10 Foods Shih Tzu Should NOT Eat

Shih tzu may not be a gluttonous breed, but there are some food materials that must not be given to these animals. One of the most common mistakes of owners is assuming that dogs can ingest any food that is eaten by humans. Well,

that might always be the case since dogs are naturally curious creatures. They may mot know that some food can serve as poison to them. So as owners, it is our responsibility to move these food no-no’s away from them.

1. Avocado

This fruit contains a toxin called persin that is found in the pit of the fruit, but is still distributed all throughout the fruit. Do give any part of this fruit to your dog.

2. Macadamia nuts

Bladder stones in the dog are made of a phosphate mineral. Macadamia nuts, on the other hand contain lots of phosphorous which can lead to formation of the stones in the urinary tract. When not treated, this can lead to kidney failure and musculoskeletal problems.

3. Onions

Onions contain sulfate that causes red blood cells to burst, thus leading to anemia. The drop in the blood components can be seen in days after ingestion of any type of onion. Sudden signs include inappetence, lethargy, labored breathing, vomiting and diarrhea.

4. Candies

Artificial sweetener in our candies is called xylitol. This substance is not toxic to humans, but to dogs this causes increased insulin production. High insulin leads to high absorption of sugar from the blood and hypoglycemia in the blood. Low sugar in the blood causes weakness, incoordination and eventually, seizures and liver failure. Xylitol is also fun in our toothpaste.

5. Chocolates

Chocolates are fun to eat, but they are not for our canine friends. Chocolates have methylxanthines that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems and increased thirst in dogs. Signs can be seen in doses of 20mg/kg ingested while it may be lethal at 5mg/kg high doses.

6. Grapes, Raisins and Currants

The culprit substance in these food materials has not been identified yet, but it was seen that abdominal pain, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea are observed. Chronic and large dose eating of grapes can lead to kidney failure, an irreversible health condition that is potentially life threatening in dogs.

7.Mushroom

Mushrooms are poisons to dogs, especially the Amanita species. They cause excessive salivation, abdominal pain, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea and liver and kidney damage.

8.Raw meat

Eating raw may be a natural instinct to dogs as they are trained like this in the wild. But for domesticated dogs that have stomachs which are not prepared for this type of diet, this can be a problem. The increased bacterial proliferation on the meat and other possible contaminants can immensely affect your dog digestive system – and not in a very nice way.

9. Raw egg

Eggs may be high in protein, but they are also very ideal medium for bacterial growth. You can give them as boiled or fried, but raw eggs are never good candidates as diet for canines.

10. Milk and Dairy

Dogs do love milk. Most of them will really drink the milk intended for our babies or us. However, dogs are not equipped to digest the lactose in our milk. This always leads to soft stools and watery diarrhea. To avoid these, use lactose free dairy products for you Shih Tzu. Yogurt is good for them