The key to a long and healthy life begins with nutrition. Always. We love whole, natural, fresh, and healthy foods, and we cannot emphasize enough how nutritious they are for our Shih Tzus.
You’ve probably heard of “superfoods” for humans (looking at you, salmon and blueberries). But what makes a food “super” for dogs? Canine superfoods provide the maximum amount of nutrients with the minimum number of calories. And as it turns out, many dog superfoods are also good for humans.
The nutrient-packed choices below will help your Shih Tzu (and you) fight diseases, boost energy, and maintain overall good health. They are great additions to your Shih Tzu’s diet, whether you feed them commercial dog food or homemade meals. Just make sure to introduce these foods gradually and in appropriate portions – and consult a veterinarian first if your Shih Tzu has any dietary or health issues.
There are some wonderful natural foods that can provide additional health benefits to your Shih Tzu without breaking the bank or requiring you to import anything from abroad. Here are five of our favorites.
Natural foods to improve your Shih Tzu’s health:
SPINACH – Steamed spinach offers plenty of iron and vitamin K, which will help with your Shih Tzu’s bone and heart health. Spinach is also a great vegetable for preventing cancer, making it an excellent addition to your Shih Tzu’s regular diet.
BONE BROTH – Bone broth is a long-forgotten superfood, cheap, nutrient-dense, and incredibly easy to add to your Shih Tzu’s diet. Bone broth not only contains surprising amounts of glucosamine, but it also has high levels of collagen and gelatin, making it an ideal dietary supplement for joint health. Bone broth is also great for sick and elderly Shih Tzus as it is extremely easy to digest and soothing to their intestines.
HONEY – Pollen allergies? Very common. Pollen allergies occur when your Shih Tzu’s body tries to protect itself from a harmful substance. Just like in humans, your dog’s immune system detects a foreign substance, which in this case is pollen.
The solution? Fight poison with poison. Honey can potentially help in relieving and preventing seasonal allergies. It does this by providing small doses of pollen and essentially creating tolerance, so that when pollen enters your Shih Tzu’s nose or skin, the body is protected from an overactive immune response that can trigger an allergy. For this to work, the honey must contain the same strains of pollen that are in the air, so it should be local, organic, and raw.
EGGS – Eggs are an almost perfect food for Shih Tzus because they contain all ten essential minerals dogs need, as well as a range of other nutrients, including vitamins A, D3, E, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, K, iodine, choline, calcium, biotin, potassium, sulfur, folic acid, phosphorus, iron, selenium, and zinc.
BLUEBERRIES – Traditionally, we think of dogs as carnivores. Although dogs should definitely eat a prey-based diet (at least 80% animal protein), they have the digestive ability to tolerate some plant matter and derive nutrients from it. Blueberries are the most species-appropriate and antioxidant-rich choice for your Shih Tzu, so feed them for a nutrient boost.