Shih tzu puppy

Question
QUESTION: for one my shih tzu has a hump in her back like a camel.. is that bad or some what normal? and two she's 8 months old and she pee's a little like every 5-10 minutes and she pee's alot like every 30 minute's or so i don't time it exact thats just what it seems like. i took her outside and she pee'd and took a dump but i brung her back in the house and like 2 minutes later she pee'd in the house so i picked her up real fast and took her outside and she pee'd again? whats up with that? Thanks :)

ANSWER: No, a roached back is not normal as a shih tzu should have a straight topline. It could be a structural fault, or she could be roaching it up due to pain or a spinal misalignment. Yes, dogs can need spinal alignments just as much as we do sometimes. You might want to find a veterinary chiropractor and have her checked out. http://www.avcadoctors.com/search_for_avca_certified_doctor.htm

As to the frequent urination, it sounds to me like she has a bladder infection. Call your vet about having a urinalysis done on her.

If she is spayed, that can sometimes cause incontinence, but even that shouldn't have her urinating that frequently. Definitely time for a visit to the vet.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: well i cut back on the water last night and she seems to be doing better. i took her out at 1:15am and she pee'd and she dumped then she made it all night and didn't pee in her bed and i took her out at 5:50am and she did both again so what do you think now?

and the back is not all that bad my brother said his puppies back was the same way when he was a puppy..so you still think its time for a vet visit?

do you think its ok to take her and have her a parvo shot even if she's 8 months old?
thanks for your time :)

Answer
Four-and-a-half hours is a very short night, but it is great that she did not potty in her crate. I do cut off the water of my (baby) puppies by 8 PM when I am housebreaking, but by eight months they are treated just like all the other dogs and have water available right up until bedtime, and they are crated 7-8 hours every night. If you are feeding dry dog food, water should be available at all times during the day. Urinating outside, and then coming in the house and urinating again is not normal... nor is urinating every 5-10 minutes... or even every half hour. Keep a journal so that you know exactly how long she is going between eliminations.  

So your brother's puppy also had a back "roached like a camel"? Is it still the same way as an adult, or did it level out? If his dog is related to your dog, maybe it is indeed a genetic fault.

I cannot comment on the parvo shot without further information. Did your puppy have all her required puppy shots? If she did, she needs nothing further until her one-year boosters, and then she is good for life except for her required 3-year rabies vaccines. If you are more comfortable following the AVMA Guidelines, those vaccines can be given every three years, but they really are not necessary after those initial vaccines. One could also have titers run rather than vaccinating if more reassurance is needed.  http://www.dvmvac.com/Cannprot.shtml