Tibetan Spaniels are cat‑like, independent, and alert watchdogs; many are reserved with unfamiliar people and may alarm‑bark in busy lobbies. They can be sensitive to loud voices or firm restraint and often settle better with a quiet approach, owner presence, and being in a carrier or on an elevated surface where they can see. Because they have comparatively short muzzles, they can struggle in heat or stress—watch for heavy/noisy panting, snorting, or distress after car rides or in warm rooms. Offer a calm, low‑traffic waiting option or direct rooming when possible, and note any history of handling preferences or muzzle use. If breathing seems labored, gums look pale/blue, the pet collapses, or seems confused, alert the medical team immediately.
Front desk script: “Tibetan Spaniels can be watchful with new people, so we’ll approach slowly and keep things quiet. Would you prefer we room you right away or keep them in a carrier/on your lap so they can see you? If you notice heavy or noisy breathing, pale or blue gums, collapse, or confusion at any point, please tell me immediately so our team can triage as an emergency.”
Generally robust, Tibetan Spaniels have a few breed‑linked risks to flag at intake: inherited eye disease (progressive retinal atrophy) with gradual night‑vision loss; other eye problems reported in the breed such as entropion/distichiasis signaled by redness, discharge, or squinting; patellar (kneecap) luxation causing intermittent hind‑leg “skipping” or holding a leg up; and lower heat tolerance related to a short muzzle. Escalate immediately for collapse, blue/grey gums, extreme panting or heat stress; same‑day for a suddenly painful/red or cloudy eye or rapid vision change.
Front desk script: We keep an eye on a few issues seen in Tibetan Spaniels—especially hereditary eye changes and loose kneecaps. Please mention any night‑vision changes, eye redness/discharge, squinting, or hind‑leg “skipping.” If your dog is struggling to breathe, overheated, collapses, has blue gums, or has a suddenly painful or cloudy eye, this is an emergency—come in now or go to the nearest ER. Otherwise, we can schedule the next available exam to screen for these breed‑linked concerns.
Small, alert companions (about 9–15 lb) with moderate exercise needs and easy coat care, Tibetan Spaniels usually live 12–15 years and do well in apartments. Common breed questions we get: shedding is manageable with regular brushing; they’re watchful and may bark at new things; and vet teams often keep an eye on knees (patellar luxation) and inherited eye disease (PRA). Because of their shorter muzzle they don’t tolerate heat well—avoid overheating. Seek emergency care now for labored/noisy breathing, collapse, or blue/gray gums; book a same‑day visit for sudden squinting, obvious eye pain, or a red bulge in the eye corner.
Front desk script: They’re small, alert family dogs that like short daily walks and regular brushing. At checkups, we commonly screen their eyes and knees because the breed can be prone to PRA and patellar luxation. Please keep them cool in hot weather—if breathing is hard, they collapse, or gums look blue/gray, that’s an emergency. If you see sudden squinting or a red bulge at the inner corner of an eye, we should see them today.
Front-desk teams most often hear from Tibetan Spaniel owners about: eye issues (watery/red eye, squinting, or a new pink “cherry eye” bump), brief hind‑limb “skipping” or intermittent lameness suggestive of patellar luxation, noisy breathing/reverse‑sneezing episodes after excitement or leash pulling, small‑breed dental concerns (bad breath/tartar), and questions about vision changes or genetic eye screening (PRA3). Escalate immediately to emergency care if the dog is struggling to breathe, has blue/pale gums, collapses, or is overheated; book a same‑day visit for any suddenly red/painful eye, the eye held closed, or a bulging eye.
Front desk script: Thanks for calling—let me get you scheduled. If your Tibbie is having trouble breathing, has blue or pale gums, has collapsed, or was just exposed to heat and seems distressed, please go to the nearest emergency hospital now. If the eye is suddenly red, painful, held shut, or there’s a new pink bump at the inner corner, we recommend a same‑day exam. For brief hind‑leg ‘skipping,’ reverse‑sneezing episodes, dental/halitosis checks, or vision concerns, we’ll book the next available appointment (a short phone video of episodes is helpful).
Tibetan Spaniels have a flat, silky double coat with a small “mane,” feathering on ears, legs, and tail, and pendulous (drop) ears. Routine at‑home brushing at least weekly (more during seasonal shedding) helps prevent mats—especially behind the ears, in the armpits, and in tail feathering—and most dogs do not need full‑body trimming; feet/pad tidying is usually sufficient and any request for shaving should be discussed first as it can affect coat quality. Plan periodic nail trims and as‑needed baths; schedule extra time or a professional de‑shed during heavy shed periods. Because drop ears can trap moisture and debris, advise owners to watch for ear problem signs such as head shaking, foul odor, redness, or obvious pain—if noted, book a same‑day veterinary exam rather than a grooming appointment. Short muzzles can increase heat sensitivity, so avoid hot dryer use and prefer cooler, quieter grooming times in warm weather.
Front desk script: “Tibbies” typically need regular brushing and occasional baths; most don’t need haircuts beyond feet/pad tidying, but we can book nail trims and a de‑shed during heavier shedding. If you’re seeing red or smelly ears, head shaking, or painful mats, we should schedule a same‑day veterinary exam instead of a grooming visit. Would you like a referral to a groomer experienced with double‑coated breeds, or to add a de‑shed to your next appointment?
Tibetan Spaniels are small, short‑muzzled (“brachy‑type”) dogs that can struggle in heat and with airway stress; triage callers for labored/noisy breathing at rest, blue/grey gums, collapse, or recent heat exposure—these are emergencies and should bypass scheduling to the nearest ER. Sudden eye pain (squinting, rubbing, discharge) or eye injury should be routed as a same‑day urgent visit due to this breed’s predisposition to ocular issues. Intermittent hind‑limb “skipping” or brief lameness is commonly reported in small breeds with patellar luxation—book a routine GP exam unless the pet is non‑weight‑bearing or painful (then same‑day). Ask about night‑vision changes (possible PRA) and book non‑urgent GP/ophthalmology screening. For any visit, flag as a brachycephalic‑risk breed, minimize lobby time, and prefer cooler travel/appointment windows in hot weather.
Front desk script: Because Tibetan Spaniels can overheat and have short‑muzzle breathing challenges, if you’re seeing open‑mouth breathing at rest, blue/grey gums, collapse, or recent heat exposure, this is an emergency—please proceed to the nearest emergency hospital now. If there’s sudden eye squinting, rubbing, or discharge, we’ll reserve a same‑day urgent appointment. For a brief ‘skipping’ back leg or mild intermittent limp, we can book our next available GP exam; if your dog can’t bear weight or seems painful, we’ll prioritize a same‑day visit. I’ll also note the breed so we can minimize waiting and keep the environment cool during your appointment.
Puppy (to ~12 months): schedule vaccine/parasite and growth checks every 3–4 weeks until 16–20 weeks; microchip; begin dental home care; and note baseline eye and kneecap checks (breed club recommends ophthalmologist and patella evaluations). Adult (1–7 years): book wellness every 6–12 months; maintain preventives; plan annual eye screening and monitor patellas; discuss timing for professional dental care common in small breeds. Senior/mature (≈7–10+; senior ~10+): move to twice‑yearly exams with clinician‑directed screening; monitor for mobility or vision changes and avoid mid‑day heat due to flat‑faced tendencies. Escalate same day for new persistent cough, exercise intolerance, or sudden lameness; emergency immediately for noisy/labored breathing, heat stress signs, collapse, or blue/pale gums.
Front desk script: For a Tibetan Spaniel puppy, we’ll set vaccine/parasite visits every 3–4 weeks until about 16 weeks and start baseline eye and kneecap checks. As an adult, we recommend wellness every 6–12 months, with an annual eye screen; as a senior (around 10+), we’ll see them twice a year. If you notice noisy or effortful breathing, overheating, collapse, or blue/pale gums, please go to the nearest emergency clinic now and call us on the way.
Tibetan Spaniels are prone to inherited eye disease (PRA) and small‑breed knee issues (patellar luxation), so front‑desk teams should proactively ask about night‑vision changes, bumping into objects in dim light, squinting/red eyes, or a ‘skipping’ hind‑leg gait; set expectations for routine eye and patella evaluations per breed‑club guidance, and clearly triage: sudden eye pain/redness or abrupt vision loss = emergency now; new non‑weight‑bearing or rapidly worsening limp = same‑day visit; gradual limping or intermittent ‘skipping’ without pain can be booked next available.
Front desk script: “Because Tibetan Spaniels can have breed‑linked eye and kneecap issues, may I ask if you’ve noticed trouble seeing at night, squinting/red eyes, or a skipping/holding‑up of a hind leg? We recommend routine eye and patella checks and can book the next available visit. If you see sudden eye pain or any abrupt change in vision, please come in immediately or go to the nearest emergency hospital. If your dog isn’t putting weight on a leg or the limp started suddenly and seems severe, we’ll arrange a same‑day appointment.”
Tibetan Spaniels have higher risk for kneecap issues (patellar luxation) and inherited eye disease (PRA), so build wellness plans that include a patella evaluation and yearly ophthalmologist (CAER) eye exam from early adulthood; discuss PRA3 DNA status if breeding is planned. Because small breeds develop dental disease early, schedule an anesthetized oral evaluation/cleaning around the first birthday and set regular rechecks. Coach owners to book same-day if they notice a hind‑limb “skip”/lameness or any red, painful, squinting, or cloudy eye; treat rapid or labored breathing, blue/pale gums, or collapse as an emergency and direct to the nearest ER. Keep weight ideal to reduce knee strain and review heat/breathing tolerance during warm weather.
Front desk script: Because Tibbies are prone to knee and eye problems, we recommend an annual patella check and a yearly ophthalmologist (CAER) exam—I can add those to your wellness plan now. If you see a skipping hind‑limb or any red/squinting eye, we should see your dog today. If there is heavy or labored breathing, open‑mouth breathing at rest, blue/pale gums, or collapse, go to the nearest emergency hospital immediately and call us on the way. We also plan early dental care around the first birthday for small breeds to stay ahead of periodontal disease.
Small, alert “lookout” dogs—often affectionate with family but reserved with strangers—Tibetan Spaniels do best with calm, gentle handling and a slow approach (allow sniffing, use treats, avoid heavy restraint). Front-desk priorities: note possible heat sensitivity due to a short muzzle; keep them cool on arrival and flag any noisy/labored breathing. Ask about eye history (night-vision changes suggestive of PRA) and any kneecap slipping/ intermittent hind‑leg skipping consistent with small‑breed patellar issues. If the pet has rapid or difficult breathing, blue/gray gums, collapse, or recent heat exposure, escalate immediately to the medical team and mark Emergency.
Front desk script: Hi there—Tibetan Spaniels can be a bit reserved here, so we’ll move slowly and use treats. Has your dog had any eye changes (especially trouble seeing at night) or episodes of a ‘slipping’ kneecap? Please let me know now if he’s panting hard at rest or was in heat today so I can alert the medical team right away.
Small, alert companion dogs that can be vocal and reserved with strangers, Tibetan Spaniels may become stressed in busy kennels—use calm handling and gradual introductions. Operational notes for intake/placement: protect their prominent eyes and short muzzle; avoid heat buildup during transport or housing and watch for eye irritation (squinting, redness, discharge). Post‑adoption, be aware of breed‑linked orthopedic (patellar luxation) and ocular risks (inherited retinal disease, eyelid/eyelash disorders); note any history of gait “skipping” or night vision concerns and flag for vet follow‑up. If adopters report rapid or labored breathing, blue/pale gums, collapse, or a painful/red eye or sudden vision change, instruct immediate emergency evaluation.
Front desk script: Tibetan Spaniels can be sensitive to heat and have prominent eyes, so we advise keeping them cool and calling us if you see squinting, redness, or eye discharge. If you notice noisy/effortful breathing, blue or pale gums, collapse, or a sudden painful eye, please go to the nearest emergency hospital now. Intermittent hind‑leg “skipping” or new limping should be booked for a same‑day or next‑available exam.
Alert, independent, and often reserved with unfamiliar people, Tibetan Spaniels are vigilant ‘watchdog’ types that may alarm-bark; use a calm voice and slow approach, and avoid crowding or direct face-to-face contact at check-in. They are sensitive to harsh handling, so keep restraint minimal and allow the owner to assist when appropriate. Because their shorter muzzles can mean lower heat tolerance and increased breathing effort, seat them in a cool, low-traffic area and minimize wait time; use or request a harness over a neck collar for movement. Watch for noisy/effortful breathing or heavy panting at rest and notify the medical team promptly; if blue/grey gums, collapse, or marked breathing distress are observed, alert the clinician immediately—this is an emergency.
Front desk script: “Hi! Tibbies can be a little watchful with new people, so we’ll keep things calm and get you to a quieter, cool spot. Please keep them on a harness if you have one and tell us right away if you notice heavy panting or noisy breathing. If you see blue-tinged gums, open‑mouth breathing at rest, or any collapse, please tell us immediately so we can bring the medical team in now.”
Tibetan Spaniels have short muzzles and prominent eyes, so escalate immediately for any breathing distress (loud/raspy or labored breathing, open‑mouth breathing at rest, blue/gray gums, collapse) or heat exposure signs (heavy panting, drooling, vomiting/diarrhea, weakness/confusion)—this is an emergency and the pet should be seen now. Treat any eye emergency as same‑day/ER: a suddenly bulging eye, severe eye pain/redness, sudden vision loss, or ocular trauma. Also escalate urgently for persistent cough with rapid/labored breathing or fainting/collapse, and for suspected toxin exposure.
Front desk script: Based on what you’re describing, this meets our emergency criteria for Tibetan Spaniels. Please come to our hospital immediately; if we are closed, go to the nearest 24/7 veterinary ER. I will alert the clinician so we can triage on arrival. If anything changes while you’re on the way, call us en route.