The Shih Tzu is a popular toy breed, known for its cheerful personality. They prefer high-quality food, but are you sure you can meet the actual dog’s dietary requirements?
A few things to keep in mind:
The Shih Tzu is a beautiful toy breed with a striking coat and an absolutely charming personality. Descendants of ancient Chinese royalty, they expect foods of the highest quality when it comes to their daily meal. But what is the best dog food for a Shih Tzu that meets this high standard?
Lucky for you, we’ve compiled all the information you need to feed your Shih Tzu the best way, with foods that are healthy and delicious enough to please the aristocratic pooch!
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Shih Tzu
Like all dogs, there are a number of foods that humans can eat that are harmful to your Shih Tzu. These include things like chocolate, grapes, and avocados (you can see a full list below). But unlike other dogs, Shih Tzus are prone to certain health problems that can be made worse by eating the wrong foods.
Shih Tzus are prone to breathing difficulties due to their (adorably) short noses. They may also have mobility problems due to their long backs and may suffer from hip/elbow dysplasia and other joint problems. These problems are made worse if your Shih Tzu is overweight, so it’s important to avoid fattening foods like cheese and watch your Shih Tzu’s tummy ;).
Onion, garlic, leek and chives
All these foods belong to the Allium family. Anything in this group is a poisonous food for Shih Tzu, whether boiled, cooked or whatever, it is not something your Shih Tzu should ever eat.
These foods are said to make dogs feel sick and in large amounts can cause damage to red blood cells. You won’t always see symptoms of poisoning right away, as the toxic effects can take a few days to kick in.
Shih Tzu puppy eating
It is recommended that up to three months of age a Shih Tzu eat freely, that is, the feeder can be filled and always replenished, letting them choose what and when they eat.
After that you will start to get used to a regular schedule, normally 3 times a day and the amount stipulated within the norm. The labels of the feed bags indicate the ideal amount for each type of animal.