When a Shih Tzu is a Picky Eater

Overview

If your Shih Tzu is very picky about meals and snacks, what should be one of the easier care elements can turn into a real struggle. Instead of just filling up the bowl and placing it down, mealtime can be a terribly stressful event, as you hover over your dog, hoping that something will be eaten. Chances are, you’re putting too much effort in just getting your Shih Tzu to accept their food. And, it’s time for things to change.

Fortunately, while some health issues will need to be ruled out, and some changes in the type of food may be necessary, in most cases it is entirely possible to resolve picky eater situations in a relatively short amount of time.

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Aspects Seen with Picky Shih Tzu Dogs

If any of the following sounds familiar, your Shih Tzu is overly finicky:

• Your dog only likes a certain kibble for a short amount of time; generally 3 months is the limit before their taste apparently changes.

• You’re always trying new brands and new flavors.

• You try to coerce your Shih Tzu to eat and may even hand-feed them.

• There is constant worry that your Shih Tzu is not eating enough.

Is a Shih Tzu Ever Right to be Picky About Food?

In short, yes, to a certain extent.

To some degree, dogs can't be blamed for expressing their like or dislike for certain foods. Some love chicken, others prefer lamb, and still others will want a fish-based meal over any others. However, it is not realistic for you to be a pawn in a game where your Shih Tzu’s taste buds appear to change by the month.

Pickiness can be warranted if a certain additive like a chemical preservative, or sometimes a real food ingredient like wheat, causes a dog to have an upset stomach; in these cases a Shih Tzu may be finicky because they know eating will lead to discomfort soon afterward.

Finally, if a food lacks proper protein, a Shih Tzu may actually be able to sense this. Dietary protein contains 10 amino acids that canines cannot make on their own, which all play important roles, including providing the carbon chains needed to make glucose, which is a primary energy source. Studies show that canines can sense when their food lacks a single one of those 10 amino acids and may avoid eating it.

How to Resolve Picky Eating

#1 Have health issues ruled out.

A wide range of health issues have decreased appetite as a symptom and it's often one of the first signs to manifest. Also, dental issues including painful tooth decay, tooth infections, and/or loose teeth can be the reason that a Shih Tzu suddenly becomes picky about food. So, bringing your Shih Tzu to the vet should always be the first step. You won't want to be addressing this from a behavioral standpoint if something health-related is to blame.

#2 Be familiar with serving sizes.

The majority of the time, pet parents who are worried their Shih Tzu is refusing to eat full meals are wildly overestimating how much food their puppy or dog should be eating.

The Shih Tzu is small toy breed and therefore pups and adults require a small amount of food relative to both larger dogs and of course to what us humans consume. Though it varies depending on life stage (puppy vs adult), activity level, weight, and health status, most Shih Tzu dogs only need 1/2 to 2 cups of food per day (not per meal).

For instance, using Wellness Complete Health for Puppies as an example, a 5-pound 4-month old puppy only needs 7/8 of a cup per day (not per meal). Split into 3 meals, that is under 1/3 cup for each meal. That's not much and it's easy to assume that a pup is picky when in fact they are eating as expected.

To know the right serving size for your particular Shih Tzu, read the feeding instructions on the label; these are based on a combination of age and weight and are generally on point for most brands.

Tips: Know how much your puppy or dog weighs; do not guess. And, when measuring out food, do not guess; use a measuring cup (for dry food, not liquid) or a small kitchen scale like the GreaterGoods Digital Kitchen Food Scale to measure out portions.

#3 Stick with a schedule.

Only puppies under 3 months old or those ordered by the vet to be free-fed should have food left out round-the-clock. For all others, a schedule of 3 meals per day is best. Several small healthy snacks can be given in between meals.

#4 Reassess the food that you are offering.

Moving forward, sticking to just one main kibble for meals is part of the remedy for a very finicky eater. So every bite counts and you'll want to feel confident that the food you offer is top-quality. This means a 4 or 5-star rated food that's 100% all natural (no synthetic preservatives and no artificial flavor enhancers or coloring dyes) with no by-products, high wheat counts, or fillers like corn.

If you are thinking about changing brands, there are a couple of stand-out options:

For a grain-free option: Wellness CORE for Small Breeds. This really cannot be beat. It is 100% grain-free, with a base of turkey and chicken, which is generally tolerated extremely well. It has optimum protein and fiber levels, is sized correctly for small dogs, and has all of the extras that you expect a top brand to have with zero synthetic preservatives or other additives you want to steer clear of.

For one with healthy-grains: Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds. This has a base of turkey and oatmeal, both which are generally very easy on the tummy. There is also salmon, a great source of omega-3. This also has no chemical preservatives, artificial additives, by-products, or fillers.

See also: Shih Tzu Feeding Guidelines for details regarding wet vs dry, grain vs grain-free, and other food-related tips including a list of recommended brands.

Or, you may want to consider home cooking:

This is a responsibility that not every pet parent wants to take on and that's completely understandable. It can be a bit time consuming and you'll have to purchase a daily multivitamin, in addition to all of the ingredients. But, in some cases, offering fresh, homemade recipes for dogs can be a method of pleasing the pickiest of eaters. It allows you the opportunity to fine-tune meals just to your Shih Tzu's liking. You can give your dog the base proteins that they like best and choose the types of veggies and fruits that they most enjoy.

#5 Make the food more appealing if needed.

This generally applies to dry kibble. And note that if you choose this method to help your picky eater, it is one that you’ll want to keep in place for the foreseeable future since offering this just randomly is a bit of a tease. This said, it’s fairly easy and straightforward: Many picky dogs do best when their food has a bit of moisture to it and/or is warm.

While offering a purely canned, wet food is detrimental to good dental hygiene, it can help to drizzle some low-sodium chicken or beef broth over dry kibble and mix it up well. Alternatively, you can add in a bit of canned food to blend into the kibble (about 1/4 wet to 3/4 dry); if you opt for this, it’s best to stick with the same brand.

In conjunction with this or as a standalone method, you may opt to warm the food. The easiest way to do this is in the microwave. This is best if you are normally there for lunchtime; if not, you may find that your Shih Tzu does good at breakfast and dinner, but doesn’t like the midday meal that is room temperature.

#6 Don't hover or fuss.

Some dogs act picky because it brings them lots of attention. Their humans stand close-by on edge, there's lots of excitement if they do take a bite, and there's tons of babying if they do not. So, take this out of the equation by giving your Shih Tzu space when they eat and remaining nonchalant regardless of whether they eat a little bit or they scoff and turn up their nose.

#7 Stand your ground.

Many finicky Shih Tzu dogs have learned that if they hold out long enough, their humans will hand over deli meats, cheese, parts of their own fresh-cooked dinner, or whatever food comes next in a bid to encourage eating. So, as leader, it is up to you to set the tone that these games will no longer be played.

Walking away and being firm is indeed difficult for some pet parents but should never be thought of as being callous. When health issues and dental problems are ruled out and you’ve chosen a food that you feel confident about in regard to quality, it'll be time to stop the food carousel.

You'll prepare the meal, place the bowl down, and walk away. When you first start doing this, your Shih Tzu may put up a big fuss or be more dramatic than ever. But, don't let it rattle you.

To a canine, eating is a primal survival instinct; it’s one of the strongest instincts a dog has. If you stand firm, your puppy or dog should eventually eat. If your guy or gal has still has not taken a bite for one hour, remove the bowl for 20 - 30 minutes. Then, place it back down. If needed, repeat this.

The longest that you’ll want to go is to the point of the next scheduled meal. Very stubborn Shih Tzu may indeed hold out that long; but, they typically make up for it at the next meal time.

Note that if your Shih Tzu does not eat whatsoever and continues refusing food at the next planned mealtime, this points to an issue that warrants an immediate vet visit. In some cases, you may be instructed to offer a nutritional gel and/or medication may be needed to help stimulate the appetite.

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