Do you have a fussy Shih Tzu that likes to turn their nose up at mealtime?
If so, I can relate to your predicament as I used to have two picky eaters who would on occasion refuse to eat their dog food.
However, my dogs are no longer fussy about their food since I made the switch to fresh dog food meals that are balanced, complete and tasty.
Shih Tzu have earned a reputation for being a particularly fussy dog breed when it comes to their nutrition despite the best efforts of pet parents.
But there are lots of fresh dog food companies in the UK that can provide your Shih Tzu with human-grade, high-quality food and restore their mealtime excitement.
Before we go any further, you should speak to your veterinarian before you decide to make an adjustment to your dog’s diet.
It’s a good idea to make a slow transition to a new type of dog food because if you make an immediate change to their diet, you could risk upsetting their tummy.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the best dog food for picky Shih Tzus in the UK available to order right now.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as veterinary, medical or professional advice. The content of our articles does not constitute veterinary advice. It’s always best to speak with your vet or a certified pet nutritionist before making any changes to your pet's diet or feeding routine.
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Shih Tzu Nutrition
Shih Tzus, just like any other dog irrespective of breed or mix, will benefit from a balanced and complete diet to ensure they get all the necessary minerals and vitamins to promote an active and happy lifestyle.
As a relatively petite dog breed, Shih Tzus won’t need a huge diet to fuel their daily walks and romps in the garden with their pet parents.
In fact, Shih Tzu owners will need to closely monitor how much they feed their Shih Tzu seeing as a recent study found that 1 in 14 dogs in the UK are recorded as overweight by their vets.
As a flat-faced dog breed, it’s important that Shih Tzus eat food that is easy to digest, especially if you’ve got an older dog who struggles to breathe. Doing two things at once could prove problematic!
Shih Tzus are much loved for being hypoallergenic but the breed’s long hair requires the right amount of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids in their diet to maintain the appearance and health of their coat.
If you’ve noticed that your Shih Tzu is struggling with allergies or skin irritation, you may want to consider whether the food you’re feeding them is having a negative effect. You can speak to your vet or order a dog food allergy test.
Are Shih Tzu Fussy Eaters?
Shih Tzu (Photo: Adobe Stock)
During our research on the Shih Tzu breed, it was evident that a high proportion of Shih Tzus are fussy when it comes to their dog food.
A Shih Tzu owner on Reddit shared her frustrating experience with her fussy dogs.
They have always been very picky eaters and rarely ever touch their food bowls. We’ve been to the vet multiple times and they have confirmed that my dogs are 100% healthy and have no issues. They aren’t under or over weight for their size and they’re always playful and full of energy.
Another Reddit user shared a similar experience with her picky Shih Tzu.
I’ve got a picky eater as well. We tried just about every high end hard kibble under the sun and he wouldn’t eat it. He would just eat a mouthful and then refuse to eat for another 24 hours and then another mouthful. Consulted with the vet several times and had him checked out, including his teeth and he is just fine. It can get very frustrating having a picky eater or a dog that isn’t interested in food other than treats.
If you’ve become accustomed to feeding your Shih Tzu store-bought dry food or unpleasant-smelling wet food, it could be time to make a change.
Lots of traditional dog food brands that you’ll find at your local supermarket will contain additives and nasties listed on confusing ingredient labels.
That’s why we believe in the fresh dog food companies listed in this article who all use high-quality meat, fresh ingredients and have a transparent approach to their production processes.
They’ll ask for key details about your Shih Tzu to get an idea about their age, activity level, allergies and daily routine.
It’s an added bonus that all the dog food companies on this list will ship your Shih Tzu’s fresh meals direct to your door so that’s one less thing to worry about.
Best Dog Food For Fussy Shih Tzu UK
So, now we’ve explained some of the things to consider when deciding upon dog food for your Shih Tzu and we’ve heard from some Shih Tzu owners with fussy eaters, it’s time to check out some of our top picks available in the UK at the moment.
1) Butternut Box
Website: butternutbox.com
Butternut Box recipes (Photo: helloBARK!)
Butternut Box are one of the leading providers of fresh dog food meals in the UK right now. They’ve got a fresh approach to pet nutrition with their recipes comprised of 60% human-quality meat and 40% fresh produce. They cook their food at low temperatures so they retain all their nutritional goodness. Butternut Box’s recipes don’t include any additives or nasties, they don’t use grain in their recipes or cook their food at harsh temperatures. They’ve got a range of 10 different recipes so you’ve got plenty of choice when it comes to providing your Shih Tzu with lots of flavours to try. They’ll tailor their recipes to meet your Shih Tzu’s specific needs thanks to their sign-up questionnaire. Butternut Box would be a top pick both in terms of recipes and value for Shih Tzu owners looking to make a change to their dog’s diet.
We have an exclusive offer for helloBARK! readers who are thinking about signing up to Butternut Box. You can get 50% off your first Butternut Box order and 50% off your second Butternut Box order by clicking here.
2) Different Dog
Website: differentdog.com
Skye and Different Dog’s Health+ range (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Different Dog provide a premium dog food option for Shih Tzu owners who have a flexible budget. They’ve got a wide range of recipes that have been formulated to ensure their easy to digest, with gut health boosting ingredients and specially selected superfoods to support dogs with sensitivities. They’ve even got a Health+ range to help dogs facing specific health issues. Just like Butternut Box, their meals are cooked at low temperatures by their team of chefs before their frozen and shipped to your door. Different Dog are a pricier option so some Shih Tzu owners may be put off by the price but my picky eaters loved their balanced and complete meals.
If you would like to purchase Different Dog, you can get a 35% discount off your first 2 boxes by entering the HELLOBARKCC35 coupon code at checkout. To place your first order, click here.
3) Pure Pet Food
Website: purepetfood.com
Alaskan Klee Kai with their Pure Pet Food (Photo: www.hellobark.com)
If you’d prefer to stick to dry dog food but you want to ditch the kibble for something fresher and healthier, Pure Pet Food could be the answer for you and your Shih Tzu. Pure Pet Food’s recipes contain high-quality ingredients that are air dried to remove moisture and lock in nutritional goodness. Their website claims that their air-dried dog food is easier to digest than other pet food formats. There is a little more work required from Shih Tzu owners as you’ll have to combine the air-dried food with some water to create your Shih Tzu’s meals. However, you won’t have to worry about finding freezer space for Pure’s pet food unlike some of the other options in this article.
4) Tails
Website: Tails.com
Copper and Skye with their Tails dog food (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
So you’ve really got your heart set on sticking with kibble. Well if you’re not quite ready to ditch the dry food yet, we’ve got some good news. Tails can provide your Shih Tzu with a superior kibble than the traditional types of dry food that you’d find at your local supermarket. While I personally prefer fresh dog food, Tails still use high quality ingredients in their recipes. Tails write on their website that everything they make is developed by vets and nutritionists to give your Shih Tzu is receiving all the necessary nutritional benefits from their dry food. Tails promise “tasty, nutritious and satisfying food” for your Shih Tzu.
Our readers can get 75% off their first order of Tails when they click this link.
5) Bella & Duke
Website: www.bellaandduke.com
Copper with his Bella and Duke delivery (Photo: lifewithkleekai)
Bella & Duke provide Shih Tzu owners with the chance to feed raw. This dog food company promise on their website to stay at the “cutting edge of nutrition” to ensure their raw food can promote a healthy lifestyle for your Shih Tzu. Bella & Duke’s raw meals are comprised of high quality cuts of meat and bones, as well as oils, antioxidants, herbs, season vegetables, fruits and berries. They source their ingredients from British and Irish farms so dog owners can support local business. Their website adds that everything in their meals are Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) approved. While I prefer not to feed raw due to the hassle and the presence of a young child in the home, some Shih Tzu owners may have the right circumstances to consider this type of pet nutrition. It’s a good idea to consult with your vet to learn the pros and cons of raw dog food before you make the switch.
Anything Else To Consider
It’s a good idea to speak to your vet before you decide to make a change to your dog’s diet.
If you adjust your Shih Tzu’s diet without a transitional period, you risk upsetting your pet’s stomach which could lead to further issues.
Therefore we recommend speaking to your vet to get their advice and guidance on how to make a change to your Shih Tzu’s diet.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
We’ve reached the end of our feature on the best dog food for picky Shih Tzu eaters.
As you’ll know, Shih Tzu are prone to some health issues which makes deciding upon the right food for your canine companion all the more important.
There appears to be a high number of Shih Tzus who are fussy when it comes to mealtime.
But we’ve shared six possible options for Shih Tzu owners in the UK who are tearing their hair out trying to find a brand of dog food that restores their Shih Tzu’s mealtime excitement.
All six dog food delivery companies mentioned in this article use quality ingredients that are lovingly cooked to craft balanced and complete recipes.
Butternut Box would be our top pick based upon the quality and number of recipes, while their dog food delivery service represents great value for money.
But you won’t go wrong with Different Dog, ZENOO, Pure Pet Food, Tails or Bella & Duke.
You can get 50% off your first box and 50% off your second box if you sign up to Butternut Box by clicking here.
