The Best Foods for Shi-Tzu Puppies

Shih tzu dogs were first developed in China as lapdogs for Chinese royalty. They generally range from 10 to 15 pounds and are at most 12 inches tall. Though small, they are sturdy and friendly with a sweet temperament. If you decide to adopt a shih tzu puppy, you will want to have the proper food available because some choices are better than others.

  1. BARF Diet

    • BARF is an acronym for "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food." Raw diets are generally regarded as the best source of complete nutrition for your shih tzu pup. Many dry foods available from pet stores contain additives and preservatives and also grain products. BARF maintains that grain products contribute to most degenerative diseases in dogs. The BARF Diet uses fresh, whole, raw food sources containing vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. The science behind this type of food is that no animal--not even a shih tzu--has evolved to eating a cooked food diet. The nutrients in a raw food diet are better for the shih tzu's digestive system.

    Wellness

    • Wellness is a brand of dog food that has both canned and dry bag options. They make sure that the food you'll feed your shih tzu comes from meat that has been properly deboned (many types of dry dog food contains chicken bones or beaks), contains no hormones or steroids, and includes wholesome grains, vegetables, and fruits. For those who do not want their shih tzu to eat grains, Wellness offers a product called "Core," which is dry food that is grain-free. There is also a"Super5Mix" which claims it's for complete health and a "Simple Food Solutions" if your shih tzu has allergies and is sensitive to foods.

    Things to Look for in a Food

    • The above listed choices are just two of many dog food choices. It really is up to you to pick through the masses of products available and choose the one that best suits your dog's nutritional needs. Not everyone can afford top-of-the-line products and that's okay. You just need to know what to look for in a food and you'll find appropriate choices at any price level.

      Make sure an identifiable meat source is the main ingredient. You will want it to say lamb, chicken, fish--not just meat, as that could be some strange meat variety. Also, try to find a variety without corn, wheat, or soy because those ingredients may cause degenerative diseases in your shih tzu.

      Other suggested brands include Blue Buffalo, Nature Organics, Innova EVO and Canidae.