Shih Tzu Care Guide and Dog Food Selection Tips

The Shih Tzu is a breed of dog originally from Tibet in our country, and it is now found in many countries around the world; it is a dog with high value as a pet. Nowadays, many people do not know how to properly care for a Shih Tzu after buying one and bringing it home, but in fact there are some little tricks to it, including things to pay attention to when it comes to feeding and choosing dog food.

How to care for a Shih Tzu

1. When you first bring a Shih Tzu home, it will feel panicked and afraid because it has arrived alone in a strange environment. The most obvious sign of this is that it likes to bark, especially at night. Do not feel annoyed about this; instead, you should spend more time keeping it company, and once it has adapted, it will stop barking.

2. Although the Shih Tzu is a small breed, it still needs to go out for a walk every day for exercise. This satisfies its daily exercise needs and can also improve its immune system.

3. Brush its coat often. A dog with long hair like the Shih Tzu needs its owner to help brush its coat at least twice a day. In addition, it needs regular baths. Generally speaking, bathing a Shih Tzu once a week in summer and once every two weeks in winter is fine. Be sure to use bathing products made specifically for pets.

4. After bringing it home, the owner should first observe the Shih Tzu for about a week. Once its health is confirmed, take it to a pet hospital for a comprehensive checkup, then have it vaccinated. Also remember to deworm it regularly.

What dog food is good for a Shih Tzu

1. Choose suitable dog food according to the dog's age. When owners are hesitating about which dog food to choose to feed their Shih Tzu, they might as well choose suitable dog food according to the dog's actual age. As we know, a dog's physical condition differs noticeably at different ages.

2. Choose suitable dog food according to the dog's physical condition. In daily life, we have seen quite a few Shih Tzus that are either very thin or severely overweight. When choosing dog food for such dogs, you can focus more on the nutritional and calorie content of the dog food. Thin Shih Tzus need dog food that is richer in calories and nutrients, while severely overweight Shih Tzus can be fed weight-loss dog food that is nutritionally balanced and lower in calories.

Feeding tips for Shih Tzus

When feeding a Shih Tzu, you should also feed it at fixed times and in fixed amounts, and use different methods at different stages of the dog's growth. For example, a young Shih Tzu may need to be fed about 3-5 meals a day, and dog food and other foods should be soaked soft and mashed before being given to the puppy. An adult Shih Tzu can eat dog food directly and only needs to be fed 1-2 meals a day. However, for an elderly Shih Tzu, it should still eat small meals more often, and when necessary it needs to be fed about 3-4 meals a day. The most important thing when feeding a Shih Tzu is to make a reasonable feeding plan according to the dog's growth needs. Only this is the best, most suitable and healthiest approach for a pet dog.

Daily care for a Shih Tzu

1. Ears: A dog's ears are very delicate and fragile. The Shih Tzu's ears in particular are covered by long hair, have poor ventilation, and get dirty easily, so they need careful and gentle care. When cleaning the ear canal, use a cotton swab and tweezers wrapped in absorbent cotton, gently insert them into the dog's ear, and slowly rotate to clean. You can drip a little ear-cleaning solution before cleaning.

2. Eyes: For a dog with big eyes like the Shih Tzu, dust can easily get into the eyes. If dust gets into the eyes, hold the dog's head facing up and drip in eye medicine. Use your fingers to lift the dog's eyelid and drip in one or two drops. If you ignore the areas wet with tears, tear burns will occur (the hair and skin around the eyes turn red and sag). If the area around the eyes is wet with tears, wipe it clean with a towel.

3. Teeth: If food residue and tartar are ignored, it can easily cause periodontitis, which in turn can trigger internal organ diseases and harm health, so dental care once or twice a week is indispensable. Moreover, in general, a Shih Tzu's teeth can bite bones, but there are certain requirements for the size of the bone; not just any size of bone will do.

When raising a Shih Tzu, you must first let it adapt to the environment, then choose suitable dog food to feed it. Shih Tzus at different stages eat different amounts of dog food, so extra attention is needed. A Shih Tzu also needs extra daily care to ensure its growth.