Shih Tzus are these tiny, adorable animals and they are one of the most popular breeds worldwide. They are known as often playful pets with a healthy and long lifespan, but they are prone to suffer from allergy issues, sensitive digestive system, hypothyroidism, and joint or bone problems.
Owners should look for dog foods specially made for small breeds since the size of the bites is usually smaller and easier to chew, swallow, and digest.
These foods also tend to have more nutrients in each bite, which is very important to an animal with a small stomach that could miss all the nutrients he needs when eating a small portion of food per day.
Best Dog Food for Shih Tzus
Royal Canin is a very traditional brand that takes into account the special characteristics of each breed in order to develop dog food especially focused on their different needs and lifestyles.
Key Specifications
- Sizes- 2.5lb and 10lb
- Protein – Brewers and brown rice and Chicken Meal
- Small Kibble – Yes
- Grain Free – No
- Why It’s Recommended – Exclusive kibble shape easy to grasp and chew.
They point out Shih Tzus are brachycephalic dogs with a short, broad muzzle, and their tongue is large in relation to the size of its mouth, which can lead to difficulty in grasping food.
This is why they developed an exclusive kibble shape that is easier for a Shih Tzus to grasp and also help to reduce dental plaque and limit tartar formation.
It also specially designed to protect and nourish the long and fragile coat they have, and remember that Shih Tzu’s coat has two layers, there is a long and silky topcoat with a fleece-like undercoat.
Pros
- Reduces stool and odour
- Supports healthy skin and maintain coat beauty
- Exclusive kibble shape easy to grasp and chew
- Enriched with omega fatty acids and biotin
- Made with intense flavours and aromas to increase your dog’s appetite
Cons
- Kibble can be hard too hard to chew
- The main ingredient is brewers and brown rice and chicken meal, not meat
Since skin problems are so common in this breed, Royal Canin has selected an exclusive complex of nutrients to help maintain skin health, such as EPA, DHA, and vitamin A.
2. Wellness Simple
If you are looking for food that is great for dogs battling with an allergy or digestive issues, you have to try Wellness Simple.
Key Specifications
- Sizes- 4.5lb and 10.5lb
- Protein – Salmon
- Small Kibble – Yes
- Grain-Free – Yes
- Why It’s Recommended – Great for dogs with allergy issues or digestive sensitivity
It is specially formulated to be easily digestible with fewer ingredients for small breed dogs with food sensitivities, allergies, or ingredient intolerances.
Its smaller kibble size is made with real salmon, potatoes, peas, and canola oil composing an ideal balance of no less than 29% protein, 14% fat, and calories to meet the need of small breed dogs; this dog food also contains probiotics and prebiotics in order to create a highly-digestible formula.
The carbohydrates in this food come from potatoes, since this is a grain-free product, and it’s also high in omega fatty acids extracted from canola oil and flaxseed, which can help calm inflamed, irritated or itchy skin due to allergies, while still keeping your pup’s coat shiny and healthy.
Pros
- Made with salmon and potatoes
- Contains prebiotics and probiotics
- Enriched with antioxidants and omega fatty acids
- No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives
- Works wonders in dogs with allergy issues or digestive sensitivity
Cons
- There are complains of bad breath
- Some dogs don’t like the salmon taste
- There are complains about the kibble being too crunchy
The addition of glucosamine and chondroitin to Wellness Simple will help with any joint problems, and you can find this to be an all-natural product made only of premium, natural ingredients with no gluten, wheat, meat by-products, corn, dairy, eggs, artificial preservatives, colours or flavours.
3. Diamond Naturals
Made with high-quality ingredients, Diamond Naturals provides your pet with complete nutrition on his every meal.
Key Specifications
- Sizes- 6lb and 18lb
- Protein – Cage-free chicken meal
- Small Kibble – Yes
- Grain Free – No
- Why It’s Recommended -Made with real, cage-free meat
Its main protein source is real cage-free chicken meat, and it is made especially for small breed dogs in the form of tiny kibbles, perfect for smaller mouths. The moderate level of fat (16%) helps support an ideal body condition while still providing the nutrients your dog needs to maintain lean muscles.
Its dry formula is enhanced for optimal nutrition and digestive support with superfoods (unique foods that are particularly high in nutritional value) like kale, chia seeds, pumpkin, and blueberries, to ensure your dog ideal antioxidant nutrition.
The K9 Strain Probiotics has been incorporated into this food and is developed specifically for dogs. They are made of beneficial bacteria to support digestive and immune systems. The omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids taken from chia seeds, coconut, and flaxseed are helpful in maintaining healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Pros
- Made with probiotics for better digestion
- Made with real cage-free chicken meat and rice
- Enriched with antioxidants and omega fatty acids
- Many users say this dog food was wonderful for their dog’s many health issues
Cons
- Some dogs don’t like the taste of it.
- Complaints of bad batches and quality control issues
Made with the most scientifically advanced food safety protocols, Diamond Naturals is a family-owned company that chooses ingredients only from trusted and sustainable sources around the world and has no addition of artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives, which can be very harmful to your pet in the long run.
4. Wellness CORE
If you’re looking for another remarkable product, you should consider Wellness CORE Natural, a dog food specially formulated for adult, non-reproducing dogs over one-year-old which will provide your dog with a balanced, and 100% grain-free everyday nutrition.
Key Specifications
- Sizes- 4lb and 12lb
- Protein – Deboned Turkey, Turkey and Chicken meal
- Small Kibble – Yes
- Grain-Free – Yes
- Why It’s Recommended – Grain-free formula with deboned turkey
Made with deboned turkey meat as its number one protein ingredient, it also has turkey and chicken meal to enrich your pet’s diet.
Made with real green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and carrots to ensure your small furball friend ingests a wide range of nutritional food and while also having an addition of antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals to help support healthy skin, coat, and better digestion.
Pros
- Made with deboned turkey
- Made with probiotics
- Has glucosamine and chondroitin to hip and joint support
- Enriched with antioxidants and omega fatty acids
- No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives.
Cons
- Some dogs don’t like the taste of it
- There are complaints of poor packaging
Wellness CORE can promote healthy eyes, teeth, and gums due to its essential nutrients in the formula, and since this an all-natural product, it is made in the USA, only using premium ingredients with no meat by-products or fillers, grain, corn, soy, wheat-gluten or artificial preservatives, colours or flavours.
5. Blue Buffalo
Being a huge brand in the dog food industry, Blue Buffalo has a super tasty and well-balanced holistic formula, always featuring real meat as the number 1 ingredient; in this case, it’s made using a tasty and protein-rich deboned chicken and brown rice.
Key Specifications
- Sizes – 6lb, 15lb and 30lb
- Protein – Deboned Chicken and Brown Rice
- Small Kibble – Yes
- Grain Free – No
- Why It’s Recommended – High-protein recipe great for dogs with allergies
This is a great food to ensure your dog’s digestive issues become a thing of the past! It contains a healthy complex of carbohydrates and wholesome whole grains such as peas, sweet potatoes, and oatmeal.
Blue Buffalo also has antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies like carrots, blueberries, and cranberries, which along chelated minerals added will boost his immune system. Made with a special blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants – the team over at Blue Buffalo really care about the long-term health of your pets.
Taking no shortcuts, they use a great blend of ingredients, utilizing high-quality protein for a meal that provides your Shih Tzu with a balance of everything he needs to get on with a day of fun!
Formulated with glucosamine and chondroitin, it supports joint health and overall mobility, having also an optimal balance of omega fatty acids to help promote a shiny coat and healthy skin.
PROS
- Made with deboned chicken and brown rice
- Enriched with antioxidants and omega fatty acids
- Many people say it was good dog food for dogs with a sensitive stomach
- Many people say it really helped with their dog’s allergies.
CONS
- Complaints of dogs losing fur, skin irritation, and itching
Another great advantage is the True Blue Promise, which consists of the manufacturer’s promise to produce no chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, and also no corn, wheat, or soy, also especially, no artificial flavours or preservatives.
Bottom Line
You can see there are many great choices when it comes to choosing your Shih Tzu food, and although we have narrowed down the endless option to a small list, we still would like to offer you our top choice: Royal Canin Adult
This is a product that has been developed considering the specificities of the breed, such as the small muzzle, which can cause difficulty in picking and chewing any food, its characteristic coat, and its tendency to skin or digestive problems.
With that in mind, Royal Canin created this exclusive kibble shape and has reached a distinctive formula enriched with vitamins, nutrients, and a selection of the best food choices.
Don’t forget you should never completely replace the dog food when changing brands because it can upset your buddy’s stomach.
The Review
Shih Tzu Dog Food
Choosing the best food for this breed is easy with our detailed reviews & ratings.
Review Breakdown
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Royal Canin
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Wellness Simple
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Diamond Naturals
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Wellness CORE
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Blue Buffalo
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