Short answer: For Shih Tzus, the biggest mobility risk is the spine, not the hips. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists the Shih Tzu among the chondrodystrophic breeds most commonly affected by intervertebral disc disease. Hip dysplasia is rare in the breed, and in UK data Shih Tzus didn’t have significantly raised odds of luxating kneecaps. Keeping them lean, limiting jumps and knowing the emergency signs of a disc problem matter most.
Shih Tzus are small, sturdy and long-lived, with a median age at death of 12.7 years in a Royal Veterinary College study. That means many spend years as seniors, which makes protecting their backs and joints worthwhile from early on.
What Joint and Spine Problems Are Most Common in Shih Tzus?
| Condition | What the research shows | Typical signs |
|---|---|---|
| Intervertebral disc disease | Shih Tzu listed among the chondrodystrophic breeds most commonly affected; extrusions can happen from 1 to 2 years and are often sudden and severe (Merck) | Hunched back, yelping when lifted, reluctance to jump or use stairs, wobbliness, dragging back legs |
| Patellar luxation | Odds not significantly higher than crossbreeds (odds ratio 1.2) in 210,824 UK dogs (O’Neill et al., 2016) | A hind leg that skips or is held up for a few steps |
| Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cruciate tears | No cases in intact or neutered Shih Tzus in US hospital records (Hart et al., 2020) | Limping, trouble rising |
| Musculoskeletal disorders overall | Male Shih Tzus were more likely than females to be diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorders (Dale et al., 2024) | Stiffness, reluctance to walk or jump |
Luxating kneecaps are often described as one of the most common Shih Tzu problems. They certainly occur, and the Merck Veterinary Manual notes they’re more common in small breeds generally, but the large UK study didn’t find Shih Tzus at especially high risk. Disc disease is the problem more likely to cause a sudden crisis.
When Is a Back Problem an Emergency?
Go to a vet the same day if your Shih Tzu:
- Can’t stand or walk, or drags one or both back legs
- Knuckles over onto the tops of its back paws
- Cries out when picked up or touched along the back or neck
- Holds its head low and won’t turn it
- Loses control of its bladder or bowels
Merck notes that disc extrusions in chondrodystrophic breeds are often acute and severe, so don’t wait to see whether signs pass. Our guide to protecting a Dachshund’s back explains disc disease in more detail, and most of it applies to Shih Tzus.
How Does Breathing Affect Shih Tzu Mobility?
Shih Tzus are flat-faced, and some have narrowed airways. In a 2026 University of Cambridge study of 14 brachycephalic breeds, Shih Tzus were in the moderate-risk group for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), below the highest-risk Pekingese and Japanese Chin (Tomlinson et al., 2026). The same study linked more extreme flat faces, narrow nostrils and higher body condition scores to BOAS. Severity varies a lot between individual dogs, so a Shih Tzu that tires quickly or struggles in heat may be limited by breathing rather than joints.
How Can You Support a Shih Tzu’s Mobility as They Age?
- Keep your dog lean. Extra weight loads the spine and joints and is linked to breathing problems. In obese dogs with arthritis, lameness improved after about 6% weight loss (Marshall et al., 2010). Use our body condition guide.
- Cut down on jumping. Ramps or steps for sofas, beds and cars protect the back. See our home modifications for arthritic pets.
- Lift with support. Hold your dog with one hand under the chest and one under the hindquarters so the back stays level.
- Use a harness, not a collar, to keep pressure off the neck and throat.
- Keep walks short and cool in hot weather, including Indian and US summers.
- Watch for a skipping hind leg or any change in how your dog walks, and mention it at the next vet visit.
- Don’t assume stiffness is just age. See how to tell if your dog is in pain.
Does Neutering Age Matter?
In the Hart study, neutering wasn’t linked to joint disorders in Shih Tzus. For females, cancer rates rose with spaying at 6 to 11 months (7%) and at 1 year (18%), so the authors suggested waiting until 2 years. The data come from a single US teaching hospital, so discuss timing with your vet.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace guidance from your veterinarian.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Degenerative Diseases of the Spinal Column and Cord in Animals, updated April 2025; Patellar Luxation in Dogs and Cats, December 2025
- O’Neill DG et al., Canine Genetics and Epidemiology — The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England, June 2016
- Hart BL et al., Frontiers in Veterinary Science — Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs, July 2020
- Dale F et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics — Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK, January 2024
- Tomlinson F et al., PLOS ONE — A cross-sectional study into the prevalence and conformational risk factors of BOAS across fourteen brachycephalic dog breeds, 2026
- Marshall WG et al., Veterinary Research Communications — The effect of weight loss on lameness in obese dogs with osteoarthritis, March 2010
