Best dog food for a Shih Tzu
A Shih Tzu does not need a food labelled specifically for the breed to eat well. What matters is a small enough kibble for a small jaw, a recipe that does not upset a stomach that can be easily unsettled by sudden changes, and some thought given to teeth, since small breeds carry more than their share of dental problems.
Why size and jaw shape matter more than the label
Shih Tzus are a small, short-muzzled breed, and a kibble sized for a large dog is genuinely harder for them to pick up and chew properly. Most complete dry foods aimed at small or toy breeds are shaped and sized with exactly this in mind, so checking the kibble size on the bag, or a small-breed recipe within a wider range, is a more useful filter than any breed-specific branding.
The shortened muzzle also means teeth in a Shih Tzu's mouth are often more crowded than in a longer-nosed breed of the same size, which is part of why dental disease shows up early and often in this breed. A kibble with genuine texture to it does a small amount of mechanical work as your dog chews, and a dedicated dental chew alongside meals is worth having as a matter of course rather than only once a problem appears.
A stomach that reacts to change
Owners of this breed report sensitive stomachs often enough that it is worth planning for from the start rather than discovering it the hard way. A recipe built around a single named protein, without a long list of added extras, is generally easier to introduce and easier to trace back to if something does not agree with your dog.
Whatever you choose, change food gradually over a week or so rather than swapping the bowl overnight, mixing increasing amounts of the new food into the old. That single habit prevents more upset stomachs than any specific recipe choice does, and it is worth doing every time you change food, not just the first time.
What we stock that fits the brief
Our dry food shelf includes small-kibble complete recipes suited to a dog this size, and a sensitive-stomach range for dogs who have already shown they need it. Dental chews sit alongside both, sized for a small mouth rather than scaled down from a large-breed product.
None of this replaces watching your own dog. A Shih Tzu who does well on one recipe for years has no reason to change, and the guidance above is a starting point for choosing rather than a reason to switch a dog who is already doing fine.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Alpha Sensitive Salmon & Rice
A salmon and rice dry food for adult dogs with sensitive digestions, made without wheat gluten, soya or dairy.
£49.00
Alpha Working Dog Maintenance Chicken
An energy-controlled chicken dry food for working dogs with lower energy needs or a tendency to put on weight.
£29.00
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Senior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin for joints
£82.35
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Bakers Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables Dry Dog Food
Bakers Chicken with Vegetables dry dog food, 14kg, complete nutrition for adult dogs
£39.15
Harringtons Adult Dog Salmon & Potato
Complete salmon and potato dry dog food with 21% protein in a 1.7KG bag
£6.25
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food Turkey Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for adult dogs, evenly balanced with potato in the mix
From£12.75
James Wellbeloved Adult Breed Dry Dog Food Turkey Rice
A hypoallergenic dry food for adult dogs, in small and large breed versions, built around single-source turkey protein
From£45.75
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Common questions
- Do Shih Tzus need grain-free food?
- Not as a rule. Grain-free is a choice some owners make for a dog with a diagnosed sensitivity, but it is not a general requirement for the breed, and a good grain-inclusive recipe suits most Shih Tzus perfectly well. Choose on your own dog's digestion rather than the grain-free label alone.
- Why does my Shih Tzu get so much tartar on its teeth?
- The breed's shortened muzzle often means more crowded teeth than a longer-nosed dog of the same size, which makes plaque and tartar build up faster in some individuals. Regular dental chews and brushing help, but persistent heavy tartar is worth a vet check rather than managing at home indefinitely.
- How much should I feed a Shih Tzu?
- Follow the feeding guide on the specific food you buy, since it is calculated for that recipe's calorie content, and weigh your dog periodically to check the amount is keeping them at a healthy weight rather than assuming a fixed portion forever. Your vet can advise if you are unsure what a healthy weight looks like for your dog.
- Should I switch foods if my Shih Tzu has loose stools?
- Occasional loose stools after a change are common and usually settle within a few days of introducing a new food gradually. If they continue, worsen, or your dog seems otherwise unwell, that is a conversation for your vet rather than a reason to keep switching recipes on your own.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.