The Shih Tzu is a wonderful companion dog. Unfortunately, they have numerous health problems that their owners must deal with. One of those issues has to do with food allergies and sensitivities. If you have a Shih Tzu, then you likely know this all too well.
If your dog has experienced constant scratching that leaves their skin red or their fur in patches then food allergies are likely to blame. However, food allergies can also manifest themselves in other ways like diarrhea or vomiting.
The good news is that all of these problems have an easy fix, and it starts with your dog’s diet. In fact, you might be amazed at just how much a diet upgrade can have on your dog’s health. So, in this article we’ll be talking about the best dog foods for Shih Tzus suffering from allergies.
How to pick a dog food for allergy sufferers?
While dogs can often be allergic to many different things, there are a few things that you should eliminate right off the bat. The first is getting rid of cheap fillers like corn and wheat, as these often cause problems for sensitive pooches.
Dairy and eggs are also typically one that should go, particularly if your dog’s food sensitivities manifest themselves in the way of diarrhea.
One that might surprise you though is meat. Some dogs actually have a really hard time digesting multiple meat proteins and focusing on a food which sticks to just one could really help them.
The best dog food for Shih Tzu with allergies
All of the foods we’ve chosen are limited in ingredients and use only human grade foods. There’s no mystery meats here or unsavory and unnatural stuff that’s bad for your dog. We’ve listed them in order of their rating.
#1 – NomNomNow
The number one spot on our list for best dog food for shih tzu with allergies goes to NomNomNow. This awesome dog food company is actually a fresh food delivery program that ships healthy meals for dogs straight to their owner’s homes!
Everything they send is cooked fresh each week, and they use only the best human grade ingredients when making their foods. All of their diets are also created with the help of their on staff veterinary nutrition expert too, so you know your pup is getting the best possible nutrition.
Since their foods are completely natural and limited in ingredients, that actually makes them a prime choice for Shih Tzus with allergies. Below you can see one of their recipes, which we recommend for you to try for Shih Tzus with skin allergies, vomiting or diarrhea issues.
As you can see, the recipes for this brand are extremely limited in ingredients, and they look like real food! Their recipes are tasty and great for picky eaters who are a nightmare to shop for. This recipe ticks all of our boxes for allergy concerns as well.
It uses just one healthy protein, it doesn’t include grains, it contains no dairy and it has just four main ingredients. However, if your pup is allergic to poultry then they also have some other great recipes which are poultry free as well!
Their diets are low in carbohydrates, include no nasty filler foods or by-products and they even come already portioned for you so you know that you’re always feeding your dog the right amount! This makes it super easy to make sure your pup is not eating too much and becoming obese.
If you’re looking for the absolute best food for Shih Tzus with allergies, then this is it. Interested in feeding your fur baby like a doggy king or queen? You can get 50% off your first order to give them a trial run and see if they’re right for you and your dog.
#2 – Wysong Archetype
Does your Shih Tzu’s allergies extend to all starches and most carbohydrates? Well, then we have another great pick for you which can help you out greatly. Wysong’s Archetype is one of the few totally starch free dog foods on the market.
This diet is great for dogs who react poorly to every starch or carbohydrate that’s commonly used in dog food, and it’s also a good pick for diabetic dogs who need to be on very low carb diets.
Wysong’s Archetype is actually composed of over 95% meat, and what’s left is made up of some lower impact vegetables and fruits like broccoli and blueberries. It’s also a whole prey raw diet which gives your dog the benefit of not just whole meats but also organ meats and bones which add much needed nutrients to their diet!
All of their foods also focus on just one meat protein item, and this extremely limited approach makes this an excellent food for dogs with persistent food allergies. It’s also available in several flavors, making it easy to find the right one for picky dogs.
This is actually a freeze dried product, and while you can feed it to them as is in chunks, you’ll likely have better results if you re-hydrate it with water. If you do it this way the food will be more attractive and you’ll also give your dog the benefit of additional liquids, which helps maintain their overall health and aids in digestion.
Interested in trying out this great dog food to tame your Shih Tzu’s allergies? You can get the best price for it at Wysong’s website. However, if you’re interested in saving an additional 10% then you can sign up for their auto-ship program to have it delivered on a schedule!
#3 – Halo Dog Food
If the other foods on our list were outside your budget range, then don’t despair. We have another great pick for you that’s also excellent for pet parents on a budget.
Halo makes amazingly high-quality pet foods at an even more amazing price. In fact, it’s likely that you can pick up this food for about the same price you’d pay for a decent big box store brand, but you’ll get a much higher-quality product for the money.
This company uses only human grade whole meats and non-GMO vegetables in their foods, and this consistent quality extends to both their canned and dry foods. All of which are also extremely easy to digest, making them a great choice if your pup’s allergies manifest themselves in diarrhea or vomiting.
While fresh and raw foods will always be the best, Halo is a close second. However, there are a few problems with this food that should be discussed.
The first is that it’s difficult to find a Halo food that only includes the named meat product. Many of them include chicken to some degree, so if your dog is sensitive to proteins then you’ll need to read the ingredients on each flavor carefully before selecting one.
Their foods are also not all grain-free. If you need a grain-free variety then you’ll need to make sure to only purchase the flavors which note this on the bags or cans. However, the carbohydrate and grain count is still pretty low anyway.
Whether or not your dog will have a problem with these ingredients will depend on them as an individual. While our other options make it easier to conquer food allergies, we would recommend Halo if you simply can’t afford those options or if your dog mostly has issues with diarrhea, as this food is particularly easy to digest.
PS. You can save 5-20% on every shipment using Amazon’s excellent auto-ship program. It’s a great way to save on dog food without compromising on quality by purchasing lesser brands or couponing.
