My Shih Tzu puppy mouth breathes and coughs. Should I worry?

Question

I have a 7 week old baby Shihtzu puppy, girl. She seems to only be able to breathe out of her mouth, she has trouble breathing thru her nose. She is teething, and acting normal. Eating, drinking water, and playing. She just can't breath thru her nose and she is coughing. Should I be concerned? Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | 1 month and 20 days old

Stephanie Echols, DVM · Accepted Answer

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!

My Shih Tzu puppy mouth breathes and coughs. Should I worry?

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