A Shih Tzu dog is a wonderful pet to have as Shih Tzu’s are sweet, brave, well behaved and loving in nature. Shih Tzus are small dogs with small stomachs and should be fed small portions of food at regular intervals. You can also feed your pet snacks that contain chicken and vegetables between meals.
How to Feed Your Shih Tzu
When you buy a Shih Tzu, you should feed him the food that his breeder had fed him and gradually wean him off that diet and incorporate the food of your choice to avoid complications such as diarrhea. You should take care to not to overfeed your Shih Tzu as these dogs have a tendency to become obese.
The Best Food for Your Shih Tzu
The best food for your Shih Tzu is a raw diet such as B.A.R.F. (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). You can also prepare food for your pet by incorporating vegetables and meats in his diet. You should ensure that there are no fillers such as corn, wheat or soy in the food as Shih Tzu’s can only eat small portions at a time and it’s important that they get the best nutritional value at each meal. If you prefer to feed your pet commercial food, ensure that you buy premium quality products. Dry foods help maintain oral health but you should ensure that your pet has access to plenty of clean, fresh water to avoid dehydration if you exclusively feed him dry foods.
Tips on Buying Commercial Food for Your Shih Tzu
The commercial food you choose for your pet should have an identified meat source as the first ingredient. If the dog food is simply labeled meats, avoid buying the product as it could be any sort of meat. You should preferably buy food that contains chicken, beef or fish as the first ingredient. There should be no by-products in the food as these are cheap and hard to digest. The fat source in the food should also be clearly mentioned. Besides this, the food shouldn’t contain any artificial coloring, sugar, chemicals or preservatives.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Shih Tzu
- Grapes and raisins
- Onions and garlic
- Chocolates
- Products containing caffeine
- Avocados
- Mushrooms
- Macadamia nuts
Essential Nutrients for Your Shih Tzu
The nutrients that are essential to the well being of your pet are vitamins such as Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D and E. In addition to these vitamins, Shih Tzu’s need minerals such as calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and potassium. Most of these are required in small amounts and are present in the diet but supplements can be given in accordance with vet instructions. Such supplements should be added to the food for better assimilation. Vitamin C supplements aren’t recommended for Shih Tzus as they can cause kidney and liver damage.
Shih Tzu dogs need to be fed small meals at regular time intervals and the meals should contain a good source of fats. Poultry has a higher ratio of fats to proteins and is preferred to other meats. By feeding your Shih Tzu high quality food at regular intervals, you will keep him in optimum health and protect him from diseases.