Shih Tzus are known for being loyal, active, intelligent, and friendly. They are small in size and furry, so they are very adorable. Many people have this breed of dog because of these qualities. If you are one of them and on the lookout for the best food for your Shihtzu, then you are at the right place.
Whether you are a new pet parent or an old one who owns a Shih Tzu, you know these little pets can be as fussy as they are furry. They look small, but they eat a nice fill. However, since we are talking about a small animal, it should be fed in several small doses. A balanced and nutritious diet is as important for your dog as it is for you. It ensures your pup stays away from illnesses and has a long lifespan.
The first thing that you should look for in the food of your friend is proteins. Be sure that these proteins are taken from a high-quality source such as beef, chicken, fish, and eggs. Your Shih Tzu also requires an equivalent amount of fats. The right sources that fats should be derived from include chicken fat and fish oil.
Vegetable oil or lard are not healthy sources of fat. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids is crucial for your Shih Tzu. By the way, this kind of diet is beneficial for all kinds of small breed dogs like Pomeranian, Maltese, Yorkies, and corgis.
Proteins ensure your pooch remains active, while fats take care of its fur coat. Don’t they just always look great on pictures with their nice fur coat? Shih Tzus, just like Maltese, do not need carbs for development, so a low-carb diet will do. In fact, a diet with a lot of carbohydrates can be harmful to their health.
Grains should be avoided at all costs. Additionally, your dog also requires minerals and vitamins, and fruits and veggies can be a good source for that such as small carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and pumpkins. How many calories your friend requires depends on its age. Make sure your Shih Tzu gets as much water as it needs.
A nutritious and balanced diet will make certain your Shih Tzu remains happy, in good health, and free from diseases. There are many dog foods available out there, but not all are reliable and good for your Shih Tzu. Here are reviews of the three best foods for your Shih Tzu.
Overview: Table with results of our reviews
| Product | Brand | Size | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free Recipe for Dog, Adult Chicken Recipe Small Breed Grain Free, 11 lb | BLUE Freedom | 11 lb | |
| Diamond Naturals Dry Food for Adult Dogs, Small Breed Chicken and Rice Formula, 18 Pound Bag | Diamond Pet Foods | 18 Pound Bag | |
| Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food, Original Turkey & Chicken, 26-Pound Bag | Wellness Core® | 26-Pound Bag |
Reviews of the TOP 3 Shihtzu foods
1. Diamond Naturals Dry Food for Adult Dogs: Small Breed Chicken and Rice Formula
This one is one of the top brands as it has all the correct ingredients. Experts keep including it in the top 3 of their brand reviews. This product provides your furry friend with just the right amount of proteins and carbohydrates, making it one of the most complete recipes available on the market.
It has other protein-enriched ingredients as well, but the main one is chicken. The primary carbohydrate source is brown rice, which provides an ample amount of fiber that prevents your dog from getting overweight and improves health.
Feeding it to your dog will help to take care of poo problems, often a problem for this breed. Also, it has vitamin A supplement that keeps the Shih Tzu’s fur shiny, lush, and smooth. Diamond dog food recipes taste good and has quality ingredients that meet all the energy requirements of your Shih Tzu and other small breeds.
It is easy to chew, and that’s a great feature considering Shih Tzus have small mouths. It also keeps the teeth clean and free of plaque. You won’t regret feeding it to him or her!
Pros:
- Carbohydrates come from a healthy source
- Provides fiber to your pooch that can save it from obesity
- Ingredients include Vitamin A supplement that helps with the Shih Tzu’s fur coat
Cons:
- The product is not rich in calcium, so you’ll have to add something else to your pup’s diet when it grows older
2. Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free Small Breed Chicken Recipe
Blue Buffalo is a renowned brand known for its healthy recipes and affordable price. This product is free of grains and is, thus, an excellent choice for Shih Tzus (as well as for maltese by the way).
The proteins in this one have been sourced from boneless chicken and the fats from chicken and fish oil, which differs from other recipes on the market. Fatty acids such as DHA and ARA that support the dog’s brain and eyes development, as stated on akc, are also found in this product. This dog food provides your dog with oxidative balance which can avoid general health problems.
It is nutritious and keeps the coat and skin of the Shihtzu healthy. The ingredients stimulate fast metabolism, ensuring your pup faces no digestive issues. Your Shihtzu will surely enjoy this food.
Pros:
- It’s a grain-free product, so it’s excellent for all those Shih Tzus that have allergies
- Balanced amounts of proteins and fats as required by Shih Tzus
- Promotes the growth of the pooch
- Quality ingredients that are full of nutrition at a reasonable price
Cons:
- Recently, there have been some complaints by users that the quality of the product has gone down. However, the brand has confirmed that these are just rumors being spread by competitors.
3. Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food
This dog food has well-balanced ingredients. It is high in proteins and low in carbs and has the perfect number of calories to keep him or her active. The proteins come from boneless turkey and chicken and the fat comes from chicken fat, salmon oil, and flaxseed, providing your Shih Tzu with the right amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
A good guide can be found on Webmd.com. These ingredients make sure your pooch and its fur remain healthy. It includes glucosamine and chondroitin that keep your dog’s joints healthy. These are beneficial for all small breeds. The product also has fruits and veggies that provide natural sources of nutrients to keep your Shih Tzu’s immune system strong.
It doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients or flavors and, hence, is an ideal food for your furry buddy. It’s tasty and thus, your pooch will enjoy its snack.
Pros:
- Free of grains and other ingredients that should be avoided such as artificial preservatives and meat by-products
- High in proteins to keep your dog energetic throughout the day
- Optimum amount of calorie level
- Good for the bones and joints
Cons:
- The proteins might be too high for lazy or senior dogs
Best puppy foods for Shihtzu
Shih Tzu puppies grow into their maximum size fast. That’s because the highest a Shih Tzu adult dog can weigh is from 9 to 16 pounds. Hence, you should feed puppies food that encourages their rapid growth. A good place to start is small-breed puppy formula. Let your puppy eat as much as its wants and whenever its wants so that its dietary needs can be met.
As puppies are still in their growing age, they are way more active than adult dogs. That results of great pictures and movies of them playing around in the garden! However, after your Shih Tzu is three months old, schedule its meals, especially when your friend has training. Give it three meals per day with little treats between meals.
That way, its blood sugar levels will remain balanced and normal. A good option is food that supports the pup’s metabolism along with its growth and is as good for its eyes and brain as for its coat and skin. We like to suggest Wellness Small Breed Puppy as this dog food has all characteristics we mentioned earlier, making it one of the best choices of brands available to you.
Best dry food for Shihtzu
Just like any other dog, the dry food most suitable here is almost the same. We are talking about energetic pets here, so it naturally burns more calories which, in turn, require a good amount of dry food. Among the top dry foods for Shih Tzu are kibbles, which are prepared by making a dough of mixed ingredients. The mixture is then cooked until it rises and finally the cooked dough is cut into shapes, making kibbles.
Other best dry foods for Shih Tzu also include biscuits that are rich in proteins. A plate of biscuits meets the energy needs required by your animal. The flavors of the biscuits must be regularly changed so that your pooch does not get bored of the taste. In cases where a similar flavor is given, the pup gets discouraged and stops eating it altogether.
Best dog foods for Shih Tzu with sensitive stomach
The subject of or article is a toy-sized dog, and that is one reason why it quickly loses pounds when it has an upset stomach. Sometimes, a dog doesn’t like the new food it is fed or takes times to adjust to it. Hence, Shih Tzus with sensitive stomachs should be carefully fed food that they like. To train it to like the new food, start slow.
The best solution in a situation where it starts vomiting, drooling, or dry heaving or has diarrhea or excessive gas is to give it a bland diet. This will be light on its stomach. You can feed it a mixture of warm, nicely-mashed sweet potatoes and white rice.
Canned pumpkins and yogurt can serve as treats. Since they are small dogs, they can’t eat too much at once, so give your pooch small meals throughout the day. One of the best products in the market here is Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach.
Best foods for Shih Tzu with allergies
Shih Tzu is a dog breed that, unfortunately, attracts many allergies. These allergies manifest themselves usually in the form of shedding hair, itching, and rashes on the skin. These are often caused by one or two ingredients in a product. In such a situation, feed it “limited ingredient dog food.”
Such foods contain just one protein and carb source, making it easier to pinpoint the exact ingredient that is causing the issues. Depending on what your pooch is allergic to, you can change its food.
If your Shih Tzu has skin-related allergies, give it foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids or dog fish oil supplements that are rich in omega-3s. This would reduce the itching and redness. If your dog has food allergies, then cut down beef, dairy, and grains from its diet as these can cause such allergies in dogs. One of the best alternatives here is Blue Buffalo Dry Food for Small Breed Dogs, Natural Fish and Brown Rice Recipe.
Best foods for senior Shih Tzu
As a dog ages, it starts becoming lazier, which means it walks and exercises less. In such a situation, if you feed your dog a lot, it can lead to obesity. A senior dog tends to be less active, and that is why it doesn’t require as high a calorie intake as a puppy does.
The best way to keep an older Shih Tzu healthy is to feed it two meals per day along with several small treats throughout the day to encourage it to walk around. You can feed it one meal as well, but that might cause it to have an empty and upset stomach.
The best food for a senior Shih Tzu is one that is properly timed and weighed. An older dog needs should be fed ½ ounce per pound of its weight to ensure it stays healthy.
Shih Tzu food to avoid
Some ingredients are added in packed dog foods not because they are healthy but because they are cheap and taste good to your dog. These ingredients should be avoided at all costs. They include low-quality sources of protein such as meat by-products and bone and blood meal. Other than this, low-quality sources of carbohydrates should also be kept away.
A bit of a diary diet is always good, but too much of it can be problematic and should be refrained from. Foods with excessive salt and sugar, artificial flavors and preservatives, and coloring should also be avoided. These aren’t healthy and are rather harmful to your friend. Chocolate, onions, fruit pits and seeds along with drinks like tea, coffee and soda are also unhealthy for Shih Tzus. Do not feed your pooch the food it is allergic to.
Keep these factors in mind when you are purchasing dog food for your Shih Tzu so that you don’t end up buying something that could harm your beloved companion.
