Total Reports
23,826
FDA CVM filings
Dog /
FDA CVM · 2025 release 23,826 reports on file
Shih Tzu - FDA Adverse Event Profile
Adverse-event records for Shih Tzu (Dog) from the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine.
Data updated June 2026
The record at a glance
Among dog breeds, Shih Tzu is #9 by FDA report volume; 3.5% of its 23,826 reports (842) were death-coded.
- #9
- most-reported dog breed
- 3.5%
- death-coded report share
- 5,923
- Vomiting - top reaction
- 6.0 yr
- average age at report
Read report counts next to breed popularity: a bigger number often just means more owners and more vet visits.
Deaths Reported
842
of 23,826 reports
Death Rate
3.5%
death-coded share
Avg Age at Report
6.0 yr
6.4 kg avg weight
Death-Coded Outcome Share
Shih Tzu death-coded reports 3.5%
Cross-breed median
3.5% of 23,826 shih tzu reports involved a death outcome.
How to read this number
Read alongside breed popularity, veterinary access, and owner awareness, these shape how many events ever reach the FDA. The comparison line marks the cross-breed median death-coded share (about 4.8%) among breeds with 50 or more reports; values above it suggest higher reporting bias toward severe outcomes, not necessarily higher true mortality.
Average weight at time of report: 6.4 kg (14.1 lbs)
Top Reported Reactions
Vomiting 5,923
Emesis 2,887
Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') 2,587
Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea 2,215
Diarrhoea 1,923
Lack of efficacy - NOS 1,112
Seizure NOS 977
Anorexia 926
Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - hookworm 814
Emesis (multiple) 681
Behavioural disorder NOS 654
Pruritus 624
Not eating 597
Other abnormal test result NOS 549
Decreased appetite 520
Most Referenced Drugs
Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad 4,835
Spinosad 2,426
Afoxolaner 1,570
Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt 1,501
Fluralaner Chew Tablets 1,201
Oclacitinib Maleate 1,166
Pyrantel Pamoate;Sarolaner 1,141
Moxidectin 997
Trilostane 803
Fluralaner 13.64% 12-Week Chew 727
Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel 619
Sarolaner 580
Imidacloprid + Moxidectin 457
Selamectin 448
Nitenpyram 418
Outcome Breakdown
Recovered/Normal
9,210 (41.4%)
Outcome Unknown
6,639 (29.9%)
Ongoing
4,886 (22.0%)
Recovered with Sequela
653 (2.9%)
Died
474 (2.1%)
Euthanized
368 (1.7%)
Gender Distribution
Female 11,670 (49.0%)
Male 11,618 (48.8%)
Unknown 473 (2.0%)
Mixed 65 (0.3%)
Reports by Year
| Year | Reports | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 820 | |
| 2011 | 1,308 | |
| 2012 | 1,963 | |
| 2013 | 1,992 | |
| 2014 | 1,860 | |
| 2015 | 2,013 | |
| 2016 | 1,964 | |
| 2017 | 1,911 | |
| 2018 | 1,569 | |
| 2019 | 1,463 | |
| 2020 | 1,365 | |
| 2021 | 1,242 | |
| 2022 | 1,118 | |
| 2023 | 1,159 | |
| 2024 | 1,299 | |
| 2025 | 780 | |
Shih Tzu Pet Health Insights
Shih Tzu accounts for 23,826 FDA adverse event reports, ranking #9 by volume among dog breeds, with 842 reports (3.5%) coded as a death outcome. Mean age at report: 6.0 years, average weight 6.4 kg (14.1 lbs).
Top reported signs: Vomiting (5,923), Emesis (2,887), Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (2,587). Most-referenced drug: Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (4,835 reports), followed by Spinosad (2,426) and Afoxolaner (1,570).
Outcome coding on 22,230 status-recorded reports is dominated by Recovered/Normal (41.4%). Annual submissions ranged 2,010-2,025 across 16 years on file.
Dog Breeds With a Similar Report Volume
Frequently Asked Questions
How many FDA adverse event reports involve Shih Tzu? ▼
There are 23,826 adverse event reports involving Shih Tzu in the FDA database, with 842 reports involving death (3.5% death rate). Shih Tzu ranks #9 by report volume.
What are the most common adverse reactions reported for Shih Tzu? ▼
The most commonly reported adverse reactions for Shih Tzu are Vomiting (5,923 reports), Emesis (2,887 reports), Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (2,587 reports), Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea (2,215 reports), Diarrhoea (1,923 reports).
What drugs are most frequently associated with Shih Tzu adverse events? ▼
The drugs most frequently referenced in Shih Tzu adverse event reports are Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (4,835 reports), Spinosad (2,426 reports), Afoxolaner (1,570 reports), Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt (1,501 reports), Fluralaner Chew Tablets (1,201 reports).
What is the average age of Shih Tzu in adverse event reports? ▼
The average age of Shih Tzu at the time of adverse event reports is 6.0 years, with an average weight of 6.4 kg (14.1 lbs).
Does a high number of adverse event reports mean Shih Tzu is unhealthy? ▼
No. FDA adverse event reports are voluntarily submitted and do not prove causation. Popular breeds with more veterinary visits tend to have more reports. The data reflects reporting patterns, not actual incidence rates. Always consult a veterinarian for health decisions.
Where does this Shih Tzu safety data come from? ▼
All data comes from the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine's adverse event reporting system. Pet owners, veterinarians, and manufacturers voluntarily submit reports about adverse events potentially linked to animal drugs and other products.
Compare a breed's report volume against how common the breed is before drawing conclusions. See our methodology for how death rate and rankings are computed.
Every figure on PlainBreed is rendered directly from FDA openFDA adverse event data, no number is typed in by an editor. Breed figures are computed directly from FDA openFDA data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.