Puppy First, Health First
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The big picture
Like any cross, a Shichon can inherit health problems from either side of its family, the Shih Tzu or the Bichon Frise.
It has no breed club or health program of its own. This page explains the conditions its parent breeds are known to be prone to, and what you can do about each one.
A few everyday habits help prevent many common problems.
Keep your dog lean, brush its teeth every day, help it drink plenty of water and book a checkup every year.
Worth knowing
Eye, knee, hip, bladder and liver problems are conditions its parent breeds are known to be prone to.
This list is not exhaustive or official. Keep asking your veterinarian as your puppy grows.
Several eye problems run on the Shih Tzu side: eyelids that roll inward (entropion), sores on the eye's surface (corneal ulcers), dry eye and cataract. The Bichon Frise side can pass on cataract too, and changes in the clear front of the eye, called corneal dystrophy.
An eye that looks irritated or cloudy needs a vet visit.
Book a yearly eye exam that includes a tear test.
A slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) runs on the Bichon Frise side. The kneecap slips out of its normal place in the knee.
Most cases are found within a dog's first 3 years.
Your vet feels both knees at puppy visits and again in the teenage months.
Hip dysplasia, a poorly formed hip joint, is on both parent breeds' lists.
As your dog ages, keep an eye on how comfortable its joints seem.
Keep your dog lean for life, which helps its joints.
Calcium oxalate bladder stones run on the Bichon Frise side. They form from crystals in the urine.
Straining, blood in the urine or peeing often are reasons to call your vet.
Keep your dog lean, help it drink plenty of water, and ask about routine urine tests.
A liver shunt (congenital portosystemic shunt) is a blood vessel that bypasses the liver from birth, and it runs on the Shih Tzu side.
A puppy that grows slowly next to its littermates or drinks a lot needs a vet check.
A bile acid blood test checks for it, with a scan if the result is not normal.
Less common
Eyelids that do not fully close, called exposure keratopathy syndrome (Shih Tzu side): the yearly eye exam looks for it.
Breathing trouble linked to a short face, called BOAS (Shih Tzu side): a Shichon's muzzle is usually longer, and vets check the nostrils.
An overactive adrenal gland, called Cushing's syndrome (Bichon Frise side): talk with your vet before any long course of steroids.
DNA tests
A cheek-swab DNA test can check a dog for a gene change that raises the risk of disc disease in the back. Labs offer it for both parent breeds. A test being available does not mean disc disease is common in Shichons.
Results come back as clear, one copy or two copies. A clear dog did not show the gene change. One copy is enough to raise the risk, so this test has no healthy carrier result: one or two copies both mean at risk. At risk means a higher chance of disc disease, not the disease itself. For an at-risk dog, a lean weight and fewer jumps and stairs are the practical steps.
Checkups your dog will get
Care plan by life stage
Planning for Shichon vet costs
These are typical published costs for treating what a Shichon vet exam looks at and the conditions its parent breeds are known to be prone to. Each range shows where it comes from and when, and your own vet's estimate will differ.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist's first exam (consultation fee only) | $198–$350 | per visit | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee) | 2023–2026 |
| Eye tests before cataract surgery (ERG and eye ultrasound) | $500–$1,300 | per workup | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Missouri, Tennessee) | 2025–2026 |
| Cataract surgery, one eye | $3,800–$5,500 | per eye | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2023–2025 |
| Cataract surgery, both eyes under one anesthetic | $5,600–$6,700 | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2025 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist's first exam (consultation fee only) | $198–$350 | per visit | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee) | 2023–2026 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver shunt workup (before any surgery) | $1,622–$3,937 | per workup | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Liver shunt surgery, shunt outside the liver (workup and surgery) | $5,408–$7,571 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Liver shunt surgery, shunt inside the liver, open surgery (workup and surgery) | $6,685–$9,605 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Liver shunt closure with coils through a vein (workup and procedure) | $10,600–$12,309 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breathing (BOAS) surgery: nostrils and soft palate | $3,120–$5,500 | per procedure | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Illinois, Tennessee) | 2023–2024 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bladder stone workup by a specialist | $1,300–$1,900 | per workup | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Bladder stone surgery (cystotomy) | $3,500–$4,800 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Bladder stone removal with a scope through a small incision (CAC) | $2,800–$4,000 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
| Bladder stone laser removal through the urethra | $3,300–$4,500 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Tennessee) | 2026 |
Planning for pet insurance
When you are ready to compare plans, here is one option for Pawrade buyers.
Only with Pawrade, you receive a pet insurance policy with no waiting period included for immediate accident or illness coverage, 1 month, with every puppy.† You activate it by calling MetLife; instructions arrive with your travel details. Continuing MetLife coverage after the first month is strongly recommended.
View the MetLife 30-day offer →†NH, NY, RI, SC and TN residents excluded. Activated by calling MetLife; coverage begins immediately following policy activation. See the offer for full terms.
Whichever plan you look at, read the policy before you buy. Check the waiting periods, how it defines a pre-existing condition, and its deductible, reimbursement percentage and annual limit.
A waiting period is how long after you buy a pet insurance policy before a claim counts.
| Policy | Accidents | Illness | Joints |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetLife policy included with your Pawrade puppy† | None | None | None |
| MetLife, bought directly | None | 14 days | Not listed |
| Industry standard | 0–14 days | 14–30 days | 6–12 months |
| Nationwide | 14 days | 14 days | Not listed |
| Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Embrace | 2 days | 14 days | 6 months |
| Figo | 1 day | 14 days | Not listed |
The breeder's licensed vet checks your puppy before it goes home. The vet follows PetPay's exam standards, and the results go in your puppy's Veterinary Health Report.
Focus
Eyes
Discharge · Vision problems · Eyelash problems · Cherry eye
05
Ears and hearing
Debris or discharge · Ear mites · Signs of infection · Hearing
06
Mouth and bite
Teeth and jaw alignment · Bite (overbite or underbite)
07
Skin and coat
Fleas and ticks · Hair loss · Signs of infection
08 Focus
Kneecaps
Kneecaps that slip, and how much (grade)
09
Hips
Hip pain
10
Hernias
Belly-button (umbilical) hernia · Groin (inguinal) hernia
11
Soft spot on the skull
An open soft spot, and its size
12 Focus
Body condition and weight
Body condition score · Weight
13
Reproductive organs
Both testicles in place (males) · Extra skin folds around the vulva (females)
14
History of vomiting or diarrhea
Any history of vomiting or diarrhea (reported, not examined)
15
Stool test for parasites
Fecal flotation test, with any treatment given
16
Past surgery and notes
Any past surgery · The vet's explanation of anything abnormal
The vet checks the eyes for extra eyelashes and for any cloudiness or other sign of a vision problem.
Eyelids that roll in or do not close fully are something to watch for as your puppy grows, especially if its muzzle is short. Eye conditions are on the Shih Tzu parent's list, so an early look at the eyes is worth having on record.
The vet feels both knees to check that each kneecap stays in place.
A slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) is on the Bichon Frise parent's list, so your vet checks the knees again during adolescence.
The vet weighs the puppy, scores its body condition and compares its growth with its littermates.
Slow growth next to littermates or heavy drinking can point to a liver or kidney problem present from birth, so mention either to your vet. A bile acid blood test checks for a liver shunt, one of the conditions on the Shih Tzu side of the family.
The vet checks the eyes for extra eyelashes and for any cloudiness or other sign of a vision problem.
Eyelids that roll in or do not close fully are something to watch for as your puppy grows, especially if its muzzle is short. Eye conditions are on the Shih Tzu parent's list, so an early look at the eyes is worth having on record.
The vet feels both knees to check that each kneecap stays in place.
A slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) is on the Bichon Frise parent's list, so your vet checks the knees again during adolescence.
The vet weighs the puppy, scores its body condition and compares its growth with its littermates.
Slow growth next to littermates or heavy drinking can point to a liver or kidney problem present from birth, so mention either to your vet. A bile acid blood test checks for a liver shunt, one of the conditions on the Shih Tzu side of the family.
Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no single exam can find everything. The exam is a strong early indicator and a documented starting point that your own vet builds on.
Health guarantee
Every Pawrade puppy comes with a health guarantee administered by PetPay, independent of the seller. The terms are on the health guarantee page.
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Ace · Shichon“Ace arrived on time and happy!!I have enjoyed working with Pawrade to get the puppy I wanted! I would highly recommend to anyone searching for their special puppy to work with Pawrade!!”
Shichon Puppies for Sale
Frequently asked questions
A Shichon can inherit conditions its parent breeds are known to be prone to, from the Shih Tzu and the Bichon Frise. The ones most worth knowing about are eye problems, slipping kneecaps, hip dysplasia, bladder stones and a liver shunt. Less common ones include breathing trouble linked to a short face and Cushing's syndrome.
Copy link to this questionNot automatically, because crossing does not remove risks the two parent breeds share. Bladder stones run on the Bichon Frise side, for example, and DNA labs offer a test for a back-disc risk factor (CDDY) for both parent breeds.
Copy link to this questionEye conditions are on both parent breeds' lists, so the eyes deserve regular attention. Book a yearly eye exam with a tear test, and in an older dog watch for cloudy eyes and dry eye.
Copy link to this questionKeep your dog lean and encourage it to drink plenty of water. Routine urine tests help catch crystals before stones form, and straining or blood in the urine calls for a vet visit.
Copy link to this questionLabs offer a cheek-swab test for CDDY, a gene change linked to disc disease in the back that both parent breeds can carry. One or two copies mean a higher risk of disc disease, not the disease itself.
Copy link to this questionYour vet can feel the knees and look at the eyelids at every puppy visit, and again in the teenage months. From adulthood, a yearly eye exam with a tear test keeps the eyes on track.
Copy link to this questionEveryday habits do most of the work: keep your dog lean, brush its teeth every day, encourage it to drink well and book a yearly checkup.
Copy link to this questionBrush them every day from puppyhood, and plan periodic professional cleanings with your vet. Check for baby teeth that stay in while the adult teeth come through.
Copy link to this questionKeep an eye out for cloudy eyes and dry eye, and have the heart checked for murmurs at every visit. Straining, blood in the urine or frequent urination calls for a prompt vet visit, and weight control helps the joints.
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