When I first brought home my Shih Tzu, one of the biggest questions I had was: What’s the best food to feed him? I wanted to be sure I was giving him something healthy, safe. And let’s be real, something he would actually eat.
If you’ve ever stood in the pet food aisle staring at dozens of bags and cans, wondering which one is right, you know exactly how confusing it can be. I went through the same thing, trying different options, asking fellow fur parents, and learning what really works for Shih Tzus.
In this post, I’ll share what I’ve learned about the different types of dog food, how to choose the right one for your Shih Tzu, and answer some of the common questions we all face as dog parents.
What Is The Best Dog Food To Feed A Shih Tzu?
We see dogs love in so many ways, from wet-nosed kisses to snuggles on the couch to endless games of fetch. We can show Shih Tzu how much we care in various ways.
What is the most effective way? By feeding them the right food.
Choosing the right food for your Shih Tzu ensures they receive all the necessary nutrients to stay healthy and live a long and happy life. But with so many dog food brands on the market, choosing the best one for your Shih Tzu isn’t always easy, especially when dogs’ nutritional needs vary depending on their age, size, and health issues.
Here, we will help you make decisions in looking for the best dog food for your Shih Tzu.
Types of Dog Food
Kibble/Dry
Dry dog food is ideal for providing complete nutrition in one meal since it contains less water, resulting in a higher concentration of nutritionally beneficial nutrients. It can help reduce dental plaque, improve the health of your Shih Tzu’s gums, reduce bacteria, improve the convenience of storage, reduce the risk of spoilage, and be cost-effective.
Another advantage of dry food is that it is easy to clean and store. There are no mushy spills, and even if a small amount goes outside the food bowl, it is simple to sweep or vacuum away.
Furthermore, odorless dry food is easier to transport on vacations because it only needs small amounts, and it is easier to stock up on it ahead of time.
Canned
You may want to consider canned or wet food if your Shih Tzu doesn’t drink enough water.
This is important if they have a medical condition that could benefit from proper hydration. One example is when your Shih Tzu has a urinary or kidney disease history.
Canned dog food is also aromatic and tasty, tempting sick or elderly dogs to eat if their appetite is decreased.
If your Shih Tzu has a never-ending appetite, wet dog food tends to create a longer-lasting feeling of being full. This is beneficial for weight loss.
Finally, if your Shih Tzu has dental disease or other oral abnormalities, canned dog food can help. It will help them chew the food more easily compared to dry food.
Semi-Moist
Semi-moist dog food has a water content of 20 to 45 percent, and it can be a little more expensive than other types of food. You should also know that semi-moist dog food has a higher sugar and salt content than other varieties of dog food, so it may not be the best choice for all dogs.
Aside from the negatives, semi-moist dog food is soft, making it simpler for little dogs to eat and digest. Semi-moist dog food is also convenient since, instead of scooping from a large bag of dry food, you can open the packet and pour it into your Shih Tzu’s dish.
If you do decide to feed your Shih Tzu semi-moist dog food, be sure it’s made with natural ingredients; many low-quality semi-moist dog foods contain artificial colors and preservatives to make them more appealing to dogs.
Home Cooked
Making a balanced diet at home demands an exact recipe and consistency in preparation. In addition to being more expensive, homemade pet food raises ethical and environmental concerns.
Cooking for your Shih Tzu is exciting, but there is no evidence to back claims that home-prepared diets are healthier than commercial diets.
Despite what you may have read, only a small percentage of pets need a home-cooked meal for health reasons, and an improperly prepared home-cooked diet can be harmful to your Shih Tzu health, particularly in growing or nursing Shih Tzu.
Raw
Raw feeding is exactly what it sounds like: you feed your Shih Tzu raw ingredients rather than the more commonly available cooked food.
This type of diet includes raw meat and other uncooked ingredients such as fruits and vegetables. Raw feeding can be divided into homemade raw diets and commercially prepared raw diets.
Raw food can be contaminated, resulting in bacterial infections that put your dog’s — and your own — health at risk. If you feed your Shih Tzu raw food, they may develop nutritional deficiencies.
If you plan to feed your Shih Tzu raw foods, ask your vet whether a given raw diet is safe for your dog.
Want to know about what your Shih Tzu can eat and not eat? Check out this list of food you must avoid when feeding your Shih Tzu.
How To Choose The Right Dog Food
Ingredients and Preference
As a dog owner, you may prefer to feed your Shih Tzu fresh food rather than kibble, or you may decide to attempt a raw food diet. Your Shih Tzu may favor one flavor over another, such as venison or beef, but not salmon.
Similarly, you can feed your Shih Tzu only kibble or wet food, or a combination of both. Senior Shih Tzu with sensitive teeth may benefit from wet dog food.
When comparing dog food brands, you’ll have to think about all these things.
Age and Size
Different types of dog food are designed for different sizes and ages of dogs, so it’s important to get the right amount of food for their age and size.
Nutrients
Dogs are not carnivores compared to cats, so they can benefit from a variety of high-quality components in addition to protein, such as grains, fruits, and vegetables. These ingredients are a good source of minerals, vitamins, and fiber.
Health Conditions
If your Shih Tzu has a health problem, such as weight management, a sensitive stomach, allergies, or something else, you may want to consider a diet that is specifically designed to support that issue.
A variety of dog food brands offer products designed to help with specific health issues, and these formulas come in a variety of flavors, formats, and price ranges.
Dog Food Brands
You can check the AAFCO food nutrients profile when choosing the dog food you want for your Shih Tzu.
AAFCO-approved nutritional guarantees on dog food labels show that a product meets its standards and is nutritionally complete and balanced.
Aside from choosing the right dog food, you definitely need to know how much to feed your Shih Tzu. Here’s how much food a Shih Tzu should eat per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat different kinds of dog food?
Yes, dogs can eat different kinds of dog food, but their systems need time to adjust. Shih Tzus, in particular, have sensitive stomachs, so switching too quickly can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite.
If you want to change your Shih Tzu’s food, do it gradually over 5–7 days. Start by mixing a small portion of the new food with their current food, then slowly increase the new food while decreasing the old.
Can I feed my dog two different foods?
Yes, you can—but with a few precautions. Only mix foods that are appropriate for the same species and life stage. For example, don’t mix dog and cat food, or puppy and adult formulas.
It’s also important to make sure both foods are nutritionally complete and have similar nutrient profiles. That way, your Shih Tzu is still getting a balanced diet.
If by “different foods” you mean the type of dog food, that can work too. With my Cooper, I sometimes give him dry kibble, other days kibble with a bit of gravy, and occasionally a good canned meal as a reward. The key is that all of these are adult dog foods with complete nutrition, so he gets variety without missing what he needs.
Should dogs eat the same food every day?
Dogs do not get bored eating the same every day compared to humans. They have fewer taste buds (1,700) than us (9000), and they don’t appreciate different tastes as we do.
But that does not mean that they will not appreciate other food.
Do dogs need wet and dry food?
Both of these types of dog food are beneficial to your Shih Tzu. You just need to consider the needs of your Shih Tzu’s health and preferences.
You can practice mix feeding by allowing your Shih Tzu to eat dry food in the morning or wet food in the evening, or vice versa.
Should you mix dry dog food?
You can mix dry dog food with other types of dog food. Ensuring that it will be a healthy and nutritious diet for your Shih Tzu.
Considering that Shih Tzus are picky eaters, you can add food boosters such as chicken or vegetables to also improve their health.
Can I mix wet and dry dog food?
Yes. You can mix the foods in the same bowl, feed dry in the morning and wet in the evening (or vice versa), or offer wet food as a “reward” for good behavior.
Make sure you’re not increasing your Shih Tzu calorie consumption, especially if he is on a weight management plan. You should also avoid mixing brands if your Shih Tzu is on a therapeutic diet.
So, What’s the Best Dog Food for a Shih Tzu?
After trying different options and learning from other fur parents, I realized there isn’t a single “perfect” food that works for every Shih Tzu. The best choice depends on your pup’s age, health, and eating habits.
For example, with my Cooper, there are days I feed him plain dry kibble. Some days he prefers kibble with a little gravy on it. And every now and then, I’ll give him a good canned meal as a special reward—but very rarely.
What matters most is choosing food with quality ingredients, balanced nutrition, and a texture your Shih Tzu will actually enjoy. Whether it’s dry kibble, wet food, or a mix of both, the right food should keep them healthy, full of energy, and excited for mealtime.
