Breed feeding guide · Shih Tzu
Food for Shih Tzus: Texture, Portions and Balanced Nutrition
Feeding a Shih Tzu well starts with the mouth: a short muzzle, an undershot bite and teeth that are often crowded. This guide covers kibble texture and size, how much to feed in grams and calories, what to do with a selective eater, and why itchy skin shouldn't automatically be blamed on food.
What Shih Tzus see the vet for
Share of 2,423 randomly sampled Shih Tzus under UK primary veterinary care in 2016 with each diagnosis recorded. Dale et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics, 2024.Why this matters for food: dental disease tops the list, so texture and dental care deserve real attention. Obesity is common and makes breathing problems worse in flat-faced breeds. Atopic dermatitis, the skin allergy most often blamed on diet, was diagnosed in about 1 in 45 dogs in this study.
The authors' own conclusion: "Oral hygiene was highlighted as a healthcare priority."
Shih Tzus are small, long-lived companion dogs. The American Shih Tzu Club's breed standard describes an ideal mature weight of 9 to 16 pounds and a height of 9 to 10½ inches. In a 2024 study of UK dogs under veterinary care, the median age at death was 12.7 years, which gives you a long time to get feeding right, and a long time for small mistakes to add up.
Much of the advice online either recommends a single brand or blames everything from tear stains to itchy paws on "fillers." This guide stays with what the evidence supports, and it gives you the numbers you need to portion food for a dog this size. For broader comparisons of adult small-breed formulas, our small-breed dog food guide covers labels and costs in more detail.
Start with the mouth
The Shih Tzu is a brachycephalic, or flat-faced, breed. The breed standard calls for a muzzle that is "square, short, unwrinkled," ideally no longer than an inch, with an "undershot" bite and a broad, wide jaw. It also notes that "a missing tooth or slightly misaligned teeth should not be too severely penalized," which tells you how common dental irregularities are in the breed.
The American Shih Tzu Club's guidance for owners is more direct: Shih Tzus "quite often cut their teeth relatively late and lose them relatively early," and "crowded, poorly aligned, and missing incisors are common." The Merck Veterinary Manual adds that teeth in flat-faced breeds are often "significantly rotated," and that small-breed dogs "usually have more problems with periodontitis than large-breed dogs."
All of this affects how a Shih Tzu picks up and chews food. A dog with crowded or missing incisors may find some kibble shapes awkward to grab. A dog with sore gums may eat slowly, drop food, or chew on one side. None of this means a Shih Tzu needs a special breed food. It means you should watch how your dog eats, not just whether the bowl ends up empty.
Watch your dog eat
Spend a few meals paying attention. Does your Shih Tzu pick up pieces easily, or nose them around the bowl? Does it chew or swallow whole? Does it drop food, eat only from one side, or walk away and come back? These small signs are often the first clue that a texture isn't working, or that the mouth needs a veterinary look.
Kibble, softened kibble or wet food: choosing a texture
There's no single correct texture for a Shih Tzu. The right one is the complete diet your dog can pick up, chew comfortably and eat in a measured amount. Here's how we'd match texture to the situations Shih Tzu owners run into most.
| Situation | Texture to try | How to portion it |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy mouth, eats well | Small-bite or breed-shaped kibble that your dog picks up easily | Weigh the daily amount in grams from the label's kcal per kg |
| Struggles to pick up pieces | Try a different kibble shape or size; a smaller or flatter piece may be easier for some dogs to grab | Recalculate from the new food's calorie statement; cups differ between foods |
| Eats slowly or drops food | Ask your vet to check the mouth first. If teeth are fine, soften kibble with warm water for a few minutes | Weigh the kibble dry, then add water; the water adds no calories |
| Missing or extracted teeth | Some dogs keep eating kibble comfortably after losing teeth; if yours doesn't, a complete wet food or softened kibble | Wet food: divide daily kcal by kcal per can; weigh portions of larger cans |
| Selective eater | Food warmed to about body temperature, or a measured spoonful of wet food added before the meal | Keep toppers within 10% of daily calories |
| Older dog with dental pain or few teeth | Soft or wet complete food after your vet treats the mouth | Watch weight closely; older dogs can drift either way |
Guidance compiled from the sources in this article; warming food to about body temperature (around 100°F) comes from VCA Animal Hospitals' advice on appetite. Talk to your veterinarian before changing texture after dental surgery.
What about breed-specific kibble?
Royal Canin's Shih Tzu Adult says its "unique kibble shape and texture are specially designed for your small breed Shih Tzu's short muzzle and underbite, making it easy for them to pick up and chew." That may well suit some dogs. We couldn't find independent research showing that breed-shaped kibble improves eating in Shih Tzus, so treat it as one option to try, not a requirement. Tufts University's veterinary nutritionists note that breed-specific diets "are designed to meet the same minimal nutritional standards" as other foods.
Does kibble clean teeth?
Not reliably. Merck's veterinary manual notes that the belief that dry kibble keeps teeth clean doesn't always hold, and points owners to products carrying the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal. If dental health is your main concern, look for a VOHC-accepted dental diet or chew and make brushing the core of your routine. Our small-breed dog food guide lists small-bite dental diets on the VOHC list, and our tartar and brushing guide covers the routine.
How much to feed a Shih Tzu
The American Animal Hospital Association's 2021 guidelines estimate resting energy requirement (RER) as 70 × body weight in kilograms raised to the 0.75 power. A typical neutered adult needs 1.4 to 1.6 × RER, and an inactive dog or one that gains easily needs 1.0 to 1.2 ×. Here's what that looks like across the Shih Tzu weight range, translated into grams of two real foods.
| Lean weight | Inactive (kcal/day) | Neutered adult (kcal/day) | Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult (3,898 kcal/kg) | Pro Plan Small Breed Adult (4,075 kcal/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 lb (4.1 kg) | 201–241 | 281–322 | 72–83 g | 69–79 g |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 249–299 | 349–399 | 90–102 g | 86–98 g |
| 14 lb (6.4 kg) | 280–336 | 392–448 | 101–115 g | 96–110 g |
| 16 lb (7.3 kg) | 310–371 | 433–495 | 111–127 g | 106–122 g |
Patify calculations from AAHA's formula and each label's calorie statement. Gram amounts are for the neutered-adult range. Use your dog's lean weight. Starting estimates only.
The manufacturer's chart agrees closely. Royal Canin's Shih Tzu Adult chart suggests 1 cup (91 g) a day for an 11-lb dog at medium activity. At 3,898 kcal per kilogram, that's about 355 kcal, right inside the 327 to 374 kcal neutered-adult range for that weight. Its low-activity column for the same dog, 78 g, comes to about 304 kcal.
Your Shih Tzu may not weigh what the standard says
In the UK study, the mean adult body weight of Shih Tzus was 7.9 kg, about 17.4 pounds, which is above the 9-to-16-pound ideal in the American standard. That could reflect bigger dogs, extra weight, or both. Either way, don't feed your dog for the weight you think a Shih Tzu should be. Feed it for its own lean weight, and ask your veterinarian to help you work out what that is.
Grams beat cups for a small dog
At these portion sizes, measuring matters. A neutered 12-lb Shih Tzu eats roughly 90 to 100 grams of kibble a day. An extra tablespoon or two each meal can add 10% or more without anyone noticing. A kitchen scale makes the portion consistent between family members, and it costs less than a bag of food.
Meals per day
VCA Animal Hospitals advises at least two meals a day for adult dogs. Two measured meals also make it easy to notice a change in appetite, which in a small dog is worth paying attention to quickly.
A sample day for a 12-lb Shih Tzu
Here's how the numbers come together for a lean, neutered 12-lb Shih Tzu with an ordinary indoor routine, using Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult as the example food.
- Daily target: about 370 kcal, the middle of the neutered-adult range.
- Treat budget: 10% of that, or about 37 kcal. Count training treats, chews and anything from the table here.
- Main meals: the remaining 333 kcal is about 85 g of kibble at 3,898 kcal per kg. Split it into two meals of roughly 43 g.
- Softening, if needed: weigh the 43 g dry, then add warm water and let it sit for a few minutes. The portion stays the same; only the texture changes.
- Monthly check: weigh the dog and feel ribs and waist. If condition is drifting up or down, change the daily kibble by about 10% (8 to 9 g) and check again in a month.
Swap in your own dog's weight and your food's calorie statement and the same five steps work for any Shih Tzu. For a more active or intact dog, start higher in the table; for a couch-loving senior, start lower.
Mealtime with a long coat and a short face
Two practical details make meals easier. If your dog's beard and mustache collect food, wipe the face after meals to keep the coat clean and the skin underneath dry. And if your Shih Tzu has to push its face deep into a narrow bowl to reach the last pieces, a wider, shallower dish lets it eat without the struggle. Keep fresh water available in a bowl your dog can reach easily, and clean bowls daily.
The selective eater: a plan that doesn't backfire
Shih Tzus have a reputation for being fussy, and owners often respond by switching foods, adding toppings or hand-feeding. Some of that helps. Some of it trains a dog to wait for something better. Here's a sequence that works with the evidence rather than against it.
- Rule out a medical cause first. VCA notes that poor appetite or refusal to eat "is strongly associated with illness," and lists advanced periodontal disease and loose teeth among the reasons a hungry dog may not eat. In a breed where dental disease is the most common diagnosis, a mouth exam comes first.
- Check whether it's new. Tufts lists reasons to see the veterinarian: pickiness that's new for your dog, weight loss you didn't intend, or a body condition score below 4. A dog that has always eaten modestly and keeps a steady weight is often just a light eater.
- Set meal times. Offer measured meals at the same times each day and pick up what's left after about 20 minutes. Tufts also mentions timed automatic feeders as an option.
- Warm it up. VCA suggests heating food to about body temperature, roughly 100°F, which makes it more aromatic.
- Add toppers before, not after. Tufts advises adding a topper "BEFORE your pet has a chance to refuse the food," so refusing doesn't get rewarded with something better. Keep extras within 10% of daily calories. Our dog food toppers guide shows how.
- Change foods deliberately. If you try a new food, Tufts suggests keeping a diary of flavors and textures your dog prefers. Switch gradually, one change at a time, so you can tell what made the difference.
Itchy skin: don't assume it's the food
Skin problems are common in Shih Tzus. Grouped together, skin conditions affected 16.6% of the dogs in the UK study. Many owners respond by trying one "sensitive skin" food after another. The evidence suggests that's usually the wrong first move.
- Food allergy is uncommon. Merck states that "among pets, food allergies are less common than airborne allergies," and Tufts' nutritionists describe food allergies as "uncommon in pets." Merck's list of breeds that may be at increased risk names Labrador Retrievers, West Highland White Terriers and Cocker Spaniels. The Shih Tzu isn't on it.
- Breed alone can't diagnose it. In the UK study, atopic dermatitis, the environmental skin allergy, was recorded in 2.2% of Shih Tzus. Itchy skin also has other causes, and VCA notes that many dogs with food allergies have other allergies too, such as environmental or flea allergy.
- Tests sold to owners don't work. Tufts reports that saliva and blood tests for food allergy "do not reliably distinguish between healthy and allergic dogs," and Merck says blood and skin tests "are not reliable for diagnosis."
- The real test is an elimination diet. Tufts states that "the only way to diagnose a food allergy is with elimination diet trial," and that most specialists recommend at least 8 to 12 weeks for skin problems. During the trial, treats, dental chews, flavored medications and table food all have to stop.
Tufts also warns that "several studies have shown high rates of contamination with common proteins in over-the-counter" diets marketed for allergies. So if a diet trial is needed, ask your veterinarian which food to use for it. If your Shih Tzu is itchy, start with your veterinarian; our guide to dog food for skin allergies explains how diet trials work, and our comparison of Apoquel and Cytopoint covers two common treatments for environmental allergies.
Tear stains and diet
Few topics generate as many product claims for small white breeds as tear staining. Some brand guides say a Shih Tzu's "tear stains can react quickly to what they eat." We couldn't find veterinary evidence that changing diet treats tear staining.
VCA's veterinary page on excessive tearing (epiphora) explains that flat-faced breeds often have faces that "do not allow the tear film to drain properly." It says some over-the-counter products "have not been proven to be effective in research trials," and that low doses of antibiotics, once used for this, "are no longer recommended due to the risk of developing bacterial antibiotic resistance." VCA mentions "some evidence" that daily probiotics may help over a couple of months. Eye problems were common in the UK study, with grouped eye conditions affecting 11.9% of Shih Tzus, so new or heavy tearing deserves an eye exam rather than a food change.
Weight, breathing and the flat face
Obesity was diagnosed in 3.5% of the UK Shih Tzus, and U.S. surveys by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention have found that many owners of overweight pets see their pet's condition as normal. For a flat-faced breed, extra weight matters beyond the usual reasons. VCA notes that "obesity worsens the signs" of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons says that "obesity will aggravate the problems." VCA also links BOAS to digestive signs such as "retching, vomiting, or lack of appetite," and the ACVS notes that some affected dogs "retch or gag, especially while swallowing."
Keep your Shih Tzu at a body condition score of 4 to 5 on the 9-point scale: ribs you can feel without a layer of fat, and a waist when viewed from above. The coat hides a lot, so feel rather than look, and check monthly. If your dog snores loudly, tires quickly or struggles in heat, ask your veterinarian about BOAS, and treat weight control as part of the plan.
Treats count here too. Tufts and VCA both suggest keeping treats and extras to no more than 10% of daily calories. For a 12-lb Shih Tzu on about 370 kcal, that's around 37 kcal, which a single large chew may exceed, so check the label.
Puppies, adults and older Shih Tzus
Puppies
A Shih Tzu puppy needs a food that's complete and balanced for growth or all life stages. Royal Canin's Shih Tzu Puppy is labeled for puppies from 8 weeks to 10 months, and its chart shows how intake changes during growth. For a puppy expected to weigh 11 lb as an adult, it suggests about 95 g a day at 2 months (about 357 kcal), rising to 112 to 113 g at 4 to 5 months (about 420 to 425 kcal) and easing back to 81 g at 8 to 9 months (about 305 kcal). Intake peaks mid-growth and then falls, so don't keep feeding the 5-month amount to an older puppy. Small puppies also need frequent meals; VCA's guidance for toy and small dogs calls for at least three a day under 4 months. Our small-breed puppy food guide covers the first year in more detail.
Adults
Royal Canin moves Shih Tzus to its adult formula at 10 months. Any complete adult food can work. What matters is a texture your dog handles well, a measured portion, and regular checks of weight, condition and the mouth.
Older dogs
With a long life expectancy, many Shih Tzus spend years as seniors. Some get thinner and need more calories; others slow down and need fewer. Dental problems often shape what an older Shih Tzu can eat, which may mean moving to softened or wet food after dental treatment. Our guide to feeding older dogs covers muscle checks and when a medical diet makes sense.
A label checklist for any Shih Tzu food
- Adequacy statement. Complete and balanced for growth, adult maintenance or all life stages, matched to your dog.
- Calorie statement. kcal per kg and per cup, so you can portion accurately. Royal Canin's Shih Tzu Adult is 355 kcal per cup; other small-breed foods range above and below that.
- A texture your dog manages. Watch the first few meals.
- Size of bag. On October 28, 2026, Royal Canin listed Shih Tzu Adult at $24.99 for 2.5 lb ($10.00 per pound) and $6.20 per pound in the 10-lb size. A 12-lb Shih Tzu eating about 95 g a day finishes a 2.5-lb bag in about 12 days. Our small-breed guide shows how to compare cost per calorie.
- Claims to read skeptically. "Reduces tear stains," "for sensitive skin" and "no fillers" aren't substitutes for a diagnosis.
Grain-free foods come up often in small-breed forums. There's no evidence a Shih Tzu needs one; our grain-free dog food guide covers the current picture on diet and heart disease.
Shih Tzu feeding questions
What is the best food for a Shih Tzu?
A complete and balanced food for your dog's life stage, in a texture it can pick up and chew comfortably, fed in a measured amount that keeps it lean. Breed-specific foods are one option, not a requirement.
How much should a Shih Tzu eat per day?
A lean, neutered 12-lb Shih Tzu typically needs about 350 to 400 kcal a day, roughly 90 to 100 grams of a typical small-breed kibble. A 9-lb dog needs about 280 to 320 kcal. Inactive dogs need less.
Is wet or dry food better for Shih Tzus?
Neither is better for every dog. Dry food is cheaper per calorie and easy to measure; wet or softened food can help dogs with dental problems or small appetites. Neither replaces brushing.
Why won't my Shih Tzu eat its kibble?
Start with a mouth exam; dental disease is the most common diagnosis in the breed and can make chewing painful. If the mouth is healthy, try set meal times, warming the food, a different kibble shape, or a topper added before the meal.
Do Shih Tzus need food for allergies?
Not by default. Food allergy is uncommon, and the breed isn't on Merck's list of breeds at increased risk. If your dog is itchy, your veterinarian can look for the cause and, if needed, set up a proper elimination diet trial.
Will changing food fix tear stains?
We found no veterinary evidence that it does. Tearing in flat-faced dogs is often about drainage, so an eye exam is the right first step.
How many times a day should a Shih Tzu eat?
At least twice a day for adults, and at least three times a day for puppies under 4 months.
Sources
- Dale F, Brodbelt DC, West G, Church DB, Lee YH, O'Neill DG (2024). Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Medicine and Genetics 11:2
- American Shih Tzu Club: Breed standard and Your Shih Tzu & Your Veterinarian
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Dental Disorders of Dogs, Periodontal Disease in Small Animals and Allergies in Dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, Anorexia in Dogs, Epiphora in Dogs, Food Allergies in Dogs, Nutritional Considerations for Toy and Small Dogs and Feeding Times and Frequency
- American College of Veterinary Surgeons: Brachycephalic Syndrome
- Association for Pet Obesity Prevention: 2022 State of Pet Obesity report summary
- Tufts Petfoodology: Elimination diet trials, Food allergy testing, How do I get my picky pet to eat?, Some dogs live to eat and Breed Specific vs All Breed Diets
- AAHA 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines: energy requirement box
- WSAVA: Body Condition Score chart
- Royal Canin U.S.: Shih Tzu Adult, Shih Tzu Puppy and Shih Tzu breed profile; Pro Plan Small Breed Shredded Blend label
Written by the Patify Editorial Research Team using the study, veterinary references and manufacturer pages listed above, checked October 28, 2026. This article hasn't been reviewed by a veterinarian, and we didn't test or receive any of the foods mentioned. Portions are our calculations from published formulas and labels. If your Shih Tzu has trouble breathing, stops eating or shows signs of mouth pain, contact your veterinarian.
