What not to do with Shih Tzus
What Foods Are Bad, Poisonous, & Toxic to Shih Tzus? 25 Bad Foods!
As a Shih Tzu owner, you will know only too well how delicate their little stomachs can be. They are renowned for being sick after certain foods, and far more than other breeds might be. Its not always possible to keep your dog from reacting badly to certain foods, but you can eliminate a lot of sickness by not letting them eat foods that are bad for Shih Tzus.
I recommend you print this list off and stick it your refrigerator some of the foods I list that your dog should avoid, arent just bad for your Shih Tzu, they could even be fatal. Some will poison your dog and are foods that are toxic to Shih Tzus.
Because of this, Ive put the most poisonous foods to Shih Tzus first on the list. It explains why they are toxic and even how much they might eat before you call a vet.
Bottom line though; if your Shih Tzu eats anything they shouldnt, dont wait to read notes like this on the Internet call your vet!
So, if you want to find out what food Shih Tzus cant eat, plus some plants that are poisonous to them too read on.
Poisonous foods for Shih Tzus
Like most dogs, Shih Tzus will eat whatever you put in front of them. If you happen to drop something on the floor and they gobble it up, in most cases, they should be fine with eating things in moderation.
However, there are some foods that are extremely toxic and not safe for Shih Tzus to eat, even in small amounts. Knowing what Shih Tzus cannot eat is really important in keeping your dog safe.
Heres the most dangerous foods for Shih Tzus, followed by things that they eat that are not poisonous as such, but are still bad.
1. Chocolate
This is most commonly misunderstood food that Shih Tzus cannot eat, and the one that leads to most people having to call a vet.
Its all due to the toxic theobromine substance in chocolate. Just small amounts can make your Shih Tzu sick, so if chocolate drops on the floor, pick it up immediately. In large quanties your dog will vomit, and in more serious cases develop an abnormal heartbeat, tremors, seizure, and even death.
Dark chocolate is the most dangerous and poisonous to Shih Tzus as it contains more of the theobromine.
2. Onions, garlic, leeks and chives
All of these foods are in the Allium family. Anything in this bracket is a poisonous food for Shih Tzus, whether its been boiled, cooked, or whatever its not something your Shih Tzu should eat ever.
These foods are said to makes dogs feel poorly and in larger amounts can lead to red blood cell damage. You wont always see symptoms of poisoning straight away as it can take a few days for the toxic effects to take effect.
3. Artificial sweetener (xylitol) in gum and mints
Xylitol is one of the most toxic things a Shih Tzu can eat, and is commonly found in some mints and sugar-free gums.
According to research (see research published on MSU.edu), xylitol is 100 times more toxic than chocolate is for dogs. If they just eat one stick of gum with xylitol, a small dog could see their blood sugar levels dip considerably.
If the small dog went onto to eat a whole pack of gum with 10 sticks containing toxic xylitol, it could damage their liver irreparably and possibly even kill them.
Other foods and household items that can contain xylitol include:
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Peanut butter
- Sugar-free candy
- Sugar free breath mints
- Fruit drinks
- Jellies and jams
- Cereals
- Baked goods
- Sugar-free puddings and Jello
- Over the counter vitamin supplements
4. Candy and sweets
Its not just the foods above that come with toxic xylitol. Some candy brands do too, so always check the labelling.
To be frank, you shouldnt be letting your dog eat candy anyway, even if its free of poisonous xylitol. Why? Its due to the sugar levels plus theres also the risk of choking or blockages in your Shih Tzus digestive tract or tooth fractures.
5. Certain peanut butter brands
Our Shih Tzu loves peanut butter. Its one of his favorite treats, especially when we put it in a Kong Toy.
However, some peanut butter brands include xylitol. This substance is toxic to dogs and needs to be avoided at all costs due to poisoning.
6. Corn on the cob
Corn on the cob is not among the poisonous foods for Shih Tzus, but it is dangerous due to the cob part. These can lodge in the throat of your dog and intestines, so should be avoided at all costs.
Sweetcorn is fine, as this will be easily digestible though.
7. Cooked bones
Dogs love to eat bones. Everyone knows dogs love bones, but they are dangers with this food type.
When bones are cooked, they become brittle and can break apart. This means that when Shih Tzus eat cooked bones, small slithers can perforate their internal organs, leading to big risks to their health with possible fatal consequences.
8. Avocado
Fruit is a great food for Shih Tzus, but not all fruit! Avocado is one such, as it can be bad for Shih Tzus but only when prepared in a particular way.
Avocados contain a poisonous toxin called persin which when eaten in large quantities can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. However, persin is mostly concentrated in the avocado skin and pit, rather than the fleshy part.
So, should your Shih Tzu eat an avocado, chances are you wont have any problems. But, its still worth avoiding, especially the toxic parts the skin and stone.
9. Grapes and raisins
Another group of fruits that can be poisonous to your Shih Tzu are grapes and raisins. They are a toxic food for Shih Tzus and can lead to kidney failure when eaten in large quantities.
10. Macadamia nuts and walnuts
All nuts should really be avoided in a Shih Tzus diet, as they are just the right size and texture that lead to choking. However, these two nuts which are potentially toxic to dogs.
When eaten at volume, both can result in diarrhea, sickness, and the possibility of canine pancreatitis.
The side effects of Macadamia nuts are very nasty and rank high on the list of poisonous foods for Shih Tzus the poisoning can result in hyperthermia, tremors, vomiting, and lethargy.
11. Cherry, peach, and plum pits
Due to the size of pips and seeds like this, they can become lodged in the intestines of smaller dogs like Shih Tzus. Blockages are a very real risk, so dont let things like this anywhere near your dogs mouth.
There are also trace elements of cyanide in the pits of some fruits like peach and plum. It would take a heck of a lot to poison your Shih Tzu, but its a bad food either way.
12. Mustard seeds
Mustard is so vomit-inducing to Shih Tzus that vets sometimes use it to make dogs sick up for medical purposes. The seeds in particular are very toxic as they contain poisonous elements to dogs.
13. Coconuts and coconut oil
A little bit of coconut is unlikely to harm your Shih Tzu, but the milk and white flesh of a coconut is known to cause stomach upsets in dogs.
The reasons coconut water should be avoided is due to the potassium in it, at high levels too.
14. Yeast dough
When ingested, yeast dough will heat up and then start to rise and create gas. This is very problematic in a Shih Tzus digestive system, leading to extreme pain, bloating, and possibly the twisting of their gut.
Its potentially fatal, so if your Shih Tzu eats yeast dough, visit a vet immediately the yeast can also change into ethanol, a highly potent alcohol.
15. Alcohol
This is good time to talk about alcohol dangers and how dangerous this drink can be for dogs.
Alcohol consumption can make your Shih Tzu have diarrhea, vomit, difficulty in breathing, tremors, a lack of coordination, abnormal blood acidity, central nervous system depression, and even a possible coma or death.
Giving your dog alcohol isnt funny and can kill them.
16. Hops
On a similar topic, the hops that are used in home brewing kits are also a dangerous ingredient for Shih Tzus to eat. There are compounds in the hops that lead to malignant hyperthermia.
That means your Shih Tzus temperature can rise rapidly, possibly causing permanent damage to the organs and brain or even death.
17. Coffee, caffeine, and tea
Drinks with in are bad for Shih Tzus. Its all down to the methylxanthines in the caffeine which causes similar bad reactions in dogs to chocolate.
If your Shih Tzu has licked up a couple of coffee granules, chances are he will be fine. But in large amounts such as loose tea and coffee beans, it could be very harmful and require vets help.
18. Nutmeg
Myristicin us a toxic substance with trace amounts found in nutmeg. When dogs eat it in large amounts it can lead to various problems including abdominal pain, increased heart rate, seizures, and even the possibility of hallucinations.
19. Moldy food
If your dog has access to trash, be very careful. Moldy food is bad for Shih Tzus as it can contain mycotoxins. Mycotoxins grow on moldy food and make it poisonous when ingested.
Bad food for Shih Tzus
In addition to the foods that are bad for Shih Tzus, there are others. Whilst they are not strictly considered poisonous and toxic, you should avoid them due to the potential negative side effects. For example, weight gain.
20. Milk and dairy products
Many Shih Tzus will be lactose intolerant, meaning dairy products can make them sick. Dogs dont have the same digestive system as us and can find it hard to break down lactose in milk, meaning runny diarrhea issues!
21. Blue cheese
Given that you know dairy is bad option for dogs, it should come as no surprise that some cheeses can be dangerous. Avoid the blue cheeses, Roquefort, and Stilton. They have roquefortine C which is known to cause very bad reactions in dogs.
This can include symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. In more extreme cases your Shih Tzu could develop seizures and tremors if they eat a lot of blue cheese.
22. Meat and eggs that have not been cooked properly
Many owners now feed their Shih Tzu a raw diet, and theres nothing wrong with that providing they get all the nutrients and goodness required.
However, there is some research to suggest that bacterial infections such as Salmonella and E. coli can be contracted by dogs eating raw meat.
23. Food and drinks with high sugar content
Sugary food and snacks arent good for us, so they certainly arent for your dog. In fact, this is one of the worst foods for Shih Tzus, and can result in a range of health problems.
Dogs that have too many snacks with sugar content are at risk of developing diabetes, weight gain, and even decayed teeth and gums. Sugar can also upset delicate Shih Tzu tummies too, so something to avoid at all costs.
24. Food high in salt and sodium content
Just like lots of sugar, the same applies to salt content. Food that is high in sodium can potentially poison your Shih Tzu but is most likely to lead to them getting extreme thirst and increased urination in the volume it would be in dropped food.
If your Shih Tzu does eat lots of salt, the warning signs are very severe and include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, high body temperature, and seizures.
25. Fatty foods
Fatty foods such sausage, bacon, burgers, and fried food can result in upset stomachs. If your Shih Tzu gets to eat these tasty snacks over a prolonged period of time, it could even result in pancreatitis.
Yes, its hard to say no to those pleading eyes when they beg for your food, but often the tastiest food is the worst for Shih Tzus.
What plants are poisonous to Shih Tzus?
There are also things your Shih Tzu should not eat outdoors including the following toxic plants.
- Aconitum
- Amaryllis bulbs
- Asparagus fern
- Azalea
- Citrus
- Cyclamen
- Daffodil bulbs
- Day lilies
- Delphiniums
- Dogs Mercury (Mercurialis perennis)
- Foxgloves
- Hemlock
- Hibiscus
- Hostas
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangea
- Ivy
- Laburnum
- Lily of the valley
- Lupins
- Morning glory
- Mushroom plants
- Nightshade
- Oleander
- Rhododendron
- Rhubarb leaves
- Sweet pea
- Tomato leaves and stems
- Tulip bulbs
- Umbrella plant
- Wisteria
- Yew
This list contains just the most common plants that are poisonous to Shih Tzus. For a more comprehensive list, please download this print out from the Dogs Trust.
Conclusion
The reality is, most of the time if your Shih Tzu has just eaten a very small amount of any of the bad foods listed here, they should be ok.
But, please never leave anything to chance and also consult with a professional veterinarian for advice.
I am not a vet, just a dog owner so all I have written here today is what I have personally learned and research myself. It should not replace veterinarian advice.
You might also like
In addition to this list of foods toxic to Shih Tzus, I also write individual guides about other things they can eat, and the health implications. Heres a small sample of recent content.
Image in header via https://pixabay.com/photos/dog-shih-tzu-pet-cute-dog-look-1490913/
