Shih Tzu can’t eat bacon. The reason is that the bacon is too fatty and can cause health problems for your Shih Tzu. So avoid feeding bacon to your dog, whether raw or fried, to prevent a heart attack. He probably won’t like you very much for it, but it’s what’s best for your pet.
Many people love bacon, including myself. In fact, you might be as well. Unfortunately, though, we can’t share it with our pets. Here are some details of why.
Let’s get into it!
Contents
Is bacon OK for Shih Tzu?
While not all, most dogs are sensitive to fatty foods, and bacon is one greasy food.
Some breeds may tolerate a few bites, while some can already show negative symptoms after a taste.
Generally speaking, a bite or two of bacon shouldn’t cause any issues to your Shih Tzu.
Still, it’s not a valid reason to share a slab of this fatty pork with your pet.
Bacon isn’t good for Shih Tzu in a lot of ways.
First, the fat content of bacon is just too much that overeating can cause health issues already.
Further, bacon is way too salty for Shih Tzus and even other pets.
Indeed, it can be quite tempting to feed your Shih Tzu some of the bacon you’re enjoying.
Still, you have to hold yourself back for the sake of your pet’s health.
Bacon may be pork, and pork per se can be beneficial in most ways. However, bacon is a result of curing, and curing happens with a lot of salt.
For this reason, taking in bacon is like taking too much salt that your pet doesn’t need.
Of course, you can give your pet a bite or two, but make it the limit of the treat.
As an alternative, offer any pork without any salt or extra ingredients. It will be much better for your pet.
Related – Can Shih Tzu eat sausage?
Can a dog eat bacon?
Sure, a dog can eat bacon. But, it doesn’t mean they should.
A dog will eat a piece of bacon if you offer it some. Canines don’t hate the smell of bacon, and as long as they like the scent, they’ll eat it.
For this reason, it’s on you to avoid feeding your pet some large amounts of bacon, or even small amounts regularly.
Bacon is a fatty food that contains too much salt. Thus, taking in more than a couple of bites can be too much for their stomach to handle.
Further, too much intake can damage the pancreas and even the kidneys.
As owners, it can be tempting to offer something we enjoy. Unfortunately, they can’t tolerate large amounts of bacon.
To maintain your pet’s health and avoid any issues, avoid feeding fatty foods like bacon.
Related – Can Shih Tzu eat ham?
Is pork good for Shih Tzu?
While a bacon piece is not precisely a good food, pork without any seasoning is safe for your Shih Tzu.
If you want to feed pork to your Shih Tzu, you may want to know these few little things.
First, avoid feeding raw pork. While not every time, raw pork usually carries bacteria and viruses.
Thus, feeding such can transfer those bacteria to your pet.
Cooking the pork is the key to removing these bacteria and making the meat safe for consumption.
Another thing to consider is to avoid feeding too much pork fat and adding seasoning.
Indeed, it can be quite unappetizing to give unseasoned pork, as it is bland and without flavor.
Still, it’s the best option for your pet. Besides, Shih Tzus and other dogs don’t need sodium in their meals. Too much fat can also compromise their health.
Being mindful of such things helps avoid problems and can maintain your pet’s health.
What is the best diet for Shih Tzu?
In searching for the best diet for your Shih Tzu, you’ll face myriads of dog feed offering wholesome nutrients.
Thus, it can be quite hard to determine which one to pick. Being mindful of your pet’s needs is key to identifying the best diet for it.
Below is a list of nutrients that is essential for Shih Tzus and any other pets. If you’re looking for natural food, I also wrote some food your pet would enjoy.
For protein and other meat nutrients, they can feed on:
- Organs (liver, heart)
- Fish
- White chicken meat
- Lamb
- Eggs
Shih Tzus can also eat fruits and veggies where they can get their vitamins and minerals:
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Raspberries
- Sweet potato
- Green beans
- Sweet peas
- Broccoli
- Baby carrots
Dairy products offer nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, protein, and many more. Here are some products that can be occasional good treats:
- Cottage cheese
- Ice cream
- Whole yogurt
- Milk
Grains and other sources of energy since they are rich in carbohydrates. They are also rich in fiber, which aids digestion. Here are some of the feed your pet will love:
- Plain white or brown rice
- Bread
- Pasta
Balance is always the key to a proper diet. All this food can benefit Shih Tzus.
Still, there is food that they should only eat occasionally. Further, there is food that you should feed regularly.
By balancing the food according to your pet needs, you’ll be confident it will get the proper diet it needs.
What are Shih Tzu not allowed to eat?
Like all other breeds, Shih Tzus also have a list of food they can’t eat. The food that you should avoid when feeding your pet is:
- Chocolate (huge red flag)
- Onions (both raw and cooked is harmful even in small amounts)
- Soda (has a lot of toxic chemicals)
- Tea and coffee (the caffeine in both is lethal to these animals)
- Salt (too much sodium is also a bad thing)
- Fruit pits and seeds (naturally dangerous for them)
- Grapes and Raisins (toxic to most dogs and even cats)
Being mindful of this list and keeping it out of your Shih Tzu’s reach can help you avoid unwanted incidents. Further, avoiding such will help maintain your pet’s health.
Now, if you feed your pet one or more of this food, it would be best to take it to the vet for a checkup. Do so, especially if your pet shows signs of poisoning.
Summary
Any Shih Tzu shouldn’t eat bacon, especially as a regular meal. Bacon contains too much fat, and it is too salty even for any dog or pet.
Indeed, bacon is essentially a pork product, and pork isn’t harmful. What makes bacon dangerous to Shih Tzu is the salt and fat. Of course, you can offer a bite or two, but you shouldn’t go far more than that.
In feeding your pets, you should be aware that there are things they can’t eat. Knowing such and providing the proper food will help your pet avoid having any health issues.
At the same time, it will help your pet achieve optimum health.
Resources
Image credits – Photos by Karsten Winegeart and Casey DeViese on Unsplash