Usually, the recommendations are according to weight, so you need to know how much your dog weights to determine the exact portions. The serving recommendation is usually daily, and this is also assuming that you are feeding your dog several snacks per day. Most owners of adult Shih Tzus usually feed their adult dogs two main meals per day, and this works very well provided they are given healthy snacks and training treats too.
Alternatively, there may be some Shih Tzus that enjoy three meals, and this is perfectly fine as well. However, Shih Tzus should never be fed just one meal a day, and this feeding pattern should be reserved for much larger dogs.
The nutritional needs of puppies and adult dogs are different. Therefore, the amount and the quantities of food that Shih Tzu puppies and adults are fed will vary accordingly.
As mentioned earlier, puppies under one month should be Free-Fed, and this basically means that there should be enough food left out for them to nibble whenever they please. However, from the second month onwards, you should feed your puppy three times a day, and the exact proportion is 1 ounce for every pound they weigh.
An adult Shih Tzu should be fed twice a day, provided their diet includes a couple of snacks or healthy treats throughout the day as well. Alternatively, you can feed adult Shih Tzus three meals per day. When contemplating what vegetables to feed your Shih Tzu, take into account his tiny snout and fluffy face. Trying to feed him canned pumpkin may very well end up on his face and ears instead of in his tummy, so the best vegetables to feed your Shih Tzu are small, tidy, and easy to eat ones.
There are several veggies that make fine vegetable treats for your Shih Tzu. Some of the raw veggies he may enjoy are frozen peas, zucchini slices, alfalfa sprouts, and romaine lettuce. If you plan on giving him a few cooked vegetables, you may include steamed green beans and cauliflower and broccoli, which are all rich in vitamin C and calcium. You may also take two of the baked squash or potato. However, in order to avoid the mess, offer him bite-sized pieces instead of mashed vegetables.
Carrots are also a great choice and can be offered raw or cooked. Some people prefer to offer it frozen, making it a healthy and chewy snack. This is great for teething puppies who would enjoy and take relief from the cold and chewy treat.
However, this option is not one of the tidier choices since the melting moisture from the frozen carrot, and the mixture of puppy drool can cause his face to get quite damp and stained in a light orange color, temporarily of course. Although fish can have some benefits for dogs, the wrong kind can cause a variety of issues and some types of fish that should be avoided altogether. When people eat fish, it has lots of health benefits, so it is easy to assume that fish is just as healthy for dogs.
However, you should proceed with caution when it comes to feeding your Shih Tzu fish. Some types of fish are extremely poisonous and can be fatal.
Fish is a common ingredient seen on the back of most dog food labels; however, that does not necessarily mean that they are healthy or optimal for dogs. So although some type of fish is safe for feeding to your Shih Tzu, these are ones that should be avoided:. Tuna and canned tuna: Tuna contains extremely high mercury levels that ultimately lead to mercury poisoning and other severe issues in your dog. Because bacon has a lot of calories, it can cause obesity, hypothyroidism, and cardiovascular disease.
Also, the high amount of salt found in bacon can lead to bloating. Bloating can cause a lot of gas in the stomach, which can be very harmful to your pet.
Eating wild mushrooms is dangerous for dogs, although common white mushrooms seem safe for dogs to eat. If eaten, wild mushrooms can cause abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting, restlessness, diarrhea, convulsions, excessive urination, salivation, coma, or death. If not treated right away, the toxins will gather in the body and can lead to kidney or liver failure.
As with most poisonings, the best way to control the poison of mushrooms is not to take it in at all. Thankfully most cats and dogs will turn away from the pungent stench of an onion or garlic clove.
If their uninformed owner offers it to them. According to the pet poison helpline, a hour Animal Poison Control Center, plants and vegetables in the onion family such as garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives to name a few contain propyl disulfide.
The most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, and an increased heart rate. If you suspect that your pet has onion or garlic poisoning, take action and contact your vet immediately.
Although not a food, according to Dr. Justin Lee, a board-certified emergency critical care veterinary specialist and toxicologist, Lilies are extremely toxic to animals and can destroy their kidneys if consumed. There are actually two types of Lilies out there, benign and dangerous ones. Benign Lilies include the piece Peruvian and calla varieties. If your pet suffers from benign Lily poisoning gives them something tasty like canned chicken broth to help flush the crystals out of their mouth and clear up these unpleasant symptoms.
Lily poisoning is especially serious though, treatment usually requires three whole days of hospitalization. Avocados contain a fungicidal toxin called persin. According to the pet poison helpline, it has a mild level of toxicity, only targeting certain species. Basic signs of person poisoning include gastrointestinal problems, trouble breathing and heart issues in both dogs and cats. Foreign body obstruction is another risk when it comes to avocados. If your pet swallows the pit-hole it can get stuck in their esophagus, stomach or intestinal tract, so make sure that your pets have no access not only to Avocados but also to piPs, you might have tossed in the trash.
Everybody seems to know about the no chocolate rule for pets, so this one probably comes as no surprise. According to the pet poison helpline caffeine can be anywhere for moderately to severely toxic to an animal. It can cause elevated heart rate and body temperature, excessive urination dehydration, tremors, seizures and possibly death. Chocolate has its fair share of awful consequences too, especially dark chocolate since it contains more theobromine.
Its early symptoms include digestive issues, dehydration, and a slow heart rate, later stages of theobromine poisoning include seizures and even death. Dogs and bones are like macaroni and cheese, they just go hand in hand. Bones are a great source of minerals and nutrients for your canine companion, plus the act of chewing stimulates saliva enzymes which helps prevent gum disease and plaque buildup on the teeth. According to the American Kennel Club, poultry bones like chicken or turkey, as well as pork bones and any cooked bones are strictly forbidden.
These types splinter into shards that can not only choke a dog but also do serious damage to its mouth, throat or intestines. Most vets agree that raw meaty bones are okay, but you should still supervise your dog while it chews on one.
Throw any raw bones away after three or four days. Size is also important. You can always give your pup high-quality nutrient-rich dog food good, dental shoes and regular teeth brushing to replace what bone chewing provides. But still, bones are not you should be doing all these things anyway. But alas, here it is on the blacklist. They contain cyanide which is perfectly safe for people in small doses, but extremely harmful for animals. You can find such seeds in cherries and apricots too.
Tomatoes along with potatoes and eggplant contain a chemical compound called Solanine. Signs of poisoning include lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.
The short answer is yes! Most of them can. Although many people believe cheese can be harmful, the truth is that most dogs can eat cheese but can dog have cheese daily? Are all kinds of cheese ok for dogs? You can feed a few as a special treat to your pup. Or, you can use them as a reward if you want a new option for training treats.
You can even bake them for a homemade treat recipe. Another great recipe would be to dice them up and put them in the refrigerator. Later on, you can give these cold tiny bites to your dog. You can even mash a bit of banana into their dry foods.
You might wonder what food you need to give to your pet, and what not to give. There are several human foods that may cause upset to their stomach.
This is why many people are scared when it is about feeding their dogs. However, not all foods can cause harm. Some of the human foods that your pet dog can consume may include chicken, salmon, peanut butter, yogurt, green beans, and eggs. You can give them apples, carrot, cheese, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, pumpkin, broccoli, as well. It is recommended to visit your regular vet for a proper diet chart for your pet so that he can remain healthy.
Make sure to give them foods in moderate amounts. Some foods need to be boiled or cooked. It will need some time and patience for potty training your Shih Tzu. Puppies learn easily how to separate their living areas from potty areas.
When you take your pet dog outside, the more chances you will get to teach your pup housebreaking lessons. It will help your puppy to get accustomed to the outside atmosphere.
Hence, it is important to take them out as frequently as you can for relieving their bladder. Here are the timings that are perfect to take your dog out. They can go without food as long as their health supports them. When it comes to Shih Tzu, 4 days is the maximum number of days that it can go without eating. However, this will create some serious problems because the blood sugar levels will fall down drastically.
You should take your Shih Tzu to the vet immediately. Make sure to use the right kind of serving bowl along with other feeding accessories. Give your pet only fresh foods and keep an eye on the ingredients. Feel free to read my latest review of Royal Canin Shih Tzu dog food and best harness for small dogs.
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About The Author. Heather Howard Heather has bred Shih Tzu dogs as a family business for over 20 years and has a keen passion for introducing people to this amazing breed. More About Allergies. Some Shih Tzu have chronic stomach problems — loose stools , vomiting, and poor appetite. While some of these problems can be attributed to other medical problems, parasites , food could be the culprit.
Some of the allergies mentioned above could be associated with food while other dogs may have food intolerance such as to a specific protein source. Inferior foods will often contain artificial colors and flavors, meat byproducts, and an over reliance on plant proteins such as corn.
Some Shih Tzu dogs are more picky than others when it comes to the types of food they eat. Just based on casual observations of mothers and puppies, I have noticed that if moms are picky, their pups will be also. Choosing food for picky eaters is not always easy and many people will resort to a homemade diet which may not be the healthiest choice. Cooking for your Shih Tzu may seem like a loving act, but if the meals are not complete and balanced, the lack of proper nutrients can lead to additional health issues.
Here is my list of the 10 most common mistake that dog owners make when choosing a food and feeding their dog. There are many reasons why people do not choose a good Shih Tzu Food for their dog. Most of these reasons fall into three broad categories: Knowledge, Cost, Attitudes. People who read widely, surf the net frequently or pose questions to their vet regularly might not understand why anyone who has a dog would make this mistake.
Even though we have facts at our fingertips, the truth is that making a choice on a healthy diet is not as easy as it sounds. This is also a modern-day problem as very few people even cared about a healthy diet for their dogs even 50 years ago.
What exactly does it mean to provide a healthy diet to Shih Tzu does. Since dogs are likely to be eating the same food for breakfast and dinner, day after day, perhaps for their entire life, you need to be sure that they are getting all the necessary nutrients in addition to the vitamins and minerals their body needs. Sometimes cheap dog food does not provide that type of quality. Understanding what is in the food is very important, but so are other things found on the food label that will help you decide.
High quality food does not need to break the bank, but it goes without saying that you get what you pay for. Better ingredients sourced locally, processed appropriately and distributed fresh are some of the things to look for when evaluating higher quality foods. Cheap Shih Tzu dog foods often have inferior ingredients such as artificial coloring, flavoring and preservatives. Unnamed meat or meal sources as well as unnamed meat byproducts are also common in inferior foods.
By unnamed meat sources, I mean ingredients such as Poultry or Poultry byproducts. Poultry can mean anything from chicken to chicken feet. Artificial colors are less common nowadays, but cheap foods still use them along with artificial flavorings and preservatives. Everyone has an opinion and our attitude about food is based on our opinions whether we can verbalize them aloud or they are within our unconscious minds.
Some attitudes are based on facts, but many are fake news that spreads quickly around the web. Many serve dogs a grain-free diet, but corn, wheat or soy are not harmful to some dogs.
The reason many people shy away from them should do more with the quantities food manufacturers include in their blends. Corn is a good source of protein and very cheap.
Some dog foods will contain corn as the first ingredient producing a food high in protein. Corn is obviously a plant based protein and dogs require meat, eggs, and fish as their main source of protein. Conversely, the people who believe that dogs are carnivores feed only meat. A diet consisting solely of meat is just as harmful as one that relies on plants.
The truth is that dogs are carnivores, but they are also omnivores like us. It is often hard to tell how much food to feed a dog. Rather than rely only on a calorie count, body condition may be a better gauge for food consumption. IDEAL: can feel ribs without excess fat, waist tucked in, and see the waist if viewed from above belly tucked up.
OBESE: Cannot feel ribs; Heavy fat deposits on vertebrae and base of tail, cannot see or feel waist, no abdominal tuck; may see abdominal distension. Most larger breed dogs consume about 30 calories per pound of body weight, but small breed dogs can consume much more.
Shih Tzu may consume as much as 40 to 50 calories per pound of bodyweight per day. The average is 35 calories per pound of bodyweight. These numbers mean that a ten-pound shih Tzu should be eating about to calories each day just to maintain their weight. Shih Tzu that are not extremely active will require less calories, but if your Shih Tzu is an agility star, they are likely to need about 50 calories per pound per day.
There is a feeding chart on every dog food label, but that should only be a starting point.
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