Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Shih Tzu Food Calculator
- Shih Tzu Feeding Chart
- Best Food for Shih Tzu. Shih Tzu Feeding Guide
- How Much Food to Feed the Shih Tzu
- How Many Times to Feed the Shih Tzu a Day
- Conclusion
Introduction to Feeding the Shih Tzu
Most dog owners do not know how to properly feed their dogs.
Also, most dog owners overfeed their dogs.
That explains why 59 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, according to research.
Overfeeding your Shih Tzu will make your Shih Tzu overweight and obese. Obesity leads to worse health problems for your Shih Tzu.
Unfortunately, the Shih Tzu is a dog breed that can become overweight very easily.
Therefore, you need to pay careful attention to what you feed your Shih Tzu and how much food you feed your Shih Tzu.
Furthermore, when you overfeed your Shih Tzu, you waste dog food. Wasting dog food is the same as wasting money. Dog food is a recurring expenditure that adds up to a lot of money over the lifespan of your Shih Tzu.
The average lifespan of the Shih Tzu is 13.1 years.
When you feed your Shih Tzu the right type of food and the right amount of food, your Shih Tzu will be of the right body weight and the right body condition (not overweight or underweight).
Similarly, underfeeding your Shih Tzu is as bad of a problem as overfeeding your Shih Tzu.
When you underfeed your Shih Tzu or feed your Shih Tzu an incomplete or unbalanced diet, you reduce your Shih Tzu`s quality of life.
The right amount of food that your Shih Tzu needs depends on six important factors.
You need to take all these factors into account when developing a meal plan for your Shih Tzu. These six factors are:- The life stage of your Shih Tzu (puppy, adult, or senior)
- The current weight of your Shih Tzu
- The body condition of your Shih Tzu (normal weight, overweight, underweight)
- How active your Shih Tzu is (inactive/obese prone, or active/athletic)
- If your Shih Tzu has been spayed/neutered
- The type of dog food that you feed your Shih Tzu
This article will provide you with a detailed guide on how to properly feed your Shih Tzu based on the above factors as recommended by veterinarians.
This article also includes the Shih Tzu food calculator that you can use to estimate how much food to feed your Shih Tzu based on the six factors we have just mentioned.
Our Shih Tzu food calculator uses the dog food formula and feeding guidelines developed by the veterinarians from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center and by veterinarians from the Mark Morris Institute.
Moreover, our calculator knows the calorie content per cup in over 800 popular dog foods (data from the Frankin Animal Clinic). Thus, the calculator can automatically calculate the right amount of each popular dog food that your Shih Tzu needs daily.
Importantly, since the nutrient requirements of the Shih Tzu puppy are different from the nutrient requirements of the adult Shih Tzu, this article contains recommendations on the best food to feed the Shih Tzu at different ages.
Shih Tzu Food Calculator
The Shih Tzu Food Calculator above lets you estimate how much food to feed your Shih Tzu.
Similarly, to calculate how much water your Shih Tzu needs, check out our Shih Tzu water calculator
.Our dog water calculator lets you estimate how much water your Shih Tzu needs to drink in a day.
How to Use our Shih Tzu Food Calculator
To use the dog food calculator:✔ Select the name of the dog food that you feed your Shih Tzu from the list.
✔ If the name of the dog food that your feed your Shih Tzu is not on the list, then find the bag or can of your dog food, the bag should have written on it how many kcals per cup is in the dog food. Enter this value in the calculator in the place of the dog food name.
✔ Enter the current weight of your Shih Tzu.
✔ Select your Shih Tzu`s age range, activity level, and neuter status.
✔ If your Shih Tzu is overweight or underweight, and you want your Shih Tzu to lose or gain weight, enter the ideal weight of your Shih Tzu for its current age in the `How much you wish your dog currently weighs` box. Leave this box blank if your Shih Tzu is of normal weight.
To know how much Shih Tzus typically weigh at different ages, check out our article and calculators on Shih Tzu weight and growth.
CONSULT A LICENSED VETERINARIAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR DOG ON A WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN DIET.
How the Shih Tzu Food Calculator Works
First, the calculator estimates what is known as the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) of your Shih Tzu.
The RER is the amount of energy that your Shih Tzu needs when it is `resting`, that is when doing nothing. The calculator uses the current weight of your Shih Tzu to calculate your Shih Tzu`s resting energy.
Next, the calculator scales up the resting energy by a factor that corresponds to your Shih Tzu`s life stage (puppy or adult) and lifestyle (activity level, spayed/neutered, etc). This scaled up energy value (called the maintenance energy) is the energy that your Shih Tzu needs to maintain its life when not resting.
Finally, the Shih Tzu food calculator divides the maintenance energy by the amount of energy in one cup of dog food to calculate how many cups of dog food your Shih Tzu needs.
Monitoring Your Shih Tzu`s Growth
The answer from the Shih Tzu food calculator is a starting point number on how much food you need to feed your Shih Tzu.
Start by feeding your Shih Tzu the amount of food recommended by the Shih Tzu food calculator every day.
While feeding your Shih Tzu this daily amount of food, weigh your Shih Tzu at least once a week to ensure that your Shih Tzu is not on its way to becoming overweight or underweight.
If your Shih Tzu is becoming overweight, reduce the amount of food your feed it by 10 to 15 percent, if underweight increase its food by 10 to 15 percent.
You can use our dog weight tracking tool to keep records of your Shih Tzu`s weight. This tool will let you know if the feeding plan is making your Shih Tzu grow normally or abnormally.
You can also check your Shih Tzu body condition score to find out if it is overweight or underweight. Learn how to check your Shih Tzu body condition score here.
Shih Tzu Feeding Chart
Below is the typical feed chart for the Shih Tzu. This chart provides you a rough guide on how much dry dog food (kibble) to feed your Shih Tzu.
If you want a more accurate estimate of how much food to feed your Shih Tzu, use this Shih Tzu food calculator.
| Age | Typical Weight | How Much Food |
|---|---|---|
| 13 weeks | 6.0 lbs (2.7 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 14 weeks | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 1.2 cups per day |
| 16 weeks | 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg) | 1.3 cups per day |
| 20 weeks | 8.7 lbs (4.0 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
| 5 months | 8.7 lbs (4.0 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
| 6 months | 9.8 lbs (4.5 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 7 months | 10.7 lbs (4.8 kg) | 1.2 cups per day |
| 8 months | 11.3 lbs (5.1 kg) | 1.2 cups per day |
| 9 months | 11.7 lbs (5.3 kg) | 1.3 cups per day |
| 10 months | 12.0 lbs (5.4 kg) | 1.3 cups per day |
| 11 months | 12.2 lbs (5.5 kg) | 1.3 cups per day |
| 12 months | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) | 1.3 cups per day |
| 1 years | 12.4 lbs (5.6 kg) | 1.3 cups per day |
| 4 years | 12.4 lbs (5.6 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
| 5 years | 12.4 lbs (5.6 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
How to Measure the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Shih Tzu
Research has shown that most owners over-measure a cup of dog food. As a result, most dogs owners overfeed their dogs. This is because dog owners do not level off the cup when measuring out the food they give to their dogs.
See how and how not to measure ONE cup of dry dog food in the picture below:
Note that one cup of dog food equals 8 oz of dog food or ~237 milliliters of dog food.
You can buy standard dog food measuring cups here on Amazon.
Best Food for Shih Tzu. Shih Tzu Feeding Guide
The Shih Tzu has different nutrient needs at different life stages. Therefore, the dog food that you feed your Shih Tzu at different ages should be the type that is appropriate for its age.
For example, during its puppy stage, your Shih Tzu needs the type of dog food that has been designed to help boost a puppy`s weak immune system.
On the other hand, the adult Shih Tzu should have already developed a good immune system. So, during the adult stage, you should feed your Shih Tzu the type of dog food that has been designed to prolong the life of a dog.
Nevertheless, some dogs still do well eating the same food at every stage of their lives.
However, feeding your Shih Tzu dog food that has been optimized for its age will ensure that your Shih Tzu grows well, lives well, and lives long.
Feeding Guide for the Shih Tzu Puppy: 12 weeks to one year
The dog food that you feed your puppy should have the nutrients that will boost a puppy`s immune system since puppies easily get infected with the disease at this age.
Also, a good puppy food should have the nutrients that support brain development and good vision.
Finally, a good dog food for the Shih Tzu puppy should be the type that will not make your Shih Tzu fat. The puppy food should also help increase the health of your puppy`s bones.
See our list of the best dry dog food and the best wet dog food for the Shih Tzu puppy below.
These dog foods have all the right amount of nutrients that the Shih Tzu puppy needs to grow well during its puppy years.
Best Dry Food For Shih Tzu Puppy: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Shih Tzu Puppy: Purina Pro Plan High Protein Wet Puppy Food
Feeding Guide for the Young Adult Shih Tzu: Ages 1 year to 6 years
The dog food that you feed a young adult Shih Tzu should have the nutrients that will make a dog live longer.
A good dog food for the young adult Shih Tzu should also have the nutrients that will minimize the chances of your Shih Tzu getting infected with common dog diseases.
Also, a good dry dog food for the young adult Shih Tzu should help clean your dog`s teeth as your dog chews on the food.
Below is our best dog food recommendations for the young adult Shih Tzu
Best Dry Food For Young Adult Shih Tzu: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult Oral Care for Dental Health Dog Food, Chicken Rice & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Young Adult Shih Tzu: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Chicken & Barley
Feeding Guide for Mature Adult Shih Tzus: 6 years and older
You should feed the mature adult Shih Tzu food that has been formulated to improve their quality of life, increase their life expectancy, and increase their overall health.
Older dogs are prone to age-related health problems. A good diet is essential to minimize the possibility of becoming frail with age.
See our recommendation on the best food for the mature adult Shih Tzu below:
Best Dry Food For Mature Adult Shih Tzu: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
Best Wet Food For Mature Adult Shih Tzu: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Beef & Barley Recipe
Feeding Guide for Senior Dogs
One way to slow down the effects of aging in dogs is to reduce the amount of food you feed old dogs by 20 to 30% of normal while meeting essential nutrient needs.
Reducing a senior Shih Tzu`s food slows the aging process and reduces the risk for cancer, kidney diseases, arthritis, and immune-related diseases.
AAFCO-Certified Dog Food for the Shih Tzu
No matter which commercial food that you feed your Shih Tzu, make sure that the food is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
AAFCO is an expert body that rigorously tests dog food to make sure that the dog food is safe.
Also, AAFCO ensures that a dog food has all the nutrients (not just calories) that a dog needs to grow well before AAFCO approves the dog food.
Unlike homemade dog food, most commercial dog foods are AAFCO-approved. Double-check the label of your dog food to make sure it has been certified by AAFCO before feeding it to your Shih Tzu.
How Much Food to Feed the Shih Tzu
How Much Food to Feed a 15-Week-Old Shih Tzu Puppy
You should feed your 15-week-old Shih Tzu puppy 1.3 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Shih Tzu puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 15-week-old Shih Tzu puppy assumes that the weight of your Shih Tzu is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 15-week-old Shih Tzu puppy is 6.9 lbs (3.1 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Shih Tzu also assumes that you feed your Shih Tzu a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Shih Tzu puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Shih Tzu, and other factors, use our Shih Tzu food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 19-Week-Old Shih Tzu Puppy
You should feed your 19-week-old Shih Tzu puppy 1.0 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Shih Tzu puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 19-week-old Shih Tzu puppy assumes that the weight of your Shih Tzu is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 19-week-old Shih Tzu puppy is 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Shih Tzu also assumes that you feed your Shih Tzu a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Shih Tzu puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Shih Tzu, and other factors, use our Shih Tzu food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 7-Month-Old Shih Tzu Puppy
You should feed your 7-month-old Shih Tzu puppy 1.2 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Shih Tzu puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 7-month-old Shih Tzu puppy assumes that the weight of your Shih Tzu is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 7-month-old Shih Tzu puppy is 10.7 lbs (4.8 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Shih Tzu also assumes that you feed your Shih Tzu dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Shih Tzu food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Shih Tzu.
How Much Food to Feed a 10-Month-Old Shih Tzu Puppy
You should feed your 10-month-old Shih Tzu puppy 1.3 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Shih Tzu puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 10-month-old Shih Tzu puppy assumes that the weight of your Shih Tzu is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 10-month-old Shih Tzu puppy is 12.0 lbs (5.4 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Shih Tzu also assumes that you feed your Shih Tzu dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Shih Tzu food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Shih Tzu.
How Much Food to Feed a 11-Year-Old Shih Tzu
You should feed your 11-year-old Shih Tzu 1.0 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Shih Tzu over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 11-year-old Shih Tzu assumes that the weight of your Shih Tzu is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 11-year-old Shih Tzu puppy is 12.4 lbs (5.6 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Shih Tzu also assumes that you feed your Shih Tzu dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Shih Tzu food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Shih Tzu.
How Much Food to Feed a 12-Year-Old Shih Tzu
You should feed your 12-year-old Shih Tzu 1.0 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Shih Tzu over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 12-year-old Shih Tzu assumes that the weight of your Shih Tzu is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 12-year-old Shih Tzu puppy is 12.4 lbs (5.6 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Shih Tzu also assumes that you feed your Shih Tzu dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Shih Tzu food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Shih Tzu.
How Much Food to Feed a 4-Pound Shih Tzu
You should feed your 4-Pound Shih Tzu 0.5 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Shih Tzu over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Shih Tzu also assumes that you feed your Shih Tzu a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Shih Tzu is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Shih Tzu is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Shih Tzu food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Shih Tzu.
How Much Food to Feed a 9-Pound Shih Tzu
You should feed your 9-Pound Shih Tzu 0.9 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Shih Tzu over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Shih Tzu also assumes that you feed your Shih Tzu a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Shih Tzu is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Shih Tzu is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Shih Tzu food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Shih Tzu.
How Many Times to Feed the Shih Tzu a Day
When it comes to how many times to feed a dog, there are three different ways to feed the Shih Tzu
One way is to make food available to the Shih Tzu at all times (free-choice feeding).
Another way is to feed the Shih Tzu two or three times a day (food-restricted feeding). This is the feeding method that works the best for most Shih Tzus.
The third way is to make food available to your Shih Tzu for a short time (about 10 minutes) once or twice a day (time-restricted feeding).
Each of these feeding methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed next.
Free-Choice Feeding
This is a feeding method when you make food available to your Shih Tzu all the time.
Food-Restricted Meal Feeding
Food-limited feeding requires feeding a measured amount of food based on the Shih Tzu’s daily energy requirements divided into two or three meals per day.
This is the method of choice for feeding puppies that are at risk of developing bone diseases due to rapid growth. Restricting the food of a rapidly growing dog will ensure that the dog grows normally.
Time-Limited Feeding
This is a dog feeding method in which dogs are allowed access to food for a short period, usually 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice daily (three times per day for the first month after weaning, then twice per day).
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Free-choice feeding |
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| Food-restricted feeding |
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| Time-restricted feeding |
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Effect of Neutering/Spaying on How Much Food your Shih Tzu eats
Neutered/spayed dogs tend to get fat twice as easily as intact dogs.
Studies have shown that neutering/spaying may increase your Shih Tzu`s appetite for more food. Also, your Shih Tzu`s physical activity decreases after neutering/spaying. These factors lead to weight gain.
Neutering may lead to more weight gain in male Shih Tzus because neutered dogs roam less (which means less exercise).
Therefore, the amount of food that you give to a neutered Shih Tzu should be reduced after you neuter your Shih Tzu to prevent weight gain.
Use our Shih Tzu food calculator to calculate how much food to feed a neutered/spayed Shih Tzu.
Effect of Weather on How Much Food Your Shih Tzu Needs
Shih Tzus that live in cold environments need more food (especially, food high in fat) than Shih Tzus that live in hot environments.
Hot weather, on the other hand, does not increase the amount of food your Shih Tzu needs. Hot weather only makes your Shih Tzu need more water.
Since most Shih Tzus live in a temperature-controlled environment as their owners. Therefore, owners do not need to increase or decrease the amount of food they give to their Shih Tzus based on the outside weather.
Important Note on Treats and Table Food
Because meeting a dog`s nutrient requirements is not the primary goal of dog treats, most commercial dog treats do not contain the essential nutrients that your Shih Tzu needs.
However, a few treats are complete and balanced and are approved by AAFCO, or some other credible dog food regulatory agency. Check the label on your dog treat to know if the dog treat has a complete and balanced nutrient profile.
Nevertheless, dog treats, either balanced or unbalanced in nutrients, are valid sources of calories for your dog. Therefore, if you give your dog lots of treats, you should reduce the amount of the regular dog food that you give your dog accordingly to account for the treats. That way, you will not overfeed your dog.
Also, human table foods do not contain the important nutrients that your Shih Tzu needs for healthy growth.
Also, human table foods may contain very high levels of fat or sodium and other minerals that are harmful to your Shih Tzu.
Moreover, know that when you feed your Shih Tzu table food, you fill your Shih Tzu`s stomach with dog `junk food`. This will suppress your Shih Tzu`s appetite and thereby make your Shih Tzu unable to eat its normal dog food that contains the essential nutrients for your Shih Tzu`s growth.
We do not recommend giving your Shih Tzu table food.
Conclusion
Most commercial dog food labels contain recommendations on how much of the food to feed a dog. However, their recommendations are very general.
Therefore, in this article, we have provided your specific advice on how to properly feed your Shih Tzu.