Sometimes store book food isn’t suitable so maybe a homemade food Shih Tzu approach might work better. Do you know what a Shih Tzu can eat? Many observations must be made before offering food to your puppy. Weight and age greatly influence the type of food you will offer. The daily average is 30 to 35 calories per pound of weight. Puppies need more calories, as they expend more energy than adults.

Foods a Shih Tzu can eat. Give in small amounts

• Chicken
• Ground beef
• Raw or cooked liver
• Raw or boiled egg
• brown rice
• Raw or cooked carrots
• Sweet potato
• boiled pumpkin
• Natural yogurt
• kefir
• minced raw garlic
• Coconut oil
• cheeses
• Fruits – bananas, seedless apples, persimmons, cashews, mangoes, guava, strawberries, watermelon.
• Raw meaty bones – from the kneecap, pelvis or chest

Note: Cooked foods do not need salt or other seasonings.

Forbidden foods for Shih Tzu’s

It’s hard to stop yourself from giving your Shih Tzu a treat, but we should make an effort and avoid this behavior for the health of our loved ones. Some foods cause poisoning and can even lead to death. Are they:

• apple seeds
• watermelon seeds
• boiled bones
• Raisins
• macadamia
• Chocolate
• raw potato
• Onion
• salt
• Alcoholic beverages
• sweets in general
• sauces in general
• white flour
• Olive
• Peanut
• sausages
• yellow cheeses
• Milk
• Fruits – Grape, orange, avocado, pineapple, star fruit

Homemade Food for Shih-Tzu’s

Some people prefer to prepare their own food for their dogs. But some care must be taken.

To provide a best diet with homemade food, it is important to remember that animals have very different metabolisms from humans, which already makes clear a factor that confuses many of their owners: leftovers from their food are not suitable for feeding animals specially for your Shih Tzu.

In the case of animals used to rations, it is important to remember that changes in diet should always be made cautiously and gradually, avoiding problems such as diarrhea, for example, due to the sudden introduction of new foods into the diet.

What can a Shih Tzu eat?

If you remember that a healthy diet for a Shih Tzu should have a ratio of 75% carbohydrates to 25% protein), it becomes a little easier to prepare a nutritious meal. But if your Shih Tzu has a problem, it’s best to consult a veterinary nutritionist and talk about a proper diet.

Red meat and organs such as liver and kidneys are among the most suitable sources of protein to include in dog food, and they should always be well cooked and also minced, just like chicken, sheep or tuna meat. Among the carbohydrates: rice, wheat flour, soy or corn and pasta can be cited as good, and vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and spinach (in small amounts) can also increase the level of nutrition in the canine diet.

When preparing the best homemade food, the amount should be small, as it is not recommended to store for more than two days. With all these tips we hope that your Shih Tzu has a balanced and healthy diet.

The Best Homemade food for your Shih Tzu

Are you out of options and need to prepare your Shih Tzu ‘s food? Do you want to offer your Shih Tzu a fresher and healthier diet? Find out what your dog’s basic food needs are. Shih Tzu s are essentially carnivores, but the long evolution of this species with humans has made them adapt to our diet, having, nowadays, a taste very close to ours.

We say, therefore, that the Shih Tzu is a non-strict carnivore – the basis of its diet is still meat, offal, bones, but it can also feed on eggs, vegetables, fruits and carbohydrates.

The digestive system of carnivores is extremely acidic, being able to easily digest meat proteins.

On the other hand, Shih Tzu don’t chew their food – they just tear and swallow it into smaller pieces – and they don’t have specific enzymes for starch digestion. This is why diets high in carbohydrates or with lots of plant fiber which are not well used by people work well for these animals.

Shih Tzu food needs

Shih Tzu s are capable of eating just about anything we offer them. However, the fact that the Shih Tzu likes it doesn’t mean it’s good for him!

The basis of the Shih Tzu ‘s diet should be good quality animal protein (red meat, chicken or fish), fat, low carbohydrates and a complement of vegetables .

Shih Tzu s and people belong to different species, so don’t give your Shih Tzu leftover food!

Also don’t try to make your Shih Tzu a “vegetarian” or “vegan” – people can stay healthy on this type of diet, but unlike us, Shih Tzu s are still essentially carnivorous animals and meat deprivation is highly harmful to them. them .

The food should be split into food type or categories for a balanced diet. Cooked natural food for dogs consists of 4 categories

• 35% Protein
• 30% Carbohydrate
• 30% Vegetables
• 5% offal

Basic Diet for a Healthy Shih Tzu  

Before giving your Shih Tzu the best homemade food, make sure he is healthy, as Shih Tzu with heart, liver, pancreatic, kidney or other chronic diseases need specific food.

A staple diet for a healthy Shih Tzu can consist of a combination of the following items:

• Meat: beef, pork, chicken, rabbit, lamb, fish and even frog or exotic meat;
• Viscera: heart, liver, kidneys, lung (bofe), spleen;
• Carbohydrates: sweet potato, sweet potato, English potato, yam, cassava (cassava), rice (preferably wholegrain), pasta;
• Vegetables: watercress, lettuce, pumpkin, zucchini, beets, eggplant, carrots, chayote, okra, cucumber, green beans;
• Eggshell: The dried and ground eggshell acts as a source of calcium.

Proportions Among Foods

An easy calculation is to divide the diet into three equal parts: meats, carbohydrates and vegetables. Of the total, add between 5 to 10% of viscera. For example:

• 300g of meat;
• 300g of carbohydrate;
• 300g of vegetables;
• 50 to 90g of viscera;
• 1 teaspoon of eggshell flour

What is the amount of food to offer per day for the Shih Tzu?

The amount of food a Shih Tzu should eat per day depends on its age, size, and level of physical activity.

On average, we can calculate:

Shih Tzu are small and medium breed dogs and need 6% of their weight. That is, a Shih Tzu between 5 kg to 8 kg will eat around 280 g of food per day.

Important! These amounts are daily! Therefore, they should be divided into at least 2 or 3 servings in a day. So, a 40kg Rottweiler will eat two 800g portions a day.

How to Prepare Your Shih Tzu’s Homemade Food

Food must be cooked in water and without seasonings.

Carbohydrates and vegetables should always be well cooked, as Shih Tzu cannot digest these raw foods. The more cooked, the easier it will be digested and better enjoyed by the Shih Tzu .

Meat and offal should not be overcooked – preferably undercooked. The Shih Tzu’s carnivorous digestive system uses them best that way.

When serving, the ideal is to mix all the foods, because many times the Shih Tzu will choose to eat only the meats. Add a pinch of salt.

The prepared food can be separated into small portions and kept in the freezer. This way, we can cook more food at a time and save time in everyday life.

Other Foods That Can Be Included in Your Shih Tzu ‘s Diet

Eggs: Eggs are rich in vitamins and minerals, and their protein is extremely digestible – a great food to be part of your Shih Tzu ‘s diet. The egg can be given once or twice a week, replacing 50g of meat with one egg.

Olive oil or coconut oil: a drizzle of vegetable oil is beneficial for your Shih Tzu’s health, especially for the skin and coat.

Yogurt: Dogs love it and yogurt acts as a natural probiotic. Avoid flavored and sugary yogurts.

Fruits: can be given to Shih Tzu and are healthy, but excess can provide a lot of sugar. Even citrus fruits aren’t usually bad for Shih Tzu s, as their stomach’s pH is super acidic.

Attention: this guide is a basic guide for healthy Shih Tzu. For a specific diet for the age and physical condition of your Shih Tzu, consult a nutritionist veterinarian.

Shih Tzus with chronic diseases should not change their diet without the follow-up of a veterinarian. Get your Shih Tzu health checked regularly.

Don’t forget, you can also supplement your Shih Tzu’s diet and add in things like digestive enzymes. Click the link for more details and to read our article on that.

Three healthy and best homemade dog food recipes for your Shih Tzu

Beef stew HomeMade Dog Food

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of ground beef (chicken or turkey can also be options);
• 1 potato (chopped sweet potato, yam and yacon potato can also be options);
• 1 medium carrot or pumpkin (cut into cubes);
• 1 cup of green beans;

Preparation mode:

1. Sauté the meat in a large pan until it no longer looks pink. Do not drain the fat as it is a good fat for the pet. If you’ve opted for a leaner meat (like chicken or turkey), add a few tablespoons of coconut oil to get a little more fat.
2. Add the potato, carrot and green beans.
3. Add enough water to cover the vegetables.
4. Bring to a boil, reducing heat and simmering for about 20 minutes (or until vegetables are cooked through).
5. You can add a pinch of sea salt for a little more flavor.
Let cool before serving. Refrigerate or freeze any leftovers.

This recipe may vary, seeking to offer diversified nutrients as proposed in the ingredients mentioned above.

Homemade Dog Food – Party rice

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups of brown rice;
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil;
• 2 kg of ground turkey or chicken breast;
• 3 cups of chopped spinach;
• 2 chopped carrots;
• 1 chopped zucchini;
• ½ cup peas (canned or frozen)

Preparation mode:

1. In a large pot, place 3 cups of water, cook the rice according to package directions and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the ground turkey or chicken and cook until golden (about 3-5 minutes).
2. Be sure to break up the meat well as it cooks.
3. Stir in the spinach, carrots, zucchini, peas and brown rice until the spinach is wilted and the mixture is heated through, about 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Let cool completely.

Canine Pumpkin Biscuit

This recipe is great for “adjusting” your pet’s digestive system.

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup of cold filtered water;
• ⅔ cup pumpkin puree (preferably a neck or yellow squash, as they are less watery);
• 2 cups of wholemeal brown rice flour;
• 1 large egg (do not use if your dog is allergic);
• 2 ½ tablespoons of linseed oil or olive oil.

Preparation mode:

1. Preheat the oven to 180º C.
2. Use parchment paper on the baking sheet to prevent the cookies from sticking together.
3. Mix the slowly beaten egg and pumpkin in a separate container until smooth (if you don’t use the egg, just smooth the pumpkin puree and proceed to the next step).
4. In a large bowl, combine the flaxseed oil and brown rice flour.
5. With constant stirring, add the pumpkin mixture to the rice mixture and slowly add the water.
6. Be sure to leave some rice to use as a topping of sorts.
7. Mix the ingredients well.
8. With the help of two small spoons, place small portions on the parchment paper.
9. Place in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is completely dry.
10. Let cool and store in a dry plastic or glass container until ready to serve.

This best homemade dog food recipe for your Shih Tzu yields approximately 24 cookies.