She is 6 months old and we are getting her fur cut soon(its too hot for her). Someone told my dad that getting the hair around their eyes cut can cause them to go blind. Can it? And if not then should I get the hair cut. It doesn't get in her eyes too much, but if we let it grow will it eventually grow long enough to stay out of her eyes?
2010-05-28T15:43:07Z
My dad seriously believed they could go blind. And I didn't think they would, but I would rather know for sure then cut them and find out it was actually true.
2010-05-28T15:49:00Z
If we do get it cut then how often would we have to get it trimmed? Also the groomer will be doing all of the trimming(at least the first time) if we do get it done.
Maggie2010-05-28T15:37:20Z
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That myth comes from the fact that if you cut the hair, instead of training it to lay down the sides of her nose, when it grows in if you don't keep it trimmed, it can grow into the eye. That's because shih tzus are prone to their bottom eyelid curling inward. While this can cause problems, it is a rare occurrence. Just make sure to get her groomed every few weeks. I usually suggest clients to come in once a month. That keeps everything clean and good smellin'! If you keep the hair trimmed, it will not have a chance to grow "into" her eyes.
I have never heard of a long haired dog going blind from having it's hair cut round his eyes. I kept the hair short under my little shih Tzus eyes and it didn't do him any harm. If she has a lot of white on her make sure they don't shave her or cut the hair really short all over as white animals can get sunburn. When I had my shih tzu I used to hold the top layer of hair up with hair grips then cut his hair underneath, then put the top hair down and trim off the ground. This way he was easier to groom and not so hot, but he looked as though he still had his coat, and he was protected from the sun. The groomer I would think would trim it if it needed. My dog I trimmed under his eyes , then made sure I left him some eyebrows to protect his eyes from falling dust etc.
Actually, Shih Tzu's usually need to get the fur cut around their eyes, since their eyelashes and the area around them seem to grow very long. And it will not hurt your Shih Tzu. Just make sure not to get her fur trimmed too low; the fur actually helps cool a dog down considerably, as long as it is at a moderate length. I would suggest not cutting the fur around her eyes unless you are a professional; some dogs will flinch or try to get away as you cut, and the eyes are very sensitive. You should just let the eyelashes and such get cut when you take your dog to the groomer; they grow fast but it won't exactly harm your dog. It just gives your dog a neater appearance, in most cases. And I'm glad your dad is concerned for the physical state of your dog!
Here come the thumbs down, but when my shih tzus were just babies I cut "bangs" right over their eyebrows, parted the longer hair in the middle and added a tiny dab of mousse. Hang in there! If she's almost six months old, you only have about another month or so to go before her hair is long enough for the baby barettes.