Best dog food for a Shih Tzu that’s easier for them to chew

For a balanced mix of protein, fat and carbs this Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult Dry Dog Food has the right-combination of breed-specific nutrients. The carbohydrates are highly digestible, to minimise food allergies. Plus, the kibble contains essential nutrients to maintain a Shih Tzu's dense coat. Then, there's that sensitive issue of poop and pong – this food is designed to reduce faecal volume and minimise the smell.

The shape of each biscuit is designed to make it easier for this toy breed to pick up with their mouth. As a brachycephalic breed, a Shih Tzu's face is more broad than long, and this can make it difficult to eat. The kibble is easy to crunch and encourages chewing before swallowing, which will also be great for your dog's dental health, removing tartar and plaque.

This is an Amazon's Choice recommended dog food, and customers say their dogs enjoy the taste. A review comments that this kibble was a game-changer and reduced the volume of their dog's poop and much improved the smell.

Given the cost of this kibble, it is wise to supplement it with another food to keep your food costs down. But that depends on how well your dog gets on with other foods. This Royal Canin is consistently well-reviewed as an excellent choice for Shih Tzus.

For the ulti-mutt gourmet meals, Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult Mousse is a highly palatable choice. For picky eaters, this loaf-based wet dog food with a smooth texture is appealing to Shih Tzus, who may be shying away from other foods.

Once again, this Royal Canin food contains essential omega-3 fatty acids and other nourishing ingredients, so your dog's skin and coat remain in tip-top condition. It's also kind on this toy breed's digestive system, resulting in delicate poops and less smell.

Online reviews praise this food as an option their dog enjoys and prevent them from subsisting wholly on treats. It's a good option if you've exhausted other possibilities. Plus, you can get a very good deal if you purchase it while it's on offer. At full price, it's best to supplement it with kibble, as it can become an expensive way to feed a pet.

Follow the feeding guidelines. Depending on their weight, dogs will need between 3.5 and 5.5 pouches per day.

Puppies and senior dogs have different nutritional needs to adult dogs, therefore it's essential to give them a complete food that's tailored to their age, as well as breed. Royal Canin Shih Tzu Puppy Dry Mix is designed for Shih Tzu puppies aged between two and ten months. It has specially shaped kibble that is easier for brachycephalic breeds to pick up.

Poultry is the first ingredient, providing growing puppies with the protein they need to grow. It also contains rice, which is milder on sensitive and developing digestive systems. Like the adult version, this kibble contains essential fatty acids to support skin health and nourish their coat.

Customer reviews are positive, saying it's a great puppy food, and their dogs love it. Even fussy pups enjoy this kibble. Remember to stick to the feeding guide, as one customer comments that this kibble made their dog gain weight.

Just by looking at the label, it's clear that Scrumbles Natural Gluten-Free Dog Dry Food is made with high-quality ingredients. It contains fresh chicken and has a high protein content. It's gluten-free and also has pre- and probiotics to promote a healthy gut biome. Plus, it contains omega-3, derived from salmon oil, to support cognitive health.

This is an Amazon's Choice recommended product, plus Scrumbles is widely available in supermarkets. Positive customer reviews say that their dogs love this food. The kibble size is small, so it's ideal for Shih Tzus. A review remarks that it "smells like roast chicken." It improves the appearance of a dog's coat and soothes tummies suffering from digestive health issues. However, a series of negative reviews relates to a batch where sliced oats were added rather than ground oats. Reviews commented that their dogs had upset stomachs. There are also other comments about colour variation between orders. Therefore, the consistency of the product is in question.

Cesar Senior 10+ Deliciously Fresh Wet Dog Food is another Amazon's Choice recommended product, rated 4.8 out of 5 by customers. It's a complete and balanced food for dogs, containing wholesome ingredients. The meaty chunks are easy for an older dog to eat and they'll get extra hydration from the jelly. Plus, there's a good variety of flavours to keep mealtimes interesting. Flavour, nutrition and freshness are sealed in the recyclable pouches. Each recipe has been developed with vets at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute.

Customer reviews say this Cesar wet dog food is appealing, even to fussy eaters. It's best to supplement it with dry food and use it as a topper for kibble. It makes mealtimes more exciting, especially if a senior dog hasn't got a large appetite. One thing to note is that this food is not labelled as gluten-free, so if your dog has an identified gluten intolerance, it's best to steer clear.

Burns Pet Nutrition Hypoallergenic Complete Dry Dog Food is an award-winning kibble with a short ingredient list that includes recognisable and nutritious chicken, rice, peas, seaweed, oils, and minerals. It's designed to be easy to digest, so poops are smaller and goodness gets digested.

It's based on Burns' Original Chicken & Brown Rice recipe from 1993, specially adapted for small and toy breeds. It's a smaller kibble formulated for tiny tummies and the breed's high metabolism.

Customers say this kibble is a good option for dogs with less-than-good teeth as it's softer than other dry dog foods. In addition, dogs love the taste, and it's of great value for money. Importantly, it's effective in alleviating the symptoms of a food allergy.

A review comments that the packaging isn't resealable, which could be improved to keep the food fresher for longer. It's a good idea to decant it into an airtight container.

Made with proper meat, Lily's Kitchen Organic Chicken Supper is certified organic and provides complete nutrition for your dog. This is another high-quality dog food with a short list of wholesome ingredients, including organic chicken, spelt and peas.

It's suitable for dogs of all sizes, which is why Lily's Kitchen frequently ends up in our best dog food lists. If you're looking for an organic option for your Shih Tzu – and don't have the time to prepare homemade meals – this is a convenient and widely available option.

A customer says this food was their very fussy Shih Tzu's only meal of choice. Reviews praise it for settling their dogs' digestive issues. It's tasty and wholesome; plus, it's very convenient to buy this on a subscription. However, several reviews comment on the texture of the Organic Chicken Supper food as being "sloppy". Whereas other foods in the Lily's Kitchen range have a firmer texture.

For Shih Tzus aged seven and older, Hill's Small and Miniature Mature Adult Dog Food is specially formulated to give your pet easy-to-digest ingredients that support their vital organs. The kibble contains nourishing omega-6 and vitamin A to maintain a luxurious coat and healthy skin. Each bite is 7.5mm, so it's perfect for smaller mouths.

It contains glucosamine and chondroitin to support older dogs' joints. Also, L-Carnitine (which helps convert fat into energy) has been included to support a healthy body weight.

Customer reviews highly praise this kibble as being appealing to fussy eaters. The small and crunchy bites are great for cleaning dogs' teeth by helping to remove tartar and plaque.

Do note that the nutritional composition of this food is specially for older dogs. Adult dogs and puppies need different proportions of key nutrients.

The closest option to a homemade diet is a subscription to Butternut Box. High-quality meat and veg are gently cooked and then portioned into tubs. You keep them in the freezer and defrost a tub the night before your dog's din-dins.

Your dog benefits from a range of tasty, high-quality meals that are all-natural and packed with antioxidants. The meals are gluten-free, so this is an excellent option for Shih Tzus who have particular food intolerances.

The portion size is calculated depending on your dog's age and breed therefore the pricing varies.

There's excellent customer service and lots of information on the Butternut Box website should you have any queries about how it all works.

With 92 per cent five-star reviews on Trustpilot and an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5, Butternut Box is hugely praised by its customers. They say it's easy to manage their subscription through the app. The food is super quality that dogs love. It's solved a lot of digestive issues. The only bugbear is that you have to sign up with details before getting pricing guidance. This is because it will be particular to your dog's breed and age.

Tried and tested by Waffle, find out if our resident Miniature Dachshund enjoyed Butternut Box, read our full review.