Shih Tzu is a small dog with quite unpredictable eating behavior. As compared to various other toy breeds, this breed eats a large amount of food. Some Shih Tzu dogs are fussy eaters while others can eat with open heart. It is very important to feed your dog quality meals to make sure that your dog stays in shape and lives long and healthy.
The present article discusses more about how to feed a Shih Tzu:. The amount of food which should be given to a Shih Tzu depends on his age, activity level, metabolism and build.
There is also a difference in calories in various foods which you feed to your dog. The reason is very obvious that puppies have a higher activity level and do need more calories for growing. It is important to weigh your dog. A healthy and normal Shih Tzu dog weighs anywhere between 10 to16 pounds. In the long run, a balance or compromise between your needs and those of your dog is usually best. Here are my recommendations for the best dog foods to feed your Shih Tzu.
I have tried to find foods that tick all the boxes for a healthy nutritional diet and provided links to places where you can purchase the food.
Royal Canin is an excellent choice of dog food for your Shih Tzu and gets our best choice award for dry food. Royal Canin dog food is specially formulated for specific breeds having studied their lifestyle, life stage needs and their tendency to develop certain health issues. Due to the Shih Tzu having a shortened jaw it can give them problems biting chunks of foods and this design is specifically to help with that. It has an excellent 4. Halo holistic Dog Food is a good choice if you prefer whole meat products over meat meal or dehydrated meat products.
The ingredients include fresh chicken and eggs as the main sources of protein with digestible carbohydrates like oats, pearled barley, and whole peas. It has been proven to have excellent digestibility providing more available nutrients to your dog during the digestion process.
It also has reduced calories and fat, plus L-Carnitine to improve metabolism and help smaller dogs to achieve the perfect weight. It has a 4. It contains calcium and high-quality protein to support bone and muscle strength in smaller dogs.
It also contains antioxidants and added vitamins such as vitamins C and E. Importantly, it only contains natural ingredients and has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. A good choice for wet dog food for your Shih Tzu is American Journey and it gets our best choice award for wet food. It comes in a variety pack and contains Poultry and Beef flavors. This dog food is made with real meats in a tasty savory broth that provides the high-quality protein your Shih Tzu needs to maintain lean muscles.
American Journey is made from natural ingredients and contains no grains, corn, wheat, or soy. It contains essentials fatty acids including omega-3 and omega-6 which is great in promoting healthy skin and a shiny coat. American Journey Dog Food has a 4. So there you have it! I hope this article has helped you get a better idea of what your Shih Tzu needs to lead a happy, healthy life, how diet is important, and that you feel confident you know the most important things to look out for.
Your email address will not be published. Related Posts. About Elliott Walsh. The perfect food for your puppy Shih Tzu will include a raw diet. To keep Shih Tzu health conditions better, healthy foods will be needed. A variety of foods is important for grooming.
This bread is susceptible to dental problems. The foods rich in these ingredients will make your dog develop stronger teeth and bones. These include meats from muscle and organs, oily fish, raw eggs and certain dairy products like yogurt. You can add cooked brown rice, crumbled brown bread, and mashed sweet potato because they are sources of carbohydrates. You can give fruits and vegetables to your pet dog. These foods may include beans, pumpkin, broccoli, cauliflower, bananas, pears, grapes, avocados, grapes, and so on.
However, it is better to consult a veterinarian to know the exact proportions of food for your pet dog or food for Shih Tzu with allergies. The right portion of food for your pet dog depends on the activity level, metabolism, age, and body structure.
The recommended daily amount of rich-quality dry foods is between half to one cup. There are differences in calories in several foods that you need to feed your puppy for fulfilling the daily requirements. In general, a young puppy should be provided with an ounce of food per single pound of its body weight. Whereas, for an adult dog, it should be a half-ounce of food for one pound of body weight.
Shih Tzu in its growing years will eat more as compared to and adult Shih Tzu. The reason for this is pretty obvious and natural. Puppies tend to have higher activity levels and hence they will need more calories. It also helps them to grow stronger. An important aspect of determining the quantity of food is to weigh your puppy.
A normal and healthy Shih Tzu weighs around ten and sixteen pounds. For an average Shih Tzu, 35 calories per lb. Whereas, for senior dogs, about 30 calories per lb. Puppies under 3 months — During this period free-feed them. This is the method where fresh food is made available to them almost all the time whenever they want to eat.
The puppies are prone to hypoglycemia, which is a steep fall in blood sugar levels. However, keep in mind not to fill the bowl completely with food all the time. Let the bowl be empty. If it is filled up often, the stale food will gather at the bottom. Clean the bowl when needed, and add some fresh food in it.
You need to make your puppy well-aware of the place where food and the water dishes are kept. Puppies between 3 and 12 months — Once the free-feed process is complete, your puppy needs to be feed 3 meals a day.
If you are not present during the mid-day meal, you can leave it with your puppy. For adults — Some adult Shih Tzu prefers 2 meals a day. This works fine when the treats and snacks are taken care of during the daytime.
But it is recommended to provide them with 3 meals a day. This is reserved for much bigger breeds. Shih Tzu has a diverse range of health issues. However, some of them can be reduced by consuming the right kind of food. Here are the foods that are not allowed for Shih Tzu because they are toxic to them.
Onions — They have the capability to damage the red blood corpuscles RBC. Watch out for foods such as pasta sauce, meatloaf, and pizza that may contain traces of onions. Fruit seeds and pits — The pits and seeds of certain fruits that include pears , apples and apricots may cause a range of serious health problems. Some of these seeds may get deadly within a day. Macadamia nuts — This kind of nuts can have devastating reactions on your pet. The results of ingesting them would prove fatal.
It can cause paralysis and tremors. However, a small amount of chocolate can result in seizures, coma, and even death to small dogs like Shih Tzu. Grapes and raisins — Only a small amount of these foods are sufficient to cause severe kidney damage.
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