Why is my Shih Tzu so hungry all the time

When a Shih Tzu is Always Hungry

Top 6 Reasons a Shih Tzu May Always Act Hungry

#1 Misguided serving sizes.

What happens:If a Shih Tzu is underfed, they'll constantly feel hungry, and if overfed, they may overeat just because food is available, as many dogs eat what they're given regardless of need.

What to do:Check if the amount you're feeding your Shih Tzu aligns with the recommended serving sizes on the dog food label, typically found under 'Feeding Guidelines'. These guidelines, based on age and weight, provide a fairly accurate estimate within a 10% range.

To ensure proper feeding, know your dog's weight (your vet can help with this, often at no charge) and refer to these feeding instructions. Remember, the listed serving size is usually for the entire day, not per meal, so divide it by the number of meals you provide (usually three for most Shih Tzu dogs).

#2 Offering too many snacks.

What happens:This follows suit with the previous reason for eating too much in that some dogs will eat to no end as long as the food is supplied. And, some will even beg for treats when they're not even really hungry; it's just habit.

What to do:

Maintain a feeding schedule. Until 3 months old, Shih Tzu puppies should be free-fed (food is available at all times). After that, both puppies and adults should have 3 meals per day plus several

wholesome snacks

to keep them satiated between meals and to help prevent hypoglycemia (a rapid drop in blood glucose levels that is not uncommon with toy breeds).

Training treats can be given as needed; but other than that,

do not give in to begging for food

or offer any extra tidbits just out of habit. If your Shih Tzu was previously given lots of extra snacks, they may miss the attention, however this can be substituted with pets, kisses and perhaps some extra one-on-one play time.

#3 Their food contains fillers.

What Fillers Are: Fillers in dog food are low-cost ingredients used to add bulk to kibble without providing significant nutritional value. These ingredients, typically devoid of essential nutrients like proteins and vitamins, offer only temporary satiety, as they pass through a dog's system without being properly digested.

Examples:Common fillers include corn and its derivatives (such as corn meal and corn gluten meal), various types of flour (including wheat and rice flour), and soy products. Even in popular brands like Purina One Natural and Royal Canin Health Nutrition, these fillers often appear among the top ingredients. For instance, Purina One Natural lists rice flour and corn gluten meal high on its ingredient list.

Consequences: A diet high in fillers can lead to a cycle of constant hunger and potential malnutrition in dogs. Symptoms include coat issues (such as hair loss), digestive problems (like flatulence and irregular stools), vomiting bile, lethargy, depressive behavior, poor skin health (likeoverly dry skin), and in severe cases, tooth loss, weakened bones, vision problems, and coprophagia (eating feces).

What to Do: If you find that fillers are among the top five ingredients in your dog's food, it's advisable to switch to a better-quality diet. Look forquality foods for Shih Tzu dogs that prioritize real meats, vegetables, and fruits as their main ingredients, and avoid those containing wheat, corn, or soy as key components. This shift can significantly improve your little guy or gal's overall health and well-being.

Why Your Shih Tzu Constantly Licks (and What to Do)!

A sweet slobbery kiss from your beloved Shih Tzu is usually very endearing. For the most part, we give them a quick pet or a cuddle and then move on and dont think about it much more. But when your little dog decides to take his licking to the next level and they get to the point that you think the licking may never stop you may wonder what on earth is making him want to do it and how to make it stop!

If this sounds like you, then youre in the right place. I have spent a lot of time researching, talking to Shih Tzu owners and vets. Here is what I found out.

Shih Tzus lick because of instinct, it can be a sign of affection, stress, boredom, or allergies. Licking can be soothing and therapeutic because it releases endorphins. Shih Tzu may try to lick other dogs as a show of dominance, and they may lick your skin because they like the taste of salt.

So for the most part licking is normal, but when does it become abnormal and something to be concerned about? Lets take a deeper dive into this behavior to see what we can learn.

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Here is a Quick Solution Guide to Solve Your Shih Tzus Problematic Licking (Find more details below)

Trying out a fun training program together likethis widely popular programBrain Training for Dogs can help unlock your dogs hidden potential and help them learn how to avoid problem behaviors.

Reasons Shih Tzus Lick

Even before dogs were domesticated licking has been a part of their language. Puppies start out in the first stages of life being licked clean by their mothers. Theirmothers lick them to clean them, keep them warm, bond with them,and to help keep their den clean and free of disease.

As they grow into their pack,licking each other is a way for them to communicate. Licking the pack leader for example is a way for a dog to ask if he can get in on the next meal or that he is submitting to the Alpha dogs leadership. So not only are Shih Tzu introduced at a very young age to the licking behavior they also have the instinct to continue to do it throughout their life. Lets look at some other reasons why dogs love to lick.

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Your Shih Tzu is showing you affection

When your Shih Tzu licks you he is showing you affection.This is probably the most common reason that we think about when wondering why our dogs lick us. It was also the most common answer I got from Shih Tzu owners when I asked them for reasons why they thought their Shih Tzu licked.

Like we talked about earlier mothers lick their puppies to show them love and affection soyour dog has learned that this is one way to show you he loves and cares for you.When your Shih Tzu licks you it could be a sign that he is trying to groom you, which is also a form of affection and care.

When asking other Shih Tzu owners if their dogs lick a lot there were quite a few replies that said most definitely yes. Some Shih Tzu owners said thats how their dogs show love, and some said that their dog really loved licking feet!

Shih Tzus love and affection are one of the reasons this breed makes such a fantastic dog for families and children.

Your Shih Tzu is submitting to You

Another reason your Shih Tzu may lick your face is thathe is trying to appease you and submit to your dominance over him.Dogs are pack creatures and will often greet members of their pack with a nice wet lick in the face. Their body position will be slightly lower than the pack leader and with this gesture, they are showing that they submit.

Your Shih Tzu may do this with another dog or pet in your house or when he just meets them if he has chosen to be submissive to that animals dominance over him.

Another reason has to do with pacifying or subservient behaviors. You probably already know dogs are pack creatures, and there is a pack leader. Hopefully, in your house, thats you! When a dog greets other members of its pack, it will often lick faces. When one dog is pacifying or showing submissive behavior, they will often lick another dogs face, all while staying a little lower.

Your Shih Tzu Wants Your Attention

Shih Tzu were made for companionship. They love to stare at you and most could cuddle you all day if you let them.(Click here to find out just how cuddly Shih Tzus really are!)There are a lot of ways your Shih Tzu can try to get your attention such as whining, barking, or licking you.One of the more subtle ways for him to get your attentionand probably less annoying than barking or cryingis to lick you.

Your dog is smart and probably knows that licking you will be better-received than barking in your face.If your Shih Tzu is trying to tell you something he may lick you as a sign that he wants something.That something could be as simple as to say he loves you, orit could mean that hes hungry, needs to go to the bathroom, or wants you to play.

Either way, we need to work on getting good at reading our dogs body language so that we can understand them better and provide for their needs accordingly.

If you respond to your Shih Tzu lickingby patting his head, giving him a cuddle, or talking sweet calming words then his way of getting your attention by licking you worked!This will reinforce this behavior and he will continue to do it.If you find this behavior annoying and want them to stop licking you to get your attention then ignoring them is your best step forward.

Solution

Decide if you should reward his licking behavior with attention or not. If you dont like it and want it to stop, then ignore and redirect. If you dont mind it or want to encourage your dog to continue to get your attention by licking you, then reward them with your attention.

Your Shih Tzu is Bored

Shih Tzu were bred to be our companions they dont usually require a lot of exercise, but some mental stimulation and playtime can help distract them from other unwanted behaviors such as licking. Most dogs enjoy learning new things.It helps them build their confidence and keeps their minds sharp and healthy.

If they dont have much to do they can be pretty creative in finding something to keep their minds occupied, and that can include some heavy-duty licking!If you have noticed your Shih Tzu randomly licking your furniture, the walls, your floors, or other random thingsits possible that they are boredand could benefit from some mental stimulation.

Solution

Channeling that boredom into something more constructive will help to release some energy and create those feel-good endorphins your dog is trying to create by licking. Working on training together or taking an extra walk sometime in your day may just be the thing your dog needs to get him focused on something else.

A lot ofowners have also had great success with getting something likethis lick matorsnuffle maton Amazon(affiliate link). This will give them something to lick on that wont leave a yucky film of slobber all over your floors and furniture.

Fun Fact:Dogs have fewer taste buds on their tongues than humans but more than cats. Researchers think that dogs have fewer taste buds because they use their powerful noses and sense of smell to enjoy food more than tasting it. Why do cats have even less well thats a mystery.

You will be able to tell if your Shih Tzu is stressed bypaying close attention to his body language.If you notice your dog has whale eyes (wide eyes where you can see the white part), tucked ears, tucked tail, and a lot of lip-licking this is is a sign of stress. Your Shih Tzu may start to lick as a coping mechanism in order to calm himself down.

Licking can be very self-soothing to dogs, it releases chemicals called endorphinsthat trigger a positive feeling and lowers stress.

Some Shih Tzu owners told me that their dogs like to lick themselves before curling up in a ball to go to sleep it was somewhat of a ritual to them and it seemed to help them calm and fall asleep more quickly. Licking may also remind them of when they were young and their mother licked them a lot. It brings them to a place of comfort and calm.

Solution

Some dogs have specific triggers that cause them stress and anxiety, so if you are able topinpoint the stress triggerthen getting to the root of that problem and trying to fix it is the best long-term plan for your pup.

For example, if your dog always starts licking at a certain time of day, try to figure out what is happening at that time of day that is stressing him out. Is it when the mail delivery comes, or when traffic gets louder outside? If so work on solutions to help address these fears in your dog.

You can also try helping them achieve a state of calm in other ways like using thesecalming treats,or aPheromone spray.

Licking Tastes Good

This one is pretty self-explanatory.If something smells yummy your dog is going to lick it to see how it tastes.Maybe their random licking of the floor or furniture can be explained by some sweet-smelling something that spilled there last week?

If your Shih Tzu is licking you a lot he also probablylikes the taste of saltfrom your skin.Your smell and taste are unique to youand licking you can help cement that into your Shih Tzu mind which will build a stronger bond between you both.

Something Hurts or Itches

If your Shih Tzu is licking himself a lothe may be trying to self-groom, or it could bea sign of allergies or a sore or wound.

Shih Tzu Wound Care:

When your dog gets hurt its instinct will be to lick the wound. Licking does a few things for their wounds,the warmth and moistness of their tounges can help to make the pain lessen, andtheir saliva may also help to clean the areaand have some healing capacity.

There is a belief that dog saliva can heal wounds, which dates back to Egyptian times.Studies have foundthat while this is mostly true its not sufficient enough to actually heal wounds.

Most veterinarians and experts agree thatyou should not allow your dog to lick itswounds. While licking their wounds may initially get rid of debris and dirt continuedlicking will cause irritationto the wound which can reopen it and not allow it to heal properly.

There are also other germs and bacteria in your dogs saliva that will do more harm than good and could cause an infection.

If your dog has a wound please take them to your vet to get a thorough check done. Your vet may suggest something likethis cone(Amazon affiliate link)to keep your dog from licking their wound so it can properly heal.

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Shih Tzu Allergies:

If your dog is licking their fur a lot, particularly their paws it could be a sign of allergies, if you have checked their paws for injuries or wounds and they look normal thelicking could indicate a skin condition called dermatitis, which is often the result of bacterial problems, allergies, or food sensitivities.

Canine atopic dermatitis (allergic dermatitis, canine atopy) is an inherited predisposition to develop allergic symptoms following repeated exposure to some otherwise harmless substance, an allergen. Most dogs begin to show their allergic signs between 1 and 3 years of age.

See full article on Animal Med Center

Your Shih Tzu may have developed anallergy to chemicalsused in your yard like grass or weed killers, or any other harsh chemicals or products used in or around your home. Your dog may also have asevere reaction to fleas, or anoverreaction to a common staph bacteriathat is normal to be on your dogs skin.

Your dogs food could also be causing itchiness.Even if your dog has been eating the same food all its life, it is possible for there to be an ingredient in it that your dog has developed a sensitivity to over time.

Solution

Some owners would suggest that you try a grain-free diet for your dog if he is itching a lot, but I would caution you that there havebeen studies shownlinking this diet to heart problems.Its best to talk to your vet to get safe recommendations tailored to your specific situation.

It can also be helpful to keep a bucket or bowl with water or something like this highly rateddog paw washerfrom Amazon (affiliate link) next to your door to clean your dogs paws off when they come in the house.

If your Shih Tzu suffers from seasonal or airborne allergies then having a goodair purifier(affiliate link)can help to remove allergens from the air.

Havingfiltered water can also helpreduce the number of toxins your dog takes in. Not only can it help your dog, but it can also be really good for you. Even filtered tap water can contain traces of chemicals or metals that can build up in our dogs and us and cause problems.

My family has thisBerkey water filter,(affiliate link)and we love it for us and our little pooch!

If Your Shih Tzu is Obsessive About Licking

If your Shih Tzu is obsessively licking you will want to do your best to figure out why and do what you can to correct the problem.

Your Shih Tzu licking is considered obsessive when theycontinue to do it for a long period of time(more than 5-10 minutes), and theyrepeatedlydo itthroughout the day.

If when you distract your Shih Tzu from their lickingthey just go right back toit after a few minutes, they are constantly licking all day, they are licking themselves and leaving patches of raw skin, thenit could be considered a compulsive problem for your dog.

Added to the reasons we already talked about above a few other things that could be causing your Shih Tzu to lick obsessively isdry skin.A variety of things, including dry winter weather and fatty acid deficiencies, can cause dry skin in dogs. Your dog may scratch or lick their fur or skin so much that it starts to get red and raw and they may lose hair and have bald patches.

Hormonal imbalancescan also cause problems. If your Shih Tzu body is not producing enough thyroid hormone or putting out too much of the hormone cortisol, superficialskin infectionscan occur. You might start to see bald spots, and your dog may scratch or lick as if bothered by allergies.

Solution

Obsessive licking is more than just licking out of affection and boredom. If not addressed it can cause your dog to be compulsive about it and may keep them in an anxious stressed state.

If you suspect your dog has obsessive licking and it is lowering its quality of life, its best towork with a vetand a behaviorist.

To give you an idea of what your vet may do, they may offer some medications such as over-the-counter Benadryl, or prescribe something stronger. Your vet will know if your dog needs to be treated with an ointment, antibiotics, or medicated shampoo to treat fungal and yeast infections.

Why Does My Shih Tzu Lick Me in the Face, and Should I Allow it?

If you have wondered why your dog always tries to lick you in the face it the answer is none too pleasing.The face-licking behavior goes back to before dogs were domesticatedand they would lick the mouths of adult dogs to prompt the regurgitation of partially digested food. This is how puppies transition from suckling their mothers milk to eating partially digested food to more solid food.

This is not to say that your dog expects you to give her some partially chewed food when she licks your face, but if you are trying to eat something and your dog all of a sudden attacks you with licks this would explain that!

Most of the time your dog will try and lick you on the face when they are excited and want to show you affection.

Formost healthy peoplegetting licked by your dog will not cause any problems, but dogs do harbor certain germs and bacteria that could be harmful to some.

When dog saliva touches intact human skin, especially in a healthy person, it is extremely unlikely to cause any problems, as there will be very little absorption through the skin,(See full article from the New York Times)

Dr. Leni K. Kaplan at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine told the New York Times

If you think about some of the behaviors of your doglike licking their bottoms or eating nasty thingsincluding their own poop(If your Shih Tzu eats strange things this article I wrote is a must-read!!)then its no wonder that they harbor a lot of bacteria and germs in their mouths.

Many medical professionals as well as vets recommend that you avoid letting your dog lick your mouth, eyes, nose, or any open wound as this is more likely to cause an infection or illness. If you enjoy the doggy kisses a good alternative is to let your dog lick your neck and then clean it off afterward.

If you prefer your dog to not lick you thendistracting them with another behaviorlike petting or playing and rewarding them for that will reinforce them to choose that behavior as a form of affection rather than licking. Just remember that for some dogs who have a very strong instinct to lick, it may take some time and patience to consistently get them to redirect.

While we strive to give the most accurate and helpful information about your pets health that we can, this article is meant to be informational only and not medical advice. Never disregard, avoid or delay in obtaining medical advice from your veterinarian or other qualified veterinary health care provider regardless of what you have read on this site or elsewhere.