The best dog food for a Shih Tzu
A Shih Tzu does best on a complete food sized for small breeds, with a texture and shape that suits their short muzzle, and a recipe that supports their coat and teeth — two areas this breed tends to need a bit of extra help with over a long life.
Feeding a Shih Tzu
A small breed
An adult Shih Tzu typically weighs 4–7.5 kg, so a healthy Shih Tzu eats a modest amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A small breed is usually done growing at 10–12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 10–16 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
Small mouths, crowded teeth
Smaller breeds get dental disease more often than big ones, largely because the same number of teeth are packed into a shorter jaw. Kibble size is worth checking, and a dental chew counts towards the daily 10% of calories from treats.
A shallow, wide bowl suits a flat face
A flat-faced dog cannot reach into a deep bowl without pressing its nose into the sides, which is uncomfortable and makes it gulp air. A shallow bowl, and food that does not have to be chased around it, is the easier arrangement.
How much should a Shih Tzu weigh?
Adult 4–7.5 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.7–1.3 kg | 17% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 1.1–2 kg | 27% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 2.2–4.1 kg | 54% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 4–7.5 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a small breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Shih Tzu
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Shih Tzu's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Pedigree Can in Jelly Puppy 6 Pack
Complete Pedigree puppy food in jelly with chicken, lamb and poultry recipes
£10.15
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
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
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
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
What a Shih Tzu's build means for feeding
Shih Tzus are a small, brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed, and that shape affects eating as much as breathing. A smaller kibble shape, designed for small jaws and short muzzles, is easier for them to pick up and chew than a large biscuit meant for a bigger dog, and it reduces the amount of gulping and air-swallowing that can follow an awkward bite.
They are also a genuinely long-lived breed for their size, often living well into their teens, which makes steady, appropriate weight management over many years more relevant than it is for shorter-lived breeds. A small-breed formula is usually calorie-dense enough to suit their fast metabolism without needing large portions that risk weight gain.
Coat, skin and dental considerations
The long, fine double coat Shih Tzus are known for benefits from a diet with a decent fat and omega content, which supports skin and coat condition from the inside as well as from grooming. A dull, flaky coat is often one of the more visible signs that a food is not suiting a dog, this breed included.
Small breeds are also more prone to dental crowding and tartar build-up because of how their teeth are packed into a small jaw, and Shih Tzus are no exception. A kibble with a texture that encourages some chewing, alongside a dedicated dental chew, is a sensible pairing rather than relying on diet alone to manage it.
What we stock that fits
Our range includes small-breed and standard dry and wet complete foods suitable for adult and senior Shih Tzus, alongside dental chews sized for a small mouth rather than scaled down from something made for a much larger dog.
As with any dog, what actually suits your Shih Tzu comes down to their individual weight, activity level and any known sensitivities rather than the breed name on the label. Introduce a new food gradually over several days, and if your dog struggles with a particular recipe, that is worth mentioning to your vet rather than persisting with it.
Common questions
- Do Shih Tzus need small-breed dog food specifically?
- Not strictly, but it tends to suit them well. Small-breed formulas are shaped and sized for smaller mouths and are calorie-dense to match a small dog's faster metabolism, both of which fit a Shih Tzu's build reasonably closely.
- Are Shih Tzus prone to food allergies?
- They can be, like many breeds, though it is not a defining trait of the breed. If your Shih Tzu shows itching, ear problems or digestive upset that does not settle, a food sensitivity is worth discussing with your vet rather than switching foods repeatedly on your own.
- How much should I feed a Shih Tzu?
- Follow the feeding guide on the specific food you use as a starting point, adjusted for your individual dog's weight, age and activity level, and check with your vet if you are unsure. Shih Tzus can gain weight easily, so measuring portions rather than free-feeding is worth doing.
- Is wet or dry food better for a Shih Tzu?
- Either can work well as part of a complete diet; the choice usually comes down to what your dog prefers and how it fits your routine. Dry food has some dental-friction benefit from chewing, but neither format replaces dedicated dental care.
Related
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.