If you have just taken your new puppy home for the first time, her anxiety should be expected while she takes in her new surroundings. To help her eat on the first day, try to create a quiet and calm enclosed space within the home for the puppy to relax. Keep trying until she begins to take the food.
Once she is used to that, introduce her to the food bowl. Other reasons why your Shih Tzu may not be eating could be linked to illness. We recommend they get checked out at the vet. From here, you can move off a puppy diet and onto an adult one. We have a guide to feed an adult Shih Tzu here. We hope this guide has provided you with all the information you need in deciding what is best for your Shih Tzu puppy. Do you have any dietary suggestions when it comes to this breed?
What do you feed your Shih Tzu puppy? Fernandez, N. Karabagli, M. Monnet, E. I have a shiz shu named skippy he is 3 years old. He is so loveable ,. He has his own toy box,. Skippy has the most awesome personality.
I myself made the change to homemade food. I have started research on human food dogs can eat. I was amazed what nutrition value there is. I started with liver and veggies. I read antioxidant, enzymes, calcium, dark green, yellow. I have truly noticed a real change in skippys and my shepherd. My shepherd has made a big change, her hair , skin, she is more active alert,. Greats at the door honestly I thought she was going to die. What did i have to lose,. Some of these additives are linked to long-term health issues including neurological issues and some cancers.
High wheat content - Will be found in ratios that throws off the needed balance of protein and healthy fats. Soy or wheat gluten - Can cause food intolerance, upset stomach, skin issues, and other problems.
Meats sourced outside of North America - Be very wary of companies that list their food as 'Made in the USA', but they source the meats from overseas.
What a high-quality food will offer:. All natural, wholesome ingredients - This will include human-grade meats, vegetables and fruits, whole grains for those not placing their dog a grain-free diet , and healthy fats. All-natural preservatives - This will usually be a vitamin blend listed as mixed tocopherols. Added supplements - Some added extras that are very beneficial for dogs includes omega-3 and 6 ideally sourced from fish oil which is fantastic for good skin and coat health as well as joint health, antioxidants which boost the immune system and help fend off disease, g lucosamine and chondroitin which is a 'must' for Shih Tzu age 6 and up as it helps maintain bone and joint health and can play a role in preventing osteoarthritis, and p robiotics which aids in good digestive health.
Proper sizing - A Shih Tzu should have a food that is specifically sized for small breeds. The shape and size of the kibble will make it easy to be mouthed and chewed, which leads to more enthusiastic eating. Easily digestible food - The formula will be made with a small dog's digestive system in mind, that will be easy on the stomach and easy to digest.
There are a few exceptions such as a certain plant like spearmint being sourced from New Zealand which has safety standards comparable to the US. 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 grains:. 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. Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds. This is also a fantastic choice. Ingredients include turkey, chicken, oatmeal great for the tummy , salmon and flaxseed great sources of omega-3 and 6 , brown rice and barley grains that are generally very well tolerated , peas, tomatoes, flaxseed, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, apples, and blueberries contains important antioxidants.
All other ingredients are to naturally preserve or naturally flavor the food or are added vitamins or minerals. There are no fillers, corn, soy, wheat, or by-products. There are no artificial coloring or flavoring, or chemical preservatives.
The puppy formula has added DHA which is a specific omega-3 fatty acid that supports healthy cognitive development. The senior formula is a great choice for Shih Tzu age 8 and up since it has added glucosamine and chondroitin more details ahead on the senior formula. This is specifically made for little dogs, so the size of each kibble piece is ideal. And this is made in the USA. This is one of our most recent recommendations and is now one of our favorites for many reasons.
This is an organic formula meaning animals are antibiotic and hormone-free, chickens are cage-free, vegetables and fruits are non-GMO not genetically modified , and there are no processed foods. There are zero artificial coloring dyes or flavors and preservatives are all-natural vitamins and plants.
Halo prides itself on offering easy-to-digest food which means great news for your Shih Tzu's tummy. Ingredients include chicken, eggs, chicken liver, salmon, peas, oats, vegetable broth, pearled barley usually well tolerated , flaxseed, sweet potato, apples, blueberries, green beans, carrots, cranberries, and zucchini.
So, there is an awesome blend of healthy veggies and fruits with this brand. All other ingredients are vitamins and minerals or plant-based all-natural preservatives. Though they do not over-promote it, Halo is made in the USA with a few vegetables sourced from Canada and New Zealand which have very safe regulations. 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?
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.
It is not possible to top the added bonuses, which include 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.
This is a good option if you are on a tight budget, you'd like your Shih Tzu to be on a grain-free diet, and you want to avoid the 16 brands that are listed by the FDA to be connected with instances of DCM. And there is no fillers, corn, or wheat. Though this does not contain the veggies and fruits of the aforementioned Wellness CORE, it does have all necessary vitamins and minerals and is made in the USA. Senior dogs have different needs than adults.
The most pressing concerns are joint health since hip, back, and knee issues are not uncommon with this breed and the vast majority of senior dogs develop some level of osteoarthritis. In addition, the formula needs to be specific to an older dog's energy level, and there needs to be added bonuses to help prevent skin and coat issues that can develop as a Shih Tzu ages.
Extra glucosamine and chondroitin to help support joint health. This is a must for senior. While you can give this in the form of supplements, there's nothing easier than having it blended into the food.
Fiber and probiotics are really important to help an older Shih Tzu's digestive system stay regular. The right blend of vitamins and minerals will be needed for optimal immune health. Quality omegas to help maintain skin and coat health, since drying is very common with senior dogs.
This is also something that can be given via supplements, but again is easier to have already added to meals. And a slightly lower calorie level that is often needed since senior Shih Tzu are less active and mobile as their younger, adult counterparts.
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. The reason is very obvious that puppies have a higher activity level and do need more calories for growing.
It is important to weigh your dog. A healthy and normal Shih Tzu dog weighs anywhere between 10 to16 pounds. You can take your dog to a vet to weigh him.
It is very important to keep a check on how much and how often you are feeding to your dog as these dogs are prone to obesity. To be specific on frequency of meals, a Shih Tzu should be fed four times in a day for the first six months. After six months, two meals per day will work best. Since, these dogs are more likely to get obese than other dogs, too much carbohydrate in their diet is not suggested.
Like all other dogs, these dogs also require a good amount of protein for healthy growth. Chicken meal , chicken, turkey, and eggs are the major sources of lean protein for a Tzu.
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