Notice: The entire canine meals we’ve included in our evaluations meet or exceed Affiliation of American Feed Management Officers (AAFCO) dietary pointers, are made in North America, and comprise no fillers, by-products, preservatives, or synthetic components.

Dietary Wants For Shih Tzus

This toy breed solely reaches 9-10 inches in top and may weigh anyplace from 9-16 kilos as an grownup. Shih Tzus require a weight loss plan that comprises average energy and protein in addition to wholesome fat, fiber, and complicated carbohydrates.

Among the hereditary well being challenges that have an effect on this breed can’t be prevented by weight loss plan, however high-quality pet food might help cut back the danger and severity of some circumstances. For instance, many Shih Tzus undergo from ear infections, so a nutritious weight loss plan wealthy in antioxidants might help the immune system combat off infections. Listed here are another methods a premium weight loss plan can profit your Shih Tzu all through his lifetime.

Weight Management Is Important

Due to their small measurement and low-energy stage, Shih Tzus are extra susceptible to weight acquire than many different breeds. And even a few additional kilos can worsen breed-related well being points they face. Sustaining a wholesome weight might help forestall a luxating patella (dislocated kneecap) and gradual the development of intervertebral disc illness (IVDD) and hip dysplasia, two skeletal issues generally affecting this breed.

Like all flat-faced breeds, Shih Tzus undergo from brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS), and being chubby can severely intensify respiratory issues related to this power situation. Avoiding meals with pointless fillers, preservatives, and synthetic components might help your pup preserve an excellent weight and maintain extreme signs at bay.

Skilled Tip: In case your Shih Tzu is even barely chubby, it’s essential to get it beneath management as quickly as doable to keep away from the issues we outlined above and extra long-term well being points, like diabetes, arthritis, coronary heart illness, and extra. See our information on chubby and overweight canines and our evaluations of the greatest pet food for weight reduction.

Allergic reactions

Shih Tzus are significantly susceptible to environmental and meals allergic reactions. Widespread meals allergens, similar to wheat, soy, hen, and beef, may cause extraordinarily itchy pores and skin and/or digestive issues. An all-natural, limited-ingredient weight loss plan wealthy in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids (fish, fish oil, flaxseed, and so forth.) helps cut back and even get rid of signs.

Eye Well being

Eye ailments, similar to cataracts, glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy, are one more well being challenge many Shih Tzus face as they age. A high-quality weight loss plan sometimes comprises lots of the vitamins mandatory for sustaining eye well being and reducing the dangers and signs of eye circumstances.

These embrace omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, vitamin A, taurine, and antioxidants. You’ll additionally wish to search for the inclusion of the perfect complete meals for eye well being, together with carrots, pumpkin, candy potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, kale, broccoli, blueberries, cold-water fish, and eggs.

Skilled Tip For Tear Stains: Whereas Shih Tzus are infamous for tear stains, they’re not a threatening well being situation. Nonetheless, if you wish to cut back these unpleasant reddish-brown stains beneath your pup’s eyes, a change in pet food might assist. Eradicating crimson meat out of your canine’s weight loss plan and switching to high-quality pet food that’s low in carbohydrate fillers has been proven to assist with tear staining. 

Past Fundamental Components

All pet food ought to embrace protein, carbs, fats, fiber, and important nutritional vitamins and minerals. However lots of the most nutritious premium canine meals are fortified with further components which have main well being advantages to your furry good friend. Listed here are a number of you’ll wish to search for and the way they assist your pup’s well being. On your comfort, we’ve listed these premium components in our evaluations.

• Fruits & greens: wonderful pure sources of fiber, nutritional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to assist immune well being
• Fish oil and/or flaxseed: sources of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids Docosahexenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) that assist mind and eye improvement and pores and skin, coat, joint, and immune well being
• Glucosamine & chondroitin sulfate (typically from hen meal*): maintains wholesome joints
• Prebiotics & probiotics: assist digestion and a wholesome stage of excellent intestine micro organism (typically consists of dried chickory root, a robust pure prebiotic)
• Taurine: helps cardiovascular, eye, and mind well being, immune system operate, and advantages many different physique capabilities 
• L-carnitine: an amino acid by-product that helps the metabolism of fat (significantly helpful for older, much less energetic canines) 
• Organ meats: wonderful supply of premium high quality protein and fats in addition to nutritional vitamins A, B, D, and E, copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc
• Chia seeds: wealthy in plant protein, fiber, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, phosphorus

*A observe about meat meal: High quality pet meals manufacturers typically use meat meal of their recipes, which could be a very wholesome supply of protein to your pup (so long as the “meat” is called, e.g., hen meal, lamb meal, and so forth.). A meal may be comprised of the meat, tissue, organ meat, bone, abdomen, and intestines of the named animal. However meal doesn’t embrace by-products like hair, feathers, beaks, heads, blood, hooves, cover trimmings, and so forth.

Greatest Moist Canine Meals For Shih Tzus (All Life Phases): The Farmer’s Canine

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Our prime decide for the perfect moist pet food for Shih Tzus in any respect life levels is The Farmer’s Canine, our favourite model that provides contemporary, human-grade pet food delivered proper to your door. Each recipe options whole-food USDA animal protein, greens, and fruits, all fortified with an excellent mix of nutritional vitamins and minerals to your pup’s life stage, measurement, and particular wants.

An enormous bonus in our e book, they even pre-portion your canine’s customized meals for handy feeding. All you need to do is fill out a short survey, which incorporates your furry good friend’s age, breed, present weight, physique form, and whether or not he has any well being circumstances. The Farmer’s Canine affords grain-free beef, hen, pork, and turkey recipes developed by board-certified American School of Veterinary Diet (ACVN) nutritionists and flash-frozen to protect vitamins and freshness. 

Whereas The Farmer’s Canine requires a subscription, you may cancel or pause it anytime. The one downsides? They solely supply grain-free formulation, and their meals are costly in comparison with premium kibble. Every recipe consists of completely different components, however right here’s an outline of their turkey formulation.

• First 5 components: USDA turkey, chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, and spinach
• Method highlights: human-grade & whole-food components, restricted components, fish oil, and taurine
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 38% (min), crude fats 26% (min), crude fiber 2% (max)
• Energy: not out there

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Greatest Pet Meals For Shih Tzus

Most veterinarians and animal nutritionists suggest that toy breeds ought to eat pet meals formulated particularly for small breeds. Toy and small-breed puppies have very excessive metabolic charges, requiring nutrient- and calorie-dense meals that’s increased in protein and fats than common pet meals.

Specialists additionally suggest feeding toy breeds at the very least 4 meals per day till round six months previous, when their metabolism and progress begin to decelerate (then you may swap to 3 instances per day). Youthful small-breed puppies burn by energy so quick they’re at a increased threat of creating hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and extra frequent feedings assist cut back this threat. Listed here are our prime picks for the perfect dry meals for Shih Tzu puppies, which all have the ideally suited kibble measurement for little Shih Tzus.

Blue Buffalo Life Safety Small Breed Pet (Grain-Inclusive)

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We suggest this Blue Buffalo small-breed pet formulation, which mixes an inexpensive value with premium, all-natural components to present your itty bitty Shih Tzu the perfect steadiness of vitamins for whole-body progress and improvement. This recipe options actual meat as the primary ingredient (an indication of high-quality pet food), easily-digestible healthful grains, and loads of fruits and veggies, similar to candy potatoes, kelp, carrots, blueberries, and cranberries.

It’s fortified with Blue Buffalo’s LifeSource Bits, a mix of antioxidants, nutritional vitamins, and chelated minerals formulated by animal nutritionists particularly for small-breed puppies. A couple of clients mentioned it triggered their pups to have diarrhea, however most rave about this pet meals.

• First 5 components: deboned hen, hen meal, oatmeal, barley, and fish meal
• Method highlights: fish oil, flaxseed, dried chickory root, probiotics, taurine, and L-carnitine
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 29% (min), crude fats 17% (min), crude fiber 5% (max)
• Energy:  417 kcal/cup

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Now Contemporary Grain-Free Small Breed Pet

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In case your pet is already displaying indicators of a meals intolerance, this premium small-breed pet formulation comprises no beef, hen, or grain merchandise, which can be simpler on his tummy or pores and skin. It’s additionally full of omega fatty acids and probiotics, that are helpful for pups with allergic reactions. Even when your pet doesn’t have allergy signs, this recipe is unbelievable for optimum progress and a wholesome basis for all times.

It options high-quality turkey, salmon, and duck, tummy-friendly complicated carbs, and greater than 20 superfoods, similar to blueberries, broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, apples, and extra. We additionally love that Now Contemporary solely cooks all of the contemporary components as soon as on the lowest temperature doable to protect their vitamins and pure taste. The one potential draw back with this meals is its excessive value.

• First 5 components: deboned turkey, complete dried egg, peas, pea flour, and potatoes
• Method highlights: chicken-free, flaxseed, coconut oil, taurine, dried chickory root, and probiotics
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 28% (min), crude fats 18% (min), crude fiber 4% (max)
• Energy:  415 kcal/cup

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Wellness Full Well being Small Breed Pet (Grain-Inclusive)

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This Wellness Full Well being formulation is crafted with increased energy to present your energetic little man loads of gasoline, and it’s fortified with tons of vitamins for whole-body well being and improvement. This small-breed pet meals options actual turkey as the primary ingredient and easy-to-digest, lower-glycemic grains.

It additionally consists of complete fruits and veggies, similar to carrots, spinach, candy potatoes, blueberries, and apples (with no corn, wheat, or soy). Shih Tzu pet house owners mentioned their pups love this meals and that it retains their coats delicate and fluffy.

• First 5 components: deboned turkey, hen meal, oatmeal, salmon meal, and barley
• Method highlights: salmon oil, flaxseed, dried chickory root, probiotics, and taurine
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 28% (min), crude fats 19% (min), crude fiber 4.25% (max)
• Energy:  489 kcal/cup

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Greatest Canine Meals For Grownup Shih Tzus

We suggest slowly transitioning your Shih Tzu to grownup meals round 11-12 months of age as soon as he’s completed most of his progress. Toy and small breeds proceed to have sooner metabolic charges than bigger canines all through their maturity, so vets sometimes advise giving your Shih Tzu three meals per day of small-breed grownup pet food.

Open Farm Small Breed With Historic Grains

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Whereas its pet and pet food is on the dear aspect, Open Farm is one in all our favourite manufacturers on account of its superior humane, sustainable, and food-safety practices. All of their pet meals is formulated by animal diet consultants, and each batch is examined by an impartial third-party lab.

This grownup small-breed recipe options humanely raised hen and turkey, healthful grains, and regionally sourced fruits and veggies, similar to blueberries, kale, carrots, pumpkin, and candy potatoes. It’s additionally freed from corn, wheat, soy, peas, potato, and legumes. Open Farm additionally affords a grain-free model of this small-breed formulation.

• First 5 components: hen, turkey, menhaden fish meal, barley, and brown rice
• Method highlights: salmon oil, flaxseed, taurine, coconut oil, New Zealand green-lipped mussels (wonderful for joint assist), and dried chicory root
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 27.5% (min), crude fats 16% (min), crude fiber 5% (max)
• Energy:  436 kcal/cup

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Stable Gold Mighty Mini Toy & Small Breed (Grain-Free)

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With fewer energy and decrease fats content material than many premium choices, this Stable Gold formulation for toy and small breeds is an wonderful possibility for sofa potato Shih Tzus who require a little bit of weight management. It may be an awesome possibility in case your pup has a delicate abdomen or pores and skin points. This grain-free recipe options salmon as the first ingredient and consists of prebiotics, probiotics, omega fatty acids, and extra to assist ease digestive issues and itchy pores and skin.

It additionally comprises carrots, pumpkin, blueberries, cranberries, and inexperienced beans for pure sources of added nutritional vitamins and minerals. Loads of toy dad and mom say their furballs thrive on this pet food and that it’s fairly efficient in warding off additional weight.

• First 5 components: salmon, ocean fish meal, lentils, peas, and chickpeas
• Method highlights: decrease energy and fats, salmon oil, taurine, dried chickory root, and probiotics
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 26% (min), crude fats 6% (min), crude fiber 10% (max)
• Energy: 355 kcal/cup

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Merrick Traditional Wholesome Grains Small Breed

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In case your Shih Tzu is displaying indicators of hip dysplasia or joint issues, this Merrick small-breed recipe might be an excellent weight loss plan to assist his little physique. It comprises excessive ranges of joint-friendly glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega fatty acids in comparison with a lot of your different choices. Whether or not your pup has joint points or not, this formulation is a extremely nutritious, well-balanced weight loss plan for any toy breed.

That includes a mix of actual deboned hen, healthful grains, like quinoa, carrots, apples, chia seeds, and different rigorously chosen well being components, this premium pet food comprises no potatoes, peas, lentils, corn, wheat, or soy. Most clients with choosy pooches say their pups love this recipe.

• First 5 components: deboned hen, hen meal, brown rice, and barley
• Method highlights: salmon meal, flaxseed, taurine, chia seeds, glucosamine, chondroitin, and probiotics
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 27% (min), crude fats 16% (min), crude fiber 3.5% (max)
• Energy:  404 kcal/cup

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Greatest Meals For Senior Shih Tzus

Shih Tzus are typically thought of seniors once they’re round 10 years previous, so we suggest slowly transitioning your tiny tot to a small-breed senior pet food round this time. Aged Shih Tzus must eat a weight loss plan decrease in energy and fats to assist forestall weight acquire. A pet food wealthy in antioxidants and different immune-boosting vitamins can be important to assist forestall most cancers, coronary heart issues, cataracts, and different points that older canines face.

Nutro Pure Alternative Small Breed Senior (Grain-Inclusive)

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This highly-rated Nutro senior formulation is crafted particularly for small breeds who’ve slowed down as they age. It’s made with all non-GMO components, actual hen as the primary ingredient, and easy-to-digest grains (no corn, wheat, or soy). The inclusion of dried pumpkin is useful for wholesome digestion, and dried kale, spinach, and coconut present pure nutritional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for immune well being. Many shoppers say the small kibble measurement is ideal for his or her growing old seniors who’ve problem chewing.

• First 5 components: hen, hen meal, complete grain barley, break up peas, and brewers rice
• Method highlights: fish oil, chia seeds, and glucosamine
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 26% (min), crude fats 14% (min), crude fiber 4% (max)
• Energy:  320 kcal/cup

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Merrick Lil’ Plates Senior Small Breed (Grain-Free)

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One other unbelievable Merrick pet food, this formulation could also be an excellent possibility in case your Shih Tzu has a delicate abdomen or allergic reactions as a result of it’s grain-free and comprises excessive ranges of probiotics and omega fatty acids. It additionally consists of loads of different components which can be necessary for older pups’ joint, coronary heart, immune, pores and skin, and coat well being.

We love that it has a high-protein content material however average energy and fats to take care of wholesome muscle groups and supply your pup vitality with out gaining weight. The small kibble measurement is ideal for toy breeds, and it has a crunchy texture to assist cut back plaque and maintain enamel clear.

• First 5 components: deboned hen, hen meal, turkey meal, and candy potatoes
• Method highlights: salmon oil, flaxseed, taurine, glucosamine, chondroitin, chicory root, probiotics, and L-carnitine
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 30% (min), crude fats 12% (min), crude fiber 3.5% (max)
• Energy:  388 kcal/cup

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Greatest Canine Meals For Shih Tzus With Allergic reactions

Sadly, this breed is predisposed to allergic reactions and meals intolerances, which may trigger power itchy pores and skin and/or digestive issues. If one thing in his present meals is the perpetrator, switching to a limited-ingredient weight loss plan containing a novel protein (one he’s by no means eaten earlier than) might assist ease his signs. You might also wish to contemplate a canine allergy complement, so long as your vet provides you the inexperienced gentle.

When you suspect your Shih Tzu has a meals intolerance or is allergic to environmental components, similar to pollens, mud mites, and so forth., it’s possible you’ll wish to contemplate an at-home canine allergy check to find the supply. All you need to do is ship a saliva or hair pattern to the corporate’s lab and get outcomes inside a number of weeks. You may then share these outcomes together with your vet to assist additional slim down doable causes.

Ollie Lamb Recipe (Grain-Inclusive)

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One other of our favourite fresh-frozen pet food supply providers, Ollie is much like The Farmer’s Canine (see evaluate above) in that it makes use of solely human-grade, whole-food components rigorously chosen by animal nutritionists for optimum well being in all life levels. Ollie additionally personalizes your pup’s meals based mostly on his profile (age, gender, breed, weight, physique form, exercise stage, allergic reactions, and different well being points).

For Shih Tzus with allergic reactions, we suggest Ollie’s grain-inclusive lamb recipe, significantly if their different protein choices (hen, beef, and pork) don’t sit nicely together with your pup. Nonetheless, their different formulation are grain-free so a kind of might be an excellent possibility in case your pup has grain sensitivities. The restricted components and contemporary complete meals in all their recipes might be the reply to your furry good friend’s allergy issues.

• First 5 components: lamb, butternut squash, lamb liver, chickpeas, and kale
• Method highlights: human-grade & whole-food components, restricted components, organ meat, salmon oil, chia seeds, and taurine
• Assured evaluation (moist meals foundation): crude protein 10% (min), crude fats 7% (min), crude fiber 2% (max)
• Energy: 1804 kcal ME/kg (observe: this isn’t kcal/cup like our different evaluations)

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Canidae Pure Petite Grownup Small Breed With Salmon (Grain-Free)

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This limited-ingredient grownup formulation by Canidae is a superb selection for small breeds who are suffering from allergic reactions. Grain, corn, and soy-free, it options actual salmon as the one animal protein supply, which can be a superb protein selection in case your pup doesn’t tolerate beef, hen, or different proteins nicely. The excessive ranges of omega fatty acids are additionally terrific for itchy, irritated pores and skin.

Coated with freeze-dried salmon, this small-sized kibble could make each mealtime tasty and nutritious to your Shih Tzu. Nonetheless, it’s increased in energy than many different choices, so that you’ll wish to be certain that your little buddy isn’t gaining weight on this meals.

• First 5 components: salmon, salmon meal, peas, lentils, and tapioca
• Method highlights: Hen-free, restricted components, flaxseed, and probiotics
• Assured evaluation: crude protein 24% (min), crude fats 12.5% (min), crude fiber 4% (max)
• Energy:  525 kcal/cup

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Ought to I Take into account Pet Insurance coverage For My Shih Tzu?

As a result of Shih Tzus have the potential to develop a number of hereditary and different expensive well being issues all through their lives, it’s possible you’ll wish to plan forward in case you’re confronted with costly veterinary payments. The most effective issues you are able to do to handle your funds and defend your pup’s well being is to signal your Shih Tzu up for pet insurance coverage.

It’s ideally suited to get your furry good friend lined as early as doable earlier than issues come up as a result of most pet insurance coverage suppliers don’t cowl pre-existing circumstances. Be taught how pet insurance coverage works and if it’s value it to your pup. When you’re already accustomed to it, be sure you see our evaluations of the greatest pet insurance coverage corporations.

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