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Best Food for Shih Tzu

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Shih Tzu is translated as the little lion. Amidst the given nickname, this dog is bred solely to be a companion. The Shih Tzu is an affectionate, happy, and outgoing house dog who loves to follow you around from room to room. They have long coats, which require great attention to maintenance. You need to brush and groom it more frequently to prevent tangles and to keep the layer shiny and smooth.

Aside from being called as a little lion because of its coat and height, the Shih Tzu is classified as a toy breed that stands to range from 8 inches to 11 inches tall and weighs 9 to 16 pounds at maturity. Its body length is slightly higher than its height but still proportional physically in which it is neither too short nor too small. Regarding its movement, it moves swiftly, showing good drive and reaches with a lion-like head and fluffy tail held high, showing its ancient royal bloodline.

The average lifespan of this Shih Tzu is 10 to 18 years, but others have a shorter lifespan due to several hereditary health problems. If you want your fluffy companion to have a longer life, then make sure to feed her a high-quality, nutritious diet.

Contents

Nutritional Recommendations for Shih Tzu

Before barging and start shopping, you need to know first the necessary dietary requirements your Shih Tzu must-have. It should have the right balance of the three primary nutrients, which are protein, fat, and carbohydrate. Protein makes up your dog’s muscles and tissues, which are also known as lean muscle mass. The fats provide a concentrated source of energy to support most of its skin or coat and immune system as well. Lastly, the carbohydrates provide dietary fiber to help and maintain healthy digestion, as well as the key to vitamins and minerals. These three work together to create a complete and well-balanced diet for your Shih Tzu.

Health and Care

Shih Tzus are generally healthy, but like the other breeds, they are also prone to certain conditions and diseases.

Allergies which are a common ailment in dogs
Canine Hip Dysplasia, an abnormality in the formation of the hip socket, which causes significant pain and lameness.
Patellar Luxation, the dislocation of the kneecap that causes crippling
Bladder Stones and bladder infections which are caused by excessive protein, magnesium, and phosphorus in the diet.
Eye problems

The Shih Tzu is a very adaptable dog who enjoys playing around your home. To maintain the energetic outlook of your Shih Tzu, you must give her the best possible food that supports her lean muscle mass, fasten her metabolism for healthy digestion. Also, you need to be extra careful in giving her enough amount she needs to avoid complications like going overboard on fat that cause her to gain an unhealthy amount of weight. This kind of scenario could lead to other health problems like diabetes.

Guidelines in Buying a Quality Dog Food

An amount must list ingredients in descending order
The first ingredient on the label should always be a meat with a name
It should have more meat protein than grain protein
There should be one or more types of meat or high-quality dairy products included in the product

The Best Dog Food For My Shih Tzu

How much your Shih Tzu eats will depend on her size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Small breed dogs like your Shih Tzu have a speedy metabolism, so you must not wonder why she is so active in goofing around. To meet your Shih Tzu’s high energy needs, you must select a dog food that is rich highly in protein with a moderate to high-fat content.

The following are some of the pet food brands or pet dog food s that can offer complete and balanced nutrition for your Shih Tzu.

Halo Spot’s Stew Chicken Recipe Toy & Small Breed Dog Food

The Halo Company follows the tagline, “Purely for Pets,” which means that they want nothing but only to the best of your for Shih Tzu.
This Halo Spot’s Stew Chicken Recipe Toy & Small Breed Dog Food features a real whole chicken, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. It offers complete and well-balanced, highly digestible nutrition for your Shih Tzu. The small kibble is designed solely for little mouths and the chewing action that helps in cleaning your pet’s teeth. It also provides balanced omega-three and omega-six fatty acids that support healthy skin and a shiny coat for your mini lion. The added DHA omega-3 helps in maintaining healthy brain function.

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Dog Food

The Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Dog Food is made with highly digestible lamb protein and garbanzo beans in a kibble size, which makes it easy to eat for your Shih Tzu’s small tummy and teeth. This formula features premium proteins like the venison and the lamb plus the grain-free carbohydrates such as garbanzo beans, peas, and lentils. The blend of venison, lamb, egg, duck, and ocean fish proteins provides optimal amino acid nutrition for your Shih Tzu lean muscle mass and probiotics and prebiotic fiber that helps in supporting healthy digestion. This formula provides the energy that your Shih Tzu is looking for. Moreover, this formula offers 32% of protein and 18% of fat.

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Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Formula

Cage-free chicken is the primary ingredient for this Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Formula. It is an all-natural, protein-packed formula which is formulated for small breed dogs. It provides calcium and phosphorous for healthy bones and teeth and a naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin for your dog’s joint health. Fresh duck, turkey meal, and salmon meal are also included in this formula, which makes it responsible for the bone and mutual support of your Shih Tzu.

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Wellness Small Breed Puppy Turkey & Salmon Dry

The Wellness Small Breed Puppy Turkey and Salmon Dry dog food are formulated to nourish the small and active body of your Shih Tzu. It features deboned turkey and chicken meal as its primary and secondary ingredients. It is then followed by an oatmeal, salmon meal, ground barley, and ground brown rice, which balances the protein and carbohydrates content in this formula. This formula supports a healthy brain and proper eye development. Also, it has probiotic supplements and promotes healthy digestion for your small dog.

Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free Small Breed Chicken Recipe

The Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free Chicken Recipe is formulated to help support the individual needs of your small dog. It is made with a protein-rich deboned chicken. The essential high-quality protein helps maintain a healthier muscle that gives your little dog the energy required for an active life. It is designed in kibble, promoting tartar removal with LifeSource Bits for a healthy immune system. Also, it provides glucosamine that supports bone and joint function and mobility. Also, it has omega-three and omega-six fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.

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Bottom Line

Shopping for a dog food that is best and suits well to your Shih Tzu is a tricky part. This is because of the too many options in the market these days that add up to the confusion. This will help in lengthening the decision making on what dog food you should buy that would meet the nutritional requirements needed. Hence, the five products mentioned above are the top five best dog food for small dog breeds in which your Shih Tzu belongs. Those products will give you a complete and balanced nutritional diet that your Shih Tzu might like.

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Rachel Tyler

Writer/Owner of Dog Food Nation at Dog Food Nation

I'm the owner and writer of Dog Food Nation. I'm a lifelong dog lover, and I started this blog to share information about dog food and nutrition with other pet owners. I believe every dog deserves access to high-quality food, and I'm committed to helping people find the best food for their pets.