Maltese vs Shih Tzu

Maltese

Shih Tzu

Maltese

• Good with children: No
• Good with other pets: No
• Apartment friendly: Yes
• Exercise: moderate

Shih Tzu

• Good with children: Yes
• Good with other pets: Yes
• Apartment friendly: Yes
• Exercise: low

Maltese

Exercise

moderate

Grooming

moderate

Shedding

moderate

Shih Tzu

Exercise

low

Grooming

—

Shedding

moderate

Maltese

Life span: 12–15 yrs

• Patellar luxation — the kneecap slips out of its groove, causing a skipping or hopping gait, intermittent rear-leg lameness, and eventual arthritis; very common in toy breeds, graded I-IV, with higher grades often needing surgical correction in the $1,500-$4,000 range per knee.
• Portosystemic (liver) shunt — an inherited abnormal blood vessel that bypasses the liver so toxins aren't filtered; the Maltese is notably over-represented. Signs include poor growth, disorientation or neurologic episodes (often after meals), and it frequently requires diagnostic workup and surgical correction, a major early-life cost.
• Periodontal (dental) disease — crowded teeth in a tiny jaw cause early, severe gum disease, tooth loss, oral pain, and bacterial strain on the heart; near-universal in the breed without consistent home tooth-brushing and routine professional cleanings, making it the most preventable major problem.
• Tracheal collapse — weakening of the windpipe's cartilage rings producing a chronic honking cough, especially with excitement or collar pressure; this is why a harness rather than a neck collar is standard for the breed, with severe cases needing medical or surgical management.
• White Shaker (idiopathic cerebellitis) syndrome — a condition seen in small white-coated breeds causing generalized fine body tremors, typically with onset in young adulthood; it is usually responsive to veterinary corticosteroid treatment but warrants prompt diagnosis rather than home monitoring.
• Myxomatous mitral valve disease — progressive degeneration and leaking of the mitral heart valve common in small breeds, first detected as a murmur in middle to older age and potentially advancing to congestive heart failure; managed with medication and monitoring rather than cured.

Shih Tzu

Life span: 10–16 yrs

• Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) — the breed's defining risk: the short skull narrows the airway, causing snoring, snorting, exercise and heat intolerance, and in severe cases collapse or life-threatening respiratory distress. Many Shih Tzu have it to some degree; surgical correction of nostrils/soft palate can run $1,500-$4,000+.
• Brachycephalic ocular syndrome / corneal ulcers — shallow eye sockets leave the cornea exposed and under-protected, so the breed is highly prone to chronic dry eye and corneal ulceration that can threaten vision if untreated.
• Eye proptosis — because the eye sits so shallowly, relatively minor head trauma or rough handling can displace the globe forward out of the socket; this is an immediate emergency requiring same-hour veterinary surgery to save the eye.
• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — the breed's long back and short legs predispose it to disc herniation, causing pain, hind-limb weakness, or paralysis; managed conservatively in mild cases and surgically (often $3,000-$8,000) in severe ones.
• Patellar luxation — the kneecap slips out of its groove, common in small breeds and seen in Shih Tzu from as early as a few months old; ranges from an intermittent skip to surgical correction depending on grade.
• Renal dysplasia — a congenital condition in which the kidneys fail to develop normally; affected dogs often show signs as puppies (excess thirst, poor growth) and the condition is inherited, making it a screening question for breeders.