What Can Shih Tzus Eat? A Practical Feeding Guide

TL;DR: Shih Tzus do well on small, frequent meals of high-quality food with single proteins, soft textures or small kibble for their packed little jaws, and limited fillers like corn or wheat. They are prone to dental issues, sensitive stomachs, and weight gain, so portion control matters. Plain chicken, turkey, salmon, pumpkin, sweet potato, blueberries, and plain Greek yogurt are reliable additions. Skip grapes, onions, garlic, chocolate, xylitol, and anything heavily fatty or salted.

Shih Tzus are tiny dogs with surprisingly big opinions about food. They also have a stack of breed-specific quirks that change how you should feed them: a flat face that complicates eating big or oddly shaped kibble, a mouth that tends toward dental disease, a digestive tract that gets unhappy with rich food, and a metabolism that rewards extra calories with sudden, hard-to-shift weight. None of this is a reason to overthink mealtime. It just means a few small adjustments can save you a lot of trouble down the road.

This guide covers what Shih Tzus should eat day to day, the human foods that are safe additions, the foods to avoid, and the breed-specific gotchas (dental health, sensitive stomach, allergies, weight) that show up if you feed them like a larger breed.

How Shih Tzus Are Different from Other Dogs

Before getting into specific foods, it helps to know what makes this breed's nutritional needs a little different:

• Small mouths and crowded teeth. Shih Tzus often have crowded jaws, which traps food and accelerates tartar. Anything that lingers on the teeth (sticky soft foods, sugary treats) makes dental disease worse.
• Brachycephalic face. The short muzzle changes how they eat. Round or oversized kibble can be hard to pick up. Tall, narrow bowls can make breathing harder mid-meal. A shallow, wider bowl works better.
• Sensitive stomachs. Many Shih Tzus get loose stools or gas from rich, fatty, or novel foods. Slow transitions and single-protein meals reduce flare-ups.
• Allergy-prone. Skin and ear issues from food allergies are common in this breed. Common triggers: chicken, beef, wheat, soy, corn, dairy.
• Easy weight gain. An adult Shih Tzu typically needs 300 to 600 calories a day. Two or three "small" treats can blow through 15 percent of that.

What Should a Shih Tzu's Daily Diet Look Like?

The core of the diet should be a high-quality commercial dog food formulated for small or toy breeds, or a vet-approved homemade diet that is nutritionally complete. Look for:

• Single, named animal protein as the first ingredient (chicken, turkey, salmon, lamb). Avoid generic "meat meal" or "animal by-product."
• Small kibble size. Most major brands offer a "small bites" or "toy breed" version of their formulas. Easier to chew, less likely to be swallowed whole.
• Moderate fat (12 to 16 percent). Higher fat tends to upset sensitive stomachs and pack on pounds.
• Limited fillers. Corn, wheat, and soy are common allergens for the breed. Brown rice, oats, sweet potato, and barley are gentler alternatives.
• Added omega-3s. Fish oil or flaxseed supports the long coat and reduces skin inflammation.

Most adult Shih Tzus do well with two meals a day (morning and evening). Puppies need three or four smaller meals to stabilize blood sugar. Seniors often benefit from three smaller meals as digestion slows.

Safe Human Foods for Shih Tzus

The following are all safe in small, plain, occasional portions for a healthy adult Shih Tzu. Always introduce one new food at a time and watch for digestive upset over the next 24 hours.

Proteins

• Cooked chicken (plain, no salt, no skin, no bones). Easy to digest. A few bite-sized pieces work as training treats.
• Cooked turkey (same rules, no skin, no seasoning). A solid alternative if your dog has a chicken allergy.
• Salmon (cooked, never raw, no bones). High in omega-3s, great for coat health.
• Plain scrambled eggs, cooked dry without butter or salt. Soft texture is good for senior teeth.
• Plain Greek yogurt, a teaspoon at a time. Probiotics and calcium, easier on the stomach than regular yogurt. See our full yogurt guide for safe brands.

Fruits and Vegetables

• Blueberries, an excellent low-calorie training reward. About 5 calories each. Tiny enough that even a Shih Tzu can have several without busting their budget.
• Apple slices (no seeds, no core). Cut into small cubes.
• Watermelon (no rind, no seeds). Great hydration on hot days.
• Carrot, grated or cooked soft for Shih Tzus with dental issues. Raw baby carrots can be hard on bad teeth.
• Cooked sweet potato, plain and mashed. Gentle on the stomach and full of beta-carotene.
• Plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling). A teaspoon mixed into food helps with mild diarrhea or constipation.
• Green beans, fresh or cooked, no seasoning. Low calorie, good for weight management.
• Banana, in tiny amounts. Sticky and sugary, so keep portions small.

Carbs

• Plain white or brown rice, cooked without salt or seasoning. Good for upset stomachs (see our guide on rice for dogs).
• Plain cooked oats. Gentle, hypoallergenic alternative to wheat.

Foods to Avoid Completely

The danger list is the same for all dogs, but Shih Tzus are so small that even tiny amounts of these can be dangerous:

• Grapes and raisins, toxic. Even one or two can cause kidney failure. See our guide on grapes.
• Chocolate, toxic. Darker chocolate is worse. A square of baking chocolate can hospitalize a Shih Tzu.
• Xylitol, the artificial sweetener in sugar-free gum, candy, some peanut butters, and "lite" baked goods. Causes a deadly drop in blood sugar.
• Onions and garlic, all forms (raw, cooked, powdered). Damages red blood cells.
• Macadamia nuts, toxic.
• Cooked bones, splinter and can cause GI tears or obstructions.
• Avocado, the pit and skin contain persin and pose a choking hazard.
• Heavy table scraps, fatty, salty, or spiced food can trigger pancreatitis, which Shih Tzus are prone to.
• Yeast dough, expands in the stomach and produces alcohol.

Dental Health and Food Texture

Dental disease is the most common health issue in Shih Tzus, and what you feed plays a real role. The basics:

• Kibble is not a substitute for brushing. The idea that dry food "cleans" teeth is mostly a myth for crowded mouths like a Shih Tzu's.
• Avoid sticky carb-heavy treats that cling to teeth and feed bacteria. Soft jerky strips, freeze-dried meat, or hard chew treats sized for small breeds are better.
• Brushing 3 to 5 times a week with dog-specific toothpaste matters more than any single food choice.
• Dental chews sized for small dogs (look for the VOHC seal) help, but don't replace brushing.

Sensitive Stomach Picks

If your Shih Tzu gets loose stools, gas, or vomiting on regular food, these are reliable starting points:

• Single-protein limited-ingredient diet (LID). One named protein, one carb, a short ingredient list. Lots of brands make small-breed LID formulas.
• Plain boiled chicken and rice for a few days when symptoms flare, then transition slowly back to regular food.
• Plain canned pumpkin (a teaspoon) mixed into meals to firm up loose stools.
• Probiotics, either a vet-recommended supplement or a small daily dose of plain Greek yogurt if your dog tolerates dairy.

Hypoallergenic Options

Food allergies in Shih Tzus usually show up as itchy skin, ear infections, paw chewing, or chronic GI upset rather than acute reactions. The most common food allergens for this breed are chicken, beef, wheat, soy, and dairy.

If your vet suspects a food allergy, the gold standard is an elimination diet: feed a single novel protein (one your dog has never eaten, like duck, venison, or rabbit) and a single novel carb (like sweet potato) for 8 to 12 weeks. If symptoms clear, you've isolated the trigger. Don't slack on the strict version of the elimination diet, even one chicken-flavored treat can void the test.

Hydrolyzed protein prescription diets (where the protein is broken down so the immune system doesn't recognize it) are another route for severe cases.

Treats and Training

This is where Shih Tzu owners get into trouble. Calorie math gets brutal on a 10 pound dog. A few rules:

• 10 percent rule. Treats should be no more than 10 percent of daily calories. For a 12 pound Shih Tzu, that's roughly 35 to 50 treat calories per day.
• Break treats into smaller pieces. A training session might involve 20 rewards. That's only sustainable if each reward is the size of a pea.
• Use real food. Blueberries, tiny cubes of plain chicken, or a single piece of plain freeze-dried meat are low-calorie, high-value rewards. Our Baked Biscuit mixes let you portion small training-sized pieces yourself.
• Account for chews. A "low-cal" bully stick can still be 30 to 50 calories, which is significant for a Shih Tzu.

Puppies vs Adults vs Seniors

Puppies (under 12 months): Feed a small-breed puppy formula 3 to 4 times a day. Smaller stomachs need more frequent meals to stabilize blood sugar. Toy and small breed puppies are at real risk of hypoglycemia if meals are spaced too far apart.

Adults (1 to 7 years): Two meals a day of a high-quality small-breed adult formula. Monitor weight monthly, you should be able to feel ribs without pressing hard.

Seniors (8+ years): Often benefit from three smaller meals as digestion slows. Look for formulas with added joint support (glucosamine, chondroitin), softer kibble for aging teeth, and slightly reduced calories if activity has dropped.

How Much Water Does a Shih Tzu Need?

Roughly one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day, more in warm weather or after activity. For a 12 pound dog, that's about 12 ounces (1.5 cups). Keep a shallow, wide bowl filled with fresh water at all times. Wash the bowl daily, the flat face means a lot of slobber and food bits get pushed into the water.

The Short Version

Feed a high-quality small-breed food with a single named protein, watch portions like a hawk, keep treats tiny, and avoid the usual danger list (grapes, chocolate, xylitol, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts). Brush teeth regularly. Introduce new foods one at a time. If you see chronic itching, ear infections, or GI upset, talk to your vet about a limited-ingredient diet or elimination trial. Most Shih Tzus thrive on a boring, consistent menu with a few well-chosen extras.

If your Shih Tzu has ongoing GI issues, skin problems, or sudden weight changes, talk to your vet rather than guessing at a food change. Small dogs go downhill faster than big ones when nutrition is off.