Shih Tzu can eat cheese, yes. Many pet owners think that cheese and dogs are not suitable. The truth is, most dogs can eat cheese, and it won’t cause any issues. Feeding cheese to your Shih Tzu can have positive effects because of calcium, zinc, protein, vitamins, and phosphorus cheese contains.
Let’s get into it more!
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Is it OK to give my Shih Tzu cheese?
Giving cheese to your Shih Tzu should be alright and should not cause any problems. It can even be beneficial, as long as you feed it as a treat in moderation.
Some pet owners may think that cheese is bad for dogs since other pets don’t take it too well.
Take cats, for instance. Felines don’t take cheese well, along with other dairy products.
For canines, however, cheese is safe as long as you feed it in appropriate servings.
Cheese contains protein, calcium, vitamin A and B12, zinc, and phosphorus. All these nutrients improve or help different aspects of a dog’s health.
Now, it doesn’t mean that you can feed cheese as much as you want since it is safe. Going overboard with feeding cheese can also take a toll on your pet.
For instance, cheese-like, any other dairy products are usually high in fat. Thus, feeding too much can cause weight gain and can even lead to obesity.
Thus, cheese is safe, as long as you keep it in moderation.
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How often can you give cheese to Shih Tzu?
As I said, cheese is safe for any Shih Tzu to eat, but only as a treat and not a part of their regular meal.
Cheese is high in fats, and too much consumption can increase weight, resulting in obesity.
Further, feeding too much in a single meal may cause an upset stomach, so avoid giving too much.
Shih Tzu is a breed that doesn’t need too much feed. Thus, it should only be a couple of bites or less when offering cheese as a treat, depending on your pet’s weight.
Moreover, try to avoid giving cheese daily. Make two to three times a week the limit to feeding cheese.
Regular feeding may not cause any life-threatening issues, but it’s also not ideal.
You May Also Read – Can Shih Tzu eat bacon?
Can Shih Tzu eat cottage cheese?
Compared to other types, cottage cheese is an unprocessed one. It has a consistency like that of a yogurt.
In simple terms, cottage cheese is an unripened one. It means that it contains more lactose compared to other cheese. At the same time, lactose can cause an upset stomach in most dogs.
According to HealthLine, a cup (226 grams) of low-fat cottage cheese includes:
- Calories: 163
- Protein: 28 grams
- Carbs: 6.2 grams
- Fat: 2.3 grams
- Phosphorus
- Sodium
- Selenium
- Vitamin B12
- Riboflavin
- Calcium
- Folate
Cottage cheese contains a lot of nutrients that any Shih Tzu would enjoy as it grows. Some of these are protein, fats, vitamin B12, and calcium.
Feeding your Shih Tzu a cottage cheese shouldn’t cause any issues, as long as you only give it a small bite.
Regular cottage cheese should be safe in small amounts, so a couple of bites shouldn’t also be harmful. Just make sure not to give it more than that.
What can Shih Tzus eat?
Compared to other dogs, Shih Tzus are the breeds that are likely to get obese. The reason is that they can eat a wide range of food options.
For this reason, there will be more items that a Shih Tzu can eat. However, here’s a list that is ideal and nutritious for this type of breed:
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 like:
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Raspberries
- Sweet potato
- Green beans
- Sweet peas
- Baby carrots
Dairy products that can be good treats are:
- Cottage cheese
- Ice Cream
- Whole yogurt
Grains and other sources of energy:
- Plain white or brown rice
- Bread
- Pasta
As always, the key to healthy growth is a balanced meal, and it applies to all pets.
This type of breed needs protein-rich food to sustain a healthy muscle growth as it matures.
Shih Tzus also need vitamins and minerals, which they can get from fruits and vegetables.
Dairy products can also be a great source of protein and fats, which is also beneficial if fed in small amounts.
Lastly, they can also thrive on eating grains and other food that is rich in carbohydrates. Such a nutrient gives them energy for their activities.
What are Shih Tzu not allowed to eat?
Although Shih Tzus have a wide range of food options, some food can harm them if fed.
As pet owners, we should be mindful of these toxic foods to avoid unwanted incidents for our pets.
Like most other breeds and other pets, here is a list of food that you should not feed your Shih Tzu:
- Chocolate (huge red flag)
- Grapes and Raisins (toxic to most dogs and even cats)
- Onions (both raw and cooked is harmful even in small amounts)
- Tea and coffee (the caffeine in both is lethal to these animals)
- Salt (too much sodium is also a bad thing)
- Soda (has a lot of toxic chemicals)
- Fruit pits and seeds (naturally dangerous for them)
By keeping these foods out of your pet’s reach, you can avoid unwanted incidents.
If, in any case, you feed your pet one or more of this food, you should take it to the vet. Call for a vet’s help, especially if your pet shows signs of poisoning.
Summary
You can spare some cheese for your Shih Tzu, and it shouldn’t cause any issues. In fact, a cheese treat can even be beneficial since it’s rich in nutrients that are beneficial to your pet.
Still, while it is safe to eat, it doesn’t mean you can give cheese to your Shih Tzu as much as you want.
As a general rule of thumb, consider cheese only as a treat, and you should only feed it in moderation.
Do you want to know more about Shih Tzu? Check out our blog to see more exciting facts and tips about this dog breed!
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Image credits – Photos by Alvan Nee and Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash
