Shih Tzu Feeding Guidelines

Sections on this Page:

Overview: An introduction to Shih Tzu Feeding Guidelines

Optimal Nutrition Schedule: Timing and Amounts for Shih Tzu puppies and adults

Aspects to Consider: Wet vs Dry Dog Food, Grain vs Grain Free and Key Elements of Quality Dog Food

The Best Food for Shih Tzu Puppies and Dogs: Exact recommended brands, both grain and grain-free

The Best Food for Seniors - Exact recommended brands for Shih Tzu adults age 8 and older.

Spotlight Food Articles: Includes: The Best Treats and Snacks for Shih Tzu Dogs, Help a Shih Tzu Gain Weight, Home Cooking, Picky Eaters and Supplements.

Overview

Providing your Shih Tzu with high-quality meals and nutritious snacks is essential for their well-being. Offering foods laden with chemicals, such as colorings or additives, can lead to various issues, including skin and coat problems as well as digestive complications. In addition, foods with by-products or fillers are something to be avoided. Let's dive into all the feeding guidelines for Shih Tzu puppies and dogs.

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Optimal Nutrition Schedule

Timing: How many meals and snacks you give to your Shih Tzu depends on age:

Puppy, under 3 months old: Free-feed to prevent hypoglycemia. Keep fresh food available at all times. Avoid 'topping off' the bowl; instead, regularly clean it and add new kibble. Help your puppy locate its food and water dishes initially to encourage regular eating.

Puppies 3 to 12 months old: Shift to 3 meals per day. If away during the day, leave the mid-day meal for the puppy.

Adults: Opt for 2 to 3 meals per day. Toy breeds like the Shih Tzu shouldn't be limited to one meal a day; they need at least two, considering their small size and the potential for snacks and training treats throughout the day.

Amounts: How much food to feed a Shih Tzu varies based on food type (wet, dry, fresh, freeze-dried), quality (fillers vs. no fillers), activity level, health status, age, and metabolism.

For manufactured food, refer to the label's feeding guidelines, which are often based on weight. Remember, the serving sizes are usually per day, assuming several snacks are also given. As a general rule, the daily serving size is about 3/4 to 1 and 1/4 cups for each 10 pounds of body weight

Aspects to Consider

Wet vs Dry

Wet Food: While appealing to many dogs, wet food may not support dental health, can be pricier, isn't suitable for treat-release toys, and can lead to runny stools if it's the main component of a diet.

Dry Food: Beneficial for dental health, compatible with treat-dispensing toys, and easier on the stomach, leading to healthier stools.

For a balanced diet, dry kibble is generally preferable. To make dry food more appealing to a Shih Tzu puppy or dog that prefer wet food, consider adding low-sodium chicken broth, soaking kibble in warm water for 5-10 minutes, or warming the food. Mixing wet food into dry kibble is also an option; if so, use the same brand as your dry food and substitute 1/8 cup of kibble with 2 tablespoons of wet food per meal to maintain proper feeding ratios.

Grain vs Grain-free

Traditionally, grain-free diets were advised for dogs with grain intolerance or allergies, though sometimes gluten, not grains, is the issue.

Recent associations have been made between some grain-free dog foods and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a canine heart disease. However, other studies suggest the actual link may be with a BEG diet (which stands for boutique, exotic and/or grain-free) with the issue possibly being 'exotic meats' (like alligator, kangaroo, bison, ostrich, and venison) alone or in combination with a grain-free recipe that has peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as one of the top 5 ingredients.

If you are not sure if you should offer grain or grain-free, discuss this with your Shih Tzu's veterinarian. The answer often depends on factors such as any previous grain intolerance and health status. If given the okay for a diet without grains, it may be advisable to choose formulas that contain traditional meats such as chicken, lamb, turkey, duck, or fish (in other words, not part of a BEG diet as mentioned above).

To offer choices for both options, ahead you will see recommendations for some of the best foods that do have some grains that tend to be tolerated quite well (like brown rice and quinoa) and grain-free formulas for Shih Tzu with a proven history of high intolerance or allergies to any sort of grains.

Key Elements of Quality Dog Food

Poor-quality food can lead to issues like itching, digestive upset, behavioral problems, and even long-term health risks like cancer. Here's what to watch out for and what to look for in high-quality dog food:

Avoid:

Fillers: Ingredients like corn bran and soybean mill run that offer no nutritional value.
By-products: Low-quality meat parts unfit for human consumption, such as beaks and feet.
Generic Meats: Unspecified meat sources, potentially including roadkill or diseased animals.
Artificial Additives and Preservatives: Chemicals like Blue #2, Red #40, and MSG can cause skin and digestive issues, and potentially lead to long-term health problems.
High Wheat Content and Gluten: Can lead to food intolerance and imbalance in protein and healthy fats.
Meats Sourced Outside North America: Be cautious of foods labeled 'Made in the USA' but sourcing meats internationally.

Qualities of High-Quality Dog Food:

Natural Ingredients: Human-grade meats, vegetables, fruits, whole grains (for non-grain-free diets), and healthy fats.
Natural Preservatives: Such as mixed tocopherols, spearmint, rosemary, and green tea extract.
Added Supplements: Omega-3 and 6, antioxidants, glucosamine, chondroitin, and probiotics for overall health and well-being.
Proper Sizing for Small Breeds: Kibble size and shape suited for Shih Tzus to encourage eating and aid digestion.
Easily Digestible Formula: Made with a small dog's digestive system in mind.
North American Sourcing and Production: With exceptions for certain ingredients from countries with comparable safety standards.

Selecting the right food involves avoiding harmful ingredients and choosing those that support your Shih Tzu's health, with particular attention to their size and digestive needs.

The Best Food for Shih Tzu Puppies and Dogs

Now that we've covered what to avoid and what you want your Shih Tzu's food to have, let's look at some of our top recommendations.

The following meet every single requirement for a top-quality, superior dog food, and go above and beyond. With any of these, you can feel 100% confident that you are offering top-notch meals.

With grains:

1. Merrick Classic Recipe for Small Breeds.

The #1 ingredient is chicken meat. Other ingredients include turkey, salmon (great for omega-3 and 6), chicken liver, carrots, blueberries (great source of antioxidants), chia seed, oatmeal, and apples. This has a unique blend of healthy grains: brown rice, barley, and quinoa (super healthy) all 3 of which tend to be very well tolerated.

There is no soy or corn, this has all of the recommended vitamins and minerals, and there is zero artificial coloring and zero chemical preservatives. This is considered a top-quality brand, is sized for small dogs, and is made in the USA.

2. Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds.

This is an excellent option, containing ingredients like turkey, chicken, oatmeal, salmon, flaxseed, brown rice, barley, peas, tomatoes, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, apples, and blueberries. These components provide essential nutrients, including omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and well-tolerated grains. It's free from fillers, corn, soy, wheat, by-products, artificial colors, flavors, and chemical preservatives.

The puppy formula includes DHA for cognitive development, while the senior formula, suitable for Shih Tzu dogs aged 8 and up, contains added glucosamine and chondroitin. Designed for small breeds, the kibble size is perfect for little dogs, and it's manufactured in the USA.

3. Halo Natural for Small Breeds - Chicken and Liver.

This organic dog food is a top recommendation for its high-quality, natural ingredients. It features antibiotic and hormone-free chicken, cage-free chickens, non-GMO vegetables and fruits, with no processed foods. Free from artificial colors, flavors, and with all-natural preservatives, Halo is known for its easily digestible food, beneficial for a Shih Tzu's stomach.

The formula includes chicken, eggs, chicken liver, salmon, peas, oats, vegetable broth, pearled barley, flaxseed, sweet potato, apples, blueberries, green beans, carrots, cranberries, and zucchini, offering a nutritious blend of vegetables and fruits. Additional ingredients are vitamins, minerals, and plant-based preservatives.

Manufactured in the USA, Halo sources some vegetables from Canada and New Zealand, known for their stringent safety standards.

Grain-free:

Please note: If you jumped down to this section but want to read the latest update regarding grain-free dog food, jump back a bit to 'What about grain-free?'.

1. Wellness CORE for Small Breeds.

If you do wish to go with a grain-free recipe, this is one of the best. CORE is a simple recipe with traditional meats that only includes wholesome foods: turkey, chicken, spinach, peas, potatoes, flaxseed, salmon oil, broccoli, carrots, apples, blueberries, kale, and sweet potatoes. All other ingredients are to naturally preserve or flavor the food or are added vitamins or minerals.

There are no fillers, by-products, corn, soy, or wheat. And there are zero artificial flavoring, coloring, or chemical preservatives. This also has healthy omega fatty acids, antioxidants, botanicals, glucosamine and chondroitin, and probiotics. This is ideally sized for a pleasant eating experience and, of course, this is made in the USA.

2. Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Small Breed.

This is a budget-friendly grain-free option for your Shih Tzu, free from the 16 FDA-listed DCM-related brands. It offers tasty recipes like Salmon & Whitefish, Chicken & Turkey, and Poultry-free Pork, Beef & Lamb. It's 100% natural, with no artificial additives or fillers, made in the USA, and includes essential vitamins and minerals.

The Best Food for Senior Shih Tzu Dogs - Age 8 and Up

When your Shih Tzu ages into their senior years, it's time to switch to a senior diet. This breed often faces joint issues, and most senior dogs develop osteoarthritis. The diet should match their energy levels and include nutrients to prevent skin and coat problems common in aging Shih Tzu dogs.

Here's what to look for:

Joint health: Look for glucosamine and chondroitin for senior dogs.
Digestive health: Ensure fiber and probiotics for regular digestion.
Immune support: Choose a blend of vitamins and minerals.
Skin and coat: Prioritize quality omegas to combat drying.
Lower calorie content for reduced activity in senior dogs.

Our top recommendation for the best food for senior Shih Tzu dogs is Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry for Small Breed Senior Dogs; this is a superior brand that meets every single requirement of what you want in a food, and additionally offers all of the senior-specific ingredients that we've detailed.

Ingredients include turkey, carrots (ideal source of beta carotene), flaxseed (rich in omega 3), chicken, oatmeal (easy on the stomach), barley, brown rice, spinach, sweet potato (great for the digestive tract), apple, and blueberries (excellent source of antioxidants).

As with all of our recommended foods, this is all-natural, has zero chemical preservatives, and is made in the USA.

Spotlight Food Articles:

The Best Snacks and Treats for a Shih Tzu: Just as much thought should go into snacks and treats as it does for main meals. Details on this, including our top picks.

Shih Tzu Home on a Scale image, illustrated

How to Help a Shih Tzu Lose Weight: If your Shih Tzu is a bit overweight, see our top tips for helping them lose the excess weight without compromising their happiness.

Shih Tzu Home Cooking image, illustrated

Home Cooking for a Shih Tzu: Covers why homemade food can be a good option in certain cases and leads to a PDF cookbook we are offering via GumRoad (our eBook delivery service).

Shih Tzu Picky Eaters: It's normal for a dog to prefer one flavor over another, but if things have gotten out of hand, see our detailed guide to address this issue.

Shih Tzu Dietary Supplements image, illustrated

Shih Tzu Supplements: Not all dogs require supplements. However, adults age 8 and up should have a daily joint supplement. Other supplements may be helpful for certain issues such as dry skin and coat issues.

Toxic Foods

There are a number of food that are toxic to canines:

Grapes and Raisins: These 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 fact is that even a small amount can cause seizures, coma, and death to a small dog like the Shih Tzu.
Onions: This can destroy a dog's red blood cells. Take caution with foods like pizza, pasta sauce, and meatloaf that may contain onions.
Coffee, Tea, and Soda: Caffeine can cause seizures, coma and eventual death.
Salt: While this is needed in small amounts, a large quantity of salt will cause kidney issues.
Macadamia nuts: This expensive and sought-after nut can cause devastating reactions. The results of ingesting this can include muscle tremors and paralysis.
Fruit pits and seeds: The fruit seeds and pits of many fruits including apricots, apples, and pears can cause a range of health issues including breathing difficulty, and/or fluids that fill up in a dog's abdomen and heart. Some fruit seeds can be fatal within 24 hours.
Xylitol - This is an artificial sweetener that can be found in gum, candy, baked goods, and other foods.

Top Fish-Based Treats for a Shih Tzu - The best ways to get more Omega-3 into your little one's diet. Read about the extraordinary benefits no dog should be without.

The Best Bowls for a Shih Tzu - Don't let the bowls be an afterthought. The right bowls will help with everything from preventing facial hair staining to easing stomach distress. Read more about this and see our top recommendations.

Why is My Shih Tzu Puppy Not Gaining Weight - All of the reasons why a pup may struggle to put on pounds and exactly how to help. This covers steps you can take from home and signs that it's time for a visit to the vet.

When a Shih Tzu is Always Hungry - If your Shih Tzu seems to have a bottomless stomach, this article is for you. There are several factors that can affect a puppy or dog's appetite. Things to look for and red flags signs of more serious issues.