infection, mass, etc) can be very severe. The vet will do an exam and may recommend emergency treatment. Or if it doesn't seem life-threatening, they can prescribe something to help with the abnormal breathing.

According to the American Kennel Club's standards, Shih Tzu's should have a tail that curves over the back. However, as long as your puppy is able to move her tail normally, i.e. Wag it, move it side to side, make it stand up, then there are likely no neurologic abnormalities associated with this issue. I think that at 4 months it's likely that her tail won't change much, but as long as you're not planning on making her a show dog, and as I said above assuming no neurologic abnormalities, she should make a great pet. Talk to your vet on your next visit about your concerns. Especially if you're having trouble potty-training her, i.e. She's having trouble "holding it" for very long, there may be some concern for neurologic damage, since the nerves in that area perform multiple functions. Assuming she's progressing normally, I wouldn't worry about it too much, although you might touch base with the breeder, as this is likely something genetic. But lots of variations crop up during breeding - that doesn't mean they're "defects", just anomalies. You might also look into contacting the Shih Tzu club in your area. The AKC's site (akc.org) can help you locate one.