9 Shih Tzu Foods to Avoid

Owning a Shih Tzu comes with its share of joys and responsibilities, especially when it comes to mealtime and monitoring the right Shih Tzu food to avoid. These adorable companions are experts at tugging at your heartstrings with a mere glance. Making it all too tempting to share a bite of whatever is on your plate. However, as beguiling as those puppy eyes might be, it’s crucial to resist the urge to indulge them with human food indiscriminately. Many common foods that are perfectly safe for humans can pose serious risks to the health of a Shih Tzu.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the specific foods that can be detrimental to your Shih Tzu’s health. And why they should be avoided. Our goal is to help you understand which treats are safe and which could lead to health complications. All, ensuring that your furry friend remains happy, healthy, and safe. By being informed about these dietary dangers, you can prevent accidental harm. You can enjoy a worry-free companionship with your beloved pet.

Shih Tzu Food to Avoid: Chocolate

Chocolate has an ingredient called Theobromine which is very toxic to dogs. Although it’s only black or pure chocolates that have a high concentration of it. It’s best to stay safe and not give your Shih Tzu any type of chocolate. That includes white chocolate. When consumed, either in small or large quantities, it can greatly harm your Shih Tzu’s organs. And can even be the cause of their death.

Some of the negative effects of consuming chocolate in Shih Tzus include excessive thirst. Also things like, panting, diarrhea, vomiting, tremors, seizures, and hyperactivity. If they eat a lot of it, your Shih Tzu can go into comatose and eventually die.

Shih Tzu Food to Avoid: Dairy Products

Shih Tzus lack lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose in dairy products, making milk, ice cream, and cheese problematic. Consumption can lead to digestive upset and diarrhea. For Shih Tzu owners wanting to treat their pets, lactose-free dog milk is the best option. This specialized product avoids lactose-related issues and aligns with a dog’s dietary needs.

Dog-specific milk substitutes offer the benefits of dairy without the discomfort. These products are formulated to be safe and nutritious, providing calcium without lactose-related risks. Consider these three recommended products available on Amazon for a safe, enjoyable treat.

Shih Tzu Food to Avoid: Certain Fruits

Although there are fruits that are beneficial to our Shih Tzus, there are those that are not. The avocado, for example, has a toxin called Persina. It can cause allergy and digestive and respiratory problems to your Shih Tzu.

Grapes and raisins are also harmful because they can cause kidney failure to your Shih Tzu. Even when consumed in just small quantities.

As for apples, peaches, and apricots, the flesh of the fruit itself is not harmful to your Shih Tzu but the seeds contain a small amount of cyanide. It’s a powerful poison that your Shih Tzu’s body can’t process or digest. Here are some alternative treats to replace these with safer options.

Shih Tzu Food to Avoid: Onions, Garlic & Leeks

Onions, garlic, leeks, chives, and shallots (all from the same family). These common culinary ingredients are nefarious for Shih Tzus, as they can cause hemolytic anemia by destroying red blood cells. Garlic, in particular, is highly toxic and even small amounts ingested over time can lead to cumulative health issues.

Shih Tzu Food to Avoid: Certain Nuts

In addition to the aforementioned raisins, nuts such as Macadamia nuts can be toxic to Shih Tzus. Even in amounts as small as 2 g. The same is true for other nuts such as almonds or walnuts. These have high amounts of oils and fats and can cause pancreatitis if eaten in large amounts. So it’s best to avoid them.

Shih Tzu Food to Avoid: Bones and Liver

Although it’s common to see a Shih Tzu eating bone and liver, the truth is that not all of these are safe for them.

Small bones such as that of chicken and fish are very dangerous. They can cause suffocation because they can get stuck in the throat. Furthermore, if you give your Shih Tzu large and uncooked bones, they can chip more easily and cause internal bleeding.

Liver is another food that’s not recommended for your Shih Tzu because it contains a large amount of vitamin A. Bad as a Shih Tzu’s body doesn’t usually work with. If given in small portions and occasionally, it does not pose danger. In fact, it’s commonly used in natural food diet like the BARF. But it’s always better to give it to your Shih Tzu cooked than raw.

Shih Tzu Food to Avoid: Candy and Sugar

All sweets can be considered as dangerous foods for Shih Tzus. Sugar is a food that should be avoided since it can cause obesity and in some cases, diabetes. In both cases, there can be long-term complications such as loss of vision.

In the case of foods without sugar, special care must be taken with those that have Xylitol. This is a sweetener that is usually used in chewing gum, toothpaste, or candy. Xylitol can cause vomiting, convulsions, lethargy, lack of coordination, impaired gums, and in severe cases, internal bleeding. It can also result in the pancreas releasing more insulin than necessary.

Shih Tzu Food to Avoid: Caffeine and Alcohol

Substances such as coffee or alcohol are drugs that stimulate our bodies. While we have the ability to tolerate them but it’s the opposite for dogs. Under no circumstances should they consume these types of drinks because it can cause poisoning.

Beware of Yeast!

Yeast can expand in your Shih Tzu’s stomach, causing pain and potentially serious bloating. Foods containing live yeast, like raw dough, should be strictly off-limits to prevent painful gas accumulation and other digestive issues.