Ensuring your Shih Tzu eats good meals and tasty, healthy treats is vital for keeping your furry friend in great shape. The best dog food for a Shih Tzu doesn’t contain lots of chemicals like coloring and additives, as it can lead to problems like skin and coat issues and upset stomach.
Moreover, feeding them foods with by-products or fillers can also create troubles. So in this blog, we’ll guide you on how to feed your Shih Tzu puppy or dog to keep them happy and healthy.
Our Top Dog Food Selection for Your Shih Tzu
The options listed here fulfill every criterion for being an exceptional and high-quality dog food, surpassing expectations. By choosing any of these, you can be absolutely certain that you’re providing meals of the utmost quality for your furry companion.
Nutro Ultra Small Breed
Nutro Ultra Small Breed Adult is undeniably the best dry dog food for Shih Tzu. It’s one of the nine dry recipes we reviewed in the Nutro product line. It’s a grain-inclusive option suitable for maintenance and designed specifically for adult dogs (not recommended for puppies). The main protein sources are fresh chicken and chicken meal, contributing to a protein content of 29%, 19% fat, and an estimated 44% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis. The formula includes a holistic blend of superfoods, combining three premium proteins, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, and wholesome whole grains, making it an excellent choice for optimal small breed nutrition. Overall, it comes highly recommended.
Merrick Classic Recipe for Small Breeds
Merrick features chicken as the main ingredient, along with turkey, salmon (rich in omega-3 and 6), chicken liver, carrots, blueberries (a good source of antioxidants), chia seed, oatmeal, and apples. It boasts a unique blend of healthy grains, including brown rice, barley, and quinoa, all of which are well-tolerated. Free from soy and corn, it provides all the recommended vitamins and minerals without any artificial coloring or chemical preservatives. This top-quality brand is specially sized for small dogs and proudly made in the USA.
Ollie Fresh Dog Food
Ollie Turkey stands out as one of the five freshly prepared recipes we assessed in our examination of the Ollie product range. Its key components comprise succulent turkey thigh, wholesome pumpkin, flavorful turkey liver, hearty turkey heart, and nutritious carrot. This grain-free option is suitable for all life stages, making it ideal for adult shih tzus and puppies alike. This blend is abundant in protein, boasting a composition of 39% protein, 25% fat, and approximately 28% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis. This yields a well-balanced fat-to-protein ratio of around 64%. Ollie offers a nutritionally balanced, fresh-cooked meal that closely resembles homemade food without the hassle. Prepared in small batches, custom-packaged, and delivered fresh, it’s a super-tasty and healthy choice, highly recommended for smaller dogs.
Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds
This is an excellent option with a blend of wholesome ingredients, including turkey, chicken, oatmeal (beneficial for the tummy), salmon, and flaxseed (rich in omega-3 and 6), as well as brown rice and barley (generally well-tolerated grains). The recipe also incorporates peas, tomatoes, flaxseed, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, apples, and blueberries (packed with important antioxidants). Its natural preservation and flavor enhancement stem from additional ingredients, complemented by the infusion of essential vitamins and minerals. Notably, it excludes fillers, corn, soy, wheat, or by-products, and there are no artificial coloring, flavoring, or chemical preservatives. For puppies, the formula includes DHA, a specific omega-3 fatty acid supporting healthy cognitive development. The senior formula, designed for Shih Tzu aged 8 and up, includes glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
Blue Buffalo Small Breed Puppy
The best Shih Tzu puppy food is Blue Buffalo. Small Breed Puppy stands out among the 21 dry formulations we scrutinized while assessing the Blue Buffalo Life Protection product line. Its key components encompass deboned chicken, chicken meal, nourishing oatmeal, wholesome barley, and fish meal. This grain-inclusive formula is designed for growth and is especially suitable for Shih Tzu puppies. Most of its animal protein is derived from freshly deboned chicken, chicken meal, and fish meal, as revealed by a dry matter label analysis showcasing 32% protein, 19% fat, and an approximate 41% carbohydrate content. Noteworthy is the fortification of the recipe with taurine, an amino acid highly regarded by numerous veterinary professionals for its potential role in mitigating the risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a specific type of heart disease observed in certain breeds.
Merrick Lil’ Plates Wet Food for Small Breeds
The best wet food for Shih Tzu dogs is Merrick Lil’ Plates Wet Food. Teeny Tiny Steak Tip Dinner stands out as one of the eight wet formulations we carefully examined within the Merrick product range. Its key constituents feature succulent beef, rich beef broth, venison broth, flavorful beef liver, and dried egg whites. It is a grain-free option suitable for maintenance, specifically designed for adult Shih Tzus. Additionally, Merrick Lil’ Plates primarily sources its animal protein from fresh beef, boasting a dry matter label analysis that showcases 44% protein, 17% fat, and an approximate 31% carbohydrate content. This configuration leads to a well-balanced fat-to-protein ratio of about 38%. What sets this recipe apart is its incorporation of above-average levels of omega fatty acids, along with the added benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin, promoting the well-being of your pet’s skin and joints.
Discover the Best Dog Food for Your Shih Tzu Today
Give your Shih Tzu the best with our carefully selected dog food recommendations. From Nutro to Merrick’s, we’ve got your furry friend covered. Whether it’s the quality grain-inclusive choices or the specially formulated puppy and senior options, our top picks ensure optimal nutrition. Make the right choice today and keep your Shih Tzu happy, healthy, and thriving.