How Often Should You Feed A Shih Tzu
So now that we hopefully have a typical daily feeding amount in mind, how do we split this up throughout the day?
Its recommended that you feed your Shih Tzu at least three times a day when they are of adult age. If they are still a puppy, they may require 4-6 meals a day.
This is due to the fact that this breed is susceptible to hypoglycemia. With such a fast metabolism, they lack the ability to hold much of an energy reserve. Therefore, spreading out their meals throughout the day helps to keep their energy levels stable.
See below for some more information on how to properly schedule their meals throughout the day:
- Morning: We recommend that you feed your Shih Tzu at the same time each morning. This can coincide with any early responsibilities your family has, such as work or school.
- Mid-day: This meal can be tough for busy families, as much of the family may be away from the house. If no one can be home at this time, wed recommend filling an automated treat dispenser with their meal. You can then set it to dispense around this time.
- Evening: For the last meal of the day, you can feed your Shih Tzu not too long before bed so they have enough energy throughout the night.
- Snacking: Its advisable that the Shih Tzu is given periodic snacks throughout the day to keep their energy up. Looking for some healthy treats that will leave your Shih Tzu drooling? Check out our very own organic treat here!
Can A Homemade Diet Help Your Shih Tzu With These Health Problems
As you can see, a Shih Tzu is prone to several food-related health conditions that may require a change in diet.
But, can homemade food help prevent or manage these issues? In short, yes.
Home cooking for your dog gives you complete control over what your dog does or doesnt eat, allowing you to pick only those ingredients that wont trigger an allergic reaction. The best way to identify food allergens is to perform At Home Dog Allergy Test. This test will identify which foods your Shih Tzu is allergic to so you can avoid them in their next meal. Feeding only fresh, wholesome, healthy food is easier to digest than store-bought kibble due to its unprocessed nature. Easy digestion means more efficient nutrient absorption, which means your dogs body processes minerals, vitamins, amino acids fatty acids , all of which play a role in decreasing inflammatory responses caused by allergens, a lot faster.Since Shih Tzus are prone to develop obesity and liver shunt, an appropriately formulated fresh diet can help prevent and/or treat these two conditions. Both issues can be stabilized with homemade special diets, although liver shunts may require medication in some cases. If your Shih Tzy has been diagnosed with a liver shunt, you will need to make a diet with just enough protein for the dog but no extra, which reduces the byproducts of protein digestion that can make a dogs symptoms worse. Dry food is a big NO in liver disease.
Is Homemade Dog Food Good For Dogs
Is cooking dog food at home really better for your pup? While there may be claims made to that effect, theres no hard scientific evidence to support it. Owners are told by many sources that homemade food is superior to commercial products. However, there is no proof to support this claim, says Dr.
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Cooked Vs Raw Diets For Puppies
There’s no doubt that home-cooked diets for puppies can be healthy when done correctly, but what about raw food? There is much controversy over raw food for dogs. The AVMA and other agencies warn of the risks of dangerous pathogens in raw pet food. Some other experts see the potential benefits of raw food for healthy adult dogs. However, puppies are a different story. Raw food may contain dangerous pathogens that can lead to illness in people and some dogs. Like children, young animals may not have the immune systems to fight off pathogens found in raw food.
If you feel you can safely handle raw food and you are willing to assume the risks, talk to your veterinarian about transitioning to raw food when your puppy gets older. In the beginning, you might choose to offer a combination of cooked and raw foods to see how it works out.
Raw diets should never be fed to dogs coming into contact with immunocompromised humans. In addition, raw diets are not recommended for dogs with immune system issues.
Common Health Problems For Shih Tzu Dogs
Your Shih Tzu, like all other dog breeds, has some inherited or common health problems which are important to know about. That means your Shih Tzu puppy will likely be born with these traits.
When considering the health of your Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy, and what to feed them, it is also relevant to know what health issues they may face. This can sometimes lead to clues about what nutrition they need too.
Later, we will discuss food for Shih Tzu puppies and dogs which meet some of these extra needs.
Below we have listed a few, however, to learn more about your Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy, including potential health concerns, try this extensive article here.
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Banish The Burnt Brown Biscuits
There are a number of reasons why you should consider waving goodbye to the burnt brown biscuits. Yes, theyre cheap and convenient, but you know how humans end up if they only eat fast food. Kibble is highly processed which is proven to destroy nutrients. It not only lowers their nutritional value and makes them harder to digest, but the chemical reaction from cooking leaves behind carcinogens.
If your pooch lives a long life eating biscuits, the carcinogens will build up inside them. That means a dog eating kibble regularly over a long period of time is more vulnerable to certain cancers, heart disease, and even brain damage.
Shih Tzu Calorie Requirements
The number of calories required by an adult Shih Tzu will vary depending on their weight. A full-grown Shih Tzu can weigh between 9-16 pounds, according to the AKC. So, most Shih Tzu would need to eat between 320 and 500 calories a day based on their weight.
If you are giving treats, follow the 10% rule where food would equal 90% of the total calories and treats 10%.
For instance, if your pet weighs 14 lbs, he would need 451 calories per day. If you give him treats, then feed 406 calories in food and 45 calories in treats .
Usually, adult dogs eat two meals per day, so split 406 calories into two meals of 203 calories each. But because these dogs have a high metabolism spread, feed your Shih Tzu at least three times a day when they are of adult age. You can use this calculator to find the exact caloric needs for your pet.
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Now Let’s Break Down The Recipe For My Easy Homemade Dog Food Shall We
The recipe box below contains a printable version of my go-to recipe for homemade dog food, which consist of lean ground sirloin, brown rice, carrots, hard boiled eggs, parsley, and a few tablespoons of oil that is high in Omega’s. But sometimes, especially since social distancing, I’ve found that it is helpful to have a list of easy substitutes for when ingredients run low. Plug in or swap out any of the items below based on what foods your pup likes/needs and what you have on hand to create your pup’s ideal dog food flavor profile.
Meat || Lean ground beef, ground chicken, ground white or dark meat turkey, & ground pork are all great options. Just be sure to make sure that any meat you feed your animals is free of seasonings when purchasing! Dog’s living with a kidney disease diagnosis need meals that are lower in phosphorus – so for us a lean ground beef like ground sirloin is best the way to go!
Eggs || Eggs are one the top 5 allergens for dogs and the yolks are very high in phosphorus -which you want to limit in dog’s with kidney disease. But, eggs are also one of the highest quality forms of protein you can feed your pet! Ultimately, a hard boiled egg is Hooch’s favorite thing on the planet so, with our vets approval we opted to leave them in his food.
Believe Me They Are Tasty Doggy Mealstreats And You Cant Go Wrong With Them
Chicken recipe for shih tzu. Before serving the cooked chicken make sure its ground or sliced for your pet. Its important to remember to avoid adding onions to your recipe as these can be harmful to your Shih Tzu. Refer below- Dog Cook Ease Meal 6 chicken thighs 4 cups frozen vegetables NO onions 3 tsp.
It is best to avoid feeding raw eggs to your Shih Tzu. A grown up Shi Tzu sometimes weighs between 9 to 16 kilos and this recipe is excellent for a grownup 10 pound Shih Tzu. A cup and a half of boiled chicken cut into bite size pieces.
Dogfood Shihtzu homemadedogfoodEasy Homemade dog food recipe DIY homemade Chicken Vege sausageHow to make the homemade dog food treatsHomemade Chicke. Take the dough that is created and knead it into a ball. Chicken and Rice Recipe An adult Shi Tzu typically weighs between nine to 16 pounds and this recipe is good for an adult 10-pound dog.
Shih Tzu refers to brachycephalic breeds of dogs with a typical round head the length of which is less than the width. Chicken jerky not only contains proteins but is also chewy and keeps the dog occupied for a considerable time. Chicken turkey and lamb are all much easier for your dog to digest while still providing the protein and fat your Shih Tzu needs to thrive.
Shih Tzu Feeding Guide. Chicken Turkey Chicken broth Turkey broth Duck Salmon. Hen and Rice Recipe.
Best Dog Food For Shih Tzu Reviews And A Buyers Guide October 2017 Dehydrated Dog Food Free Dog Food Chicken Dog Food Recipes
Pin On Puppelies
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Delicious Food Recipes For Your Shih Tzu
The health of your Shih Tzu is greatly determined by what you feed it. It’s recommended that you make sure the recipes you use to make food for your dog are not just healthy, but delicious as well. This will ensure that your dog continues to always come back for more. You can’t feed your Shih Tzu food that doesn’t taste good and expect them to eat well.
Donât forget that these animals are like human beings. When you give them foods that arenât appealing, they don’t want to eat. Are you in a rut and don’t know what to feed your dog? Are you just trying out pet food recipes for the first time? If you’re among the pet parents that have been looking for some of the most delicious recipes to feed your Shih Tzu, you’re in the right place. Here, you’ll find the top 4 delicious recipes for your pup.
What Kind Of Snacks Can I Feed My Dog With Kidney Disease
Our dogs walk a bit on the wild side when it comes to snacks as they love thin apple slices, banana chunks, carrots, whole unsalted peanuts in the husks, and dehydrated sweet potatoes! Dog’s with kidney disease should avoid meat based chews/treats that are high in phosphorus, so you may find that you need to explore doing friendly fruit and veggies for treats like we have. We still on occasion will offer Hooch bully sticks or a jerky treat, but it is better for him if we limit his intake due to the levels of phosphorous that those treats contain.
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Dog Food Recipe Books
I’ve realized over the years, that good, easy to read, dog food recipe books are essential when making your own dog food at home.
If you ever tried making your own dog food, you probably already know how intimidating it can be.
There’s just so much to know about a dogs diet.
Trying to figure out if your using the right ingredients that your pups need to keep them healthy and happy, can be confusing and lets not forget time consuming.
I’ve spent a lot of time going through different dog food recipe books, but found myself getting frustrated with all the special ingredients, so back I’d go to the old standby of commercial dog food.
Not that there’s anything wrong with a good, high quality commercial dog food, but I just wanted something a little better for my boys.
So in yet another quest to find a good variety of recipes, that didn’t intimidate and confuse me, I stumbled across the “Dog Food Secrets” guide.
What Dog Food Is Killing Dogs
Midwestern Pet Foods expanded its recall of dry dog and cat food following reports that dozens of dogs died after eating the Sportmix dry kibble, the FDA said. A pet food recall is widening after the Food and Drug Administration announced that more than two dozen dogs died after eating Sportmix brand dry kibble.
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A General Guideline For Preparing Homemade Dog Food
My DIY dog food recipe is more of a general guideline, rather than an exact meal plan that I follow each week. My dogs diet changes the same way ours does, depending on what we do and what we buy or grow.
However, we almost always stay with this basic formula:
- 50 percent cooked protein
- 25 percent cooked complex carbohydrates
- Fats and supplements
- Eggshells
Protein is always meat and usually chicken, though weve also used turkey, pork, and beef. We feed any and all parts of the animals, but most commonly, we saute chicken breasts or chicken thighs in coconut oil and ground turmeric.
Coconut oil has a host of health benefits for dogs, such as improving the skin and coat, increasing energy, aiding digestion, reducing allergic reactions, promoting wound healing, preventing yeast and fungal infections, and supporting arthritis or ligament problems.
Turmeric has long been studied for its powerful medicinal properties, including its use as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
We add it to the coconut oil since it is fat-soluble, and use it to support our pugs joint health.
Speaking of dark meat, we feed thighs and breasts interchangeably. While well remove the skin from poultry and trim off excessive fat from red meat, we dont worry about buying the leanest meat possible for our dogs.
A little fat is necessary for a well-rounded diet.
They tend to be the leftovers in our produce bin, so we never have to buy, say, a whole head of cauliflower just for the dogs.
At The End Of 2019 During Our Yearly Vet Check We Received The Devastating News That Our 11 Year Old Dog’s Blood Work Showed That He Was In Stage 4 Kidney Failure
Honestly, I was a basket case, how on earth did we miss this? He seemed like he was just dealing with some symptoms of getting older – frequent urination, sometimes excessive water drinking. It definitely didn’t feel like life threatening symptoms. As much as the diagnosis was a shock, the price tag of the prescription diet he would need to eat for the remainder of his life was pretty horrifying too!
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How Do You Determine How Much Food Your Shih Tzu Needs
The first step in determining the amount of food your Shih Tzu needs to eat is to get an accurate weight for your dog. Most feeding tables on dog food labels are based on a dogs weight, not on the breed.
The average Shih Tzu weighs between 10 and 16 pounds, so you need to find out exactly where your dog lands in that range .
There are a couple of ways to find out your dogs weight.
You can either take her to the vet and have her hop on the doggy scale, or you can do it yourself at home.
If you choose to do the latter here is what you do: hold your pup and step onto a scale, make a note of your combined weight, then weigh yourself minus Fluffy.
The difference between the two weights is how much your Shih Tzu weighs. Of course, this means you will have to weigh yourself, so proceed with caution.
Now that you know your dogs weight, you can determine exactly how much food she needs!
If your dog is a puppy she will need about 1 ounce of food per pound of body weight.
Puppies need to consume more because they are still growing and have a higher activity level. Adult dogs eat about ½ ounce of food per pound of body weight.
Therefore, if your dog weighs 16 pounds, she will need roughly 8 ounces of food per day.
If you have a rambunctious little puppy, and he weighs five pounds, then he would need 5 ounces of food per day. You get the picture.
Recipes For Healthy Homemade Treats
As a dog owner, you probably already know just how much your Shih Tzu loves treats. Treats are not just tasty for your dog, but theyâre also very effective for use when training, to reward your pet for good behavior, or just to show your adorable Shih Tzu how much he or she is loved. However, instead of reaching for those packaged treats, why not make your own? Not only can making your own treats be more cost-effective, but theyâre also better for your pet!
Many dog treats are made with fillers and ingredients that just arenât healthy. Not only can this contribute to health problems but it can also lead to obesity in your pet. Instead of heading to your local pet store, try out these five recipes that taste good AND are good for your dogâs health.
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