Best Dog Food for Shih Tzus — Nutrition That Matches the Breed
Shih Tzus are prone to allergies, sensitive skin, and tear staining — all influenced by diet. Clean, single-protein freeze-dried raw addresses the root, not the symptom.
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Answer a few questions about your dog and get a personalized formula recommendation — built around their breed, age, and needs.
What Shih Tzus need most from their food
The Shih Tzu’s flat face, long coat, and allergy predisposition shape their nutritional needs:
Food Allergies
Shih Tzus are one of the more allergy-prone breeds. Wheat, corn, soy, and low-quality proteins are common triggers — all absent from Loyal Saints.
Skin & Coat Health
Prone to skin issues and a long coat that reflects diet quality. Omega-3s from fish oil support skin barrier and coat.
Tear Staining
Often linked to diet, additives, and food sensitivities. A clean, additive-free diet removes one possible contributor to tear staining.
Digestive Health
Brachycephalic (flat-faced) anatomy affects digestion. Highly digestible food reduces digestive burden.
Why freeze-dried raw is right for Shih TzusShih Tzus
Shih Tzus are among the more allergy-prone breeds, and many of their most common issues — itchy skin, ear infections, tear staining, digestive upset — trace back to diet. When food plays a part, a simple diet with one clearly identified protein and no wheat, corn or soy makes a known trigger easier to avoid. Loyal Saints contains none of these in any formula.
The breed’s long coat and sensitive skin also benefit directly from dietary omega-3s, and the flat-faced (brachycephalic) anatomy means highly digestible food reduces the swallowing and digestive challenges common to the breed.
Formula recommendation for Shih Tzus
Chicken Formula
Our gentlest, single-protein formula — a good fit for the sensitive Shih Tzu. Easy to isolate as part of an elimination approach, with no common allergen triggers.
Shop Chicken Formula →Turkey + Salmon Formula
For coat and skin support. Fish oil omega-3s help the Shih Tzu’s long coat and sensitive skin.
Shop Turkey + Salmon Formula →Make it work for your budget
What a day costs for a 12 lb Shih Tzu
with Halo Club (5 tbsp)
with Halo Club (1¼ cups)
as a complete meal
- Start as a topper. Swap a quarter of the bowl for Loyal Saints and keep the rest the same — real freeze-dried raw in every meal for a quarter of the cost. One 14 oz bag then lasts about 25 days.
- Join the Halo Club. 20% off every order and free shipping on every member order.
- Buy the 14 oz bag. Same food as the 5 oz, and it costs less per day ($7.20 vs $11.14 for a complete meal).
- First order: enter code KING40 at checkout for 40% off (first orders only).
Beef or Turkey + Salmon, at the live 14 oz price. Amounts follow the bag’s feeding guide and our feeding calculator; adjust for activity and body condition. See every weight and formula →
The standard is King.
Loyal Saints was built because of one dog. King’s digestive sensitivities pushed Kristina Voltin to question the ingredients, processing and nutrition behind every bowl. She formulated a whole-food, freeze-dried raw diet from human-grade quality ingredients — food she felt confident feeding King every day. Every formula is held to that standard: would I feed this to King?
For Shih Tzus owners navigating the same questions Kristina faced — about ingredients, about what’s really in the bag, about whether the food is actually good — Loyal Saints is the answer she built for them.
Read King’s story →What’s not in it — matters for Shih Tzus.
Many Shih Tzu issues — itchy skin, tear staining, ear infections — can have a dietary component. Removing wheat, corn, soy, and synthetic additives addresses the most common triggers at the source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dog food for a Shih Tzu with allergies?
A single, clean protein with no common allergen triggers. Loyal Saints Chicken is single-protein and free of wheat, corn, soy, and synthetic additives — the most common Shih Tzu triggers. Feed exclusively for 8–12 weeks to assess. If chicken has been a staple, start with Turkey + Salmon as a novel protein instead.
Can diet reduce my Shih Tzu’s tear staining?
Tear staining has multiple causes, but diet is often a contributor — particularly additives, low-quality ingredients, and food sensitivities. A clean, additive-free, whole-food diet removes those dietary triggers. Many owners report reduced staining after switching, though anatomy and tear-duct factors also play a role.
How much should I feed my Shih Tzu?
Shih Tzus typically weigh 9–16 lbs and need about 1–1½ cups of freeze-dried raw a day as a complete meal (Beef or Turkey + Salmon; 1–1½ cups of Chicken), split into two meals. Monitor body condition and adjust based on weight and activity.
Why does my Shih Tzu have itchy skin?
Itchy skin in Shih Tzus is frequently diet-related — food sensitivities to wheat, corn, soy, or specific proteins are common. A single-protein diet with no wheat, corn or soy makes a known trigger easier to avoid. Combined with omega-3s for skin barrier support, most diet-driven itching improves within 8 weeks.
Clean food for a sensitive breed.Shih Tzus
Single-protein, wheat-, corn- and soy-free, omega-rich. Built for the Shih Tzu. Halo Club members save 20% with free shipping on every order.
