Shih Tzu Information Center
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Feeding a Shih Tzu
Measured Dog Food
When your Shih Tzu is still a puppy but done weaning, you should feed your dog 3 times each day. You can also give your dog some treats in between meals as long as they are healthy. An adult dog should eat once per day.
It is recommended to never "free feed". This means that you should not leave out dog food for your Shih Tzu to eat whenever they wish. Meals should be scheduled. A puppy should eat an ounce of food (28.4 grams) for each pound that he or she weighs. For an adult: 1/2 ounce per pound.
You can weigh your Shih Tzu by first placing a basket or other comfortable container on a scale and seeing how much it weighs. Then, place your Shih Tzu inside the basket to see the total weight. Subtract the weight of the container from the total weight to learn how much your dog weighs.
It is recommended to never "free feed". This means that you should not leave out dog food for your Shih Tzu to eat whenever they wish. Meals should be scheduled. A puppy should eat an ounce of food (28.4 grams) for each pound that he or she weighs. For an adult: 1/2 ounce per pound.
You can weigh your Shih Tzu by first placing a basket or other comfortable container on a scale and seeing how much it weighs. Then, place your Shih Tzu inside the basket to see the total weight. Subtract the weight of the container from the total weight to learn how much your dog weighs.
How Much is Too Much
Sometimes it may seem as if a dog could eat endlessly. This is not true of course; a dog needs a certain amount of food each day. Just like humans, too little food will not offer the dog enough nutrients and vitamins and a Shih Tzu will not be able to properly grow. Health issues will eventually appear is a dog is underfed for an extended time.
Determining Proper Weight
Determining Proper Weight
Too much food and just like a person, your Shih Tzu will gain weight. When a dog is overweight this will first show in the rib area. A Shih Tzu has long fur so one can determine a general idea of proper weight by touching the rib cage.
If you can immediately feel ribs that are seem to be almost poking through the skin, your Shih Tzu is extremely underweight. If you can feel the ribs but also feel a thin layer of fat and muscle, your dog is most likely an appropriate weight. If you cannot feel the ribs at all because so much fat and tissue is covering them, your dog may be carrying too much weight.
If you can immediately feel ribs that are seem to be almost poking through the skin, your Shih Tzu is extremely underweight. If you can feel the ribs but also feel a thin layer of fat and muscle, your dog is most likely an appropriate weight. If you cannot feel the ribs at all because so much fat and tissue is covering them, your dog may be carrying too much weight.
Is Human Food Okay?
If you are wondering what to feed your Shih Tzu and if human food is okay, the answer is yes and no. Processed human food is undoubtedly not healthy for your Shih Tzu. This means any food that you could buy at a restaurant, fast food restaurant, microwave meals and more. It is best to feed your Shih Tzu a very high quality dog food. However, for those owners who strongly wish to cook for their dog, the food must be simple and basic such as boiled or baked boneless chicken and white rice sans any spices or flavoring. There are many healthy homemade dog food products and recipes to be found on the Internet.
Dangerous Foods
While it is always suggested to feed your Shih Tzu a quality dog food, an owner must be aware of basic human foods that this dog is allergic to. Some are quite surprising:
Food and Eating Red Flags
The relationship between your Shih Tzu and their dog food can give you an early warning sign of many issues. If your dog suddenly begins to eat less food there may be many reasons including:
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If you are wondering what to feed your Shih Tzu and if human food is okay, the answer is yes and no. Processed human food is undoubtedly not healthy for your Shih Tzu. This means any food that you could buy at a restaurant, fast food restaurant, microwave meals and more. It is best to feed your Shih Tzu a very high quality dog food. However, for those owners who strongly wish to cook for their dog, the food must be simple and basic such as boiled or baked boneless chicken and white rice sans any spices or flavoring. There are many healthy homemade dog food products and recipes to be found on the Internet.
Dangerous Foods
While it is always suggested to feed your Shih Tzu a quality dog food, an owner must be aware of basic human foods that this dog is allergic to. Some are quite surprising:
- Grapes and Raisins: It may seem odd that such a healthy fruit for humans can be so dangerous to your Shih Tzu; however these foods can cause serious kidney damage and it does not take a large amount
- Chocolate: Most people have heard that chocolate may not be good for a dog; the facts are that it can cause seizures, coma and death to a small dog such as the Shih Tzu
- Onions. Beware of giving any meat to your dog if it has onions on it or mixed in. This can destroy a dog's red blood cells.
- Coffee, Tea and Soda: caffeine can produce seizures, coma and eventual death
- Salt. A large quantity of salt will cause kidney issues
- Macadamia Nuts: This expensive and sought after nut can do great harm to a Shih Tzu or any other dog. The results of ingesting this can be muscle tremors and paralysis.
- Tomatoes: They certainly make salads complete and what would we do without spaghetti sauce? However, given to a dog this food will cause possible heart arrhythmias or tremors.
- Fruit pits and seeds: Again, a healthy food to humans but dangerous to your Shih Tzu. All fruit seeds and pits can cause a range of medical issues including breathing difficulty, and/or fluids that fill up in a dog's abdomen and heart. Some fruit seeds can kill a Shih Tzu within 24 hours!
Food and Eating Red Flags
The relationship between your Shih Tzu and their dog food can give you an early warning sign of many issues. If your dog suddenly begins to eat less food there may be many reasons including:
- Your dog may be ill. When dogs are in pain they may react outwardly by showing aggression or inwardly by eating less
- Your dog may be overheated. A dog in hot temperature will eat less. The Shih Tzu is very sensitive to heat.
- Your Shih Tzu may be allergic to the dog food and because of an upset tummy, is eating less
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