Shih Tzu is a small dog with quite unpredictable eating behavior. As compared to various other toy breeds, this breed eats a large amount of food. Some Shih Tzu dogs are fussy eaters while others can eat with open heart. It is very important to feed your dog quality meals to make sure that your dog stays in shape and lives long and healthy. The present article discusses more about how to feed a Shih Tzu:

How much food is sufficient for them?

The amount of food which should be given to a Shih Tzu depends on his age, activity level, metabolism and build. Recommended daily amount for Shih Tzu is 1/2 to 1 cups of high quality dry food. There is also a difference in calories in various foods which you feed to your dog.

Generally, a puppy should be given an ounce of food per pound of his body weight while an adult Shih Tzu should be given ½ ounce of food per pound of body weight. 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. 35 calories per pound of body weight is sufficient for an average adult Shih Tzu dog while 30 calories per pound of body weight is sufficient for senior dogs.

How often a Shih Tzu should be fed?

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. Do not provide the access of food to your dog for all day to make sure that your dog doesn’t get obese. 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.

Ingredients to look for in quality Shih Tzu diet:

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. Fish is also an important constituent of healthy meal for these dogs as it is also a good source of protein and healthy fats. Sweet potatoes, oats, rice, and barley can be healthy sources of carbohydrates which are required by Shih Tzus. Veggies can be given to meet the requirement of minerals and vitamins.

Recommended foods:

• • Organs (liver, heart)
  • Fish
  • White chicken meat
  • Lamb
  • Blueberries
  • Sweet potato
  • Green beans
  • Sweet peas
  • Cottage cheese
  • Baby carrots
  • Whole yogurt
  • Raspberries
  • Plain white or brown rice
  • Pasta

Avoid these:

• Chocolate
• Grapes and Raisins
• Onions
• Tea and coffee
• Salt
• Soda
• Fruit pits and seeds

The final word:

It is important to use to right bowl and other feeding accessories to make sure that there are no issues related to digestion. If your dog is refusing to eat or is showing unusual feeding behavior, he should be immediately taken to vet.