Shih Tzu should not eat sausages. To be precise, Shih Tzu can eat sausage, but it’s not exactly the best diet for your dog. The reason is that the sausage contains too much fat, salt, and seasonings, that might be unhealthy for your dog. So it’s better to avoid it altogether.
Sausages have a unique flavor that many people love. Thus, it can be quite tempting to offer some to your pet if you’re a sausage fanatic.
Let’s get into more details on how sausages can affect a Shih Tzu’s health.
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Is sausage OK for Shih Tzu?
Sausages may be palatable for us, but not for our pets. If you own a Shih Tzu, you can give a couple of sausage bites, but make it the limit.
The reason sausage is wrong for Shih Tzus and many other dogs and pets are its ingredients.
To give you an example, I’ve searched for a simple recipe for homemade sausage.
Here are some of the essential ingredients:
- Dried sage
- Salt (Huge red flag)
- Ground black pepper (Large quantities can upset stomach)
- Dried marjoram (Contains toxins that can cause health problems in dogs)
- Brown sugar
- Crushed red pepper flakes (Spices can be toxic to dogs)
- Ground cloves
- Ground pork
Looking at this, you can exactly see that not every ingredient is toxic. In fact, pork, the main ingredient, is an excellent protein source for Shih Tzus.
What makes sausages unhealthy is the spices and additives that come with the pork.
Of course, a few bites should be alright and shouldn’t cause any issues.
However, to keep your pet safe and healthy, limit its sausage treat to a couple of bites, and don’t feed it regularly.
Related – Can Shih Tzu eat ham?
How often can you give sausage to Shih Tzu?
As I said, you shouldn’t give sausage as a regular meal and treat for your Shih Tzu.
Regular sausage intake can take a toll on your Shih Tzu, as well as on other pets you have.
Indeed, we can eat large servings of sausages, and it can be quite delightful food for us.
However, its effects are not the same for our pets. We can tolerate spices, seasonings, and even additives.
If you regularly give your Shih Tzu sausages, you are also offering salt and other toxic things to it.
I know it can be quite tempting to share it with our pets. However, it would be best if you remembered that doing so can affect their health.
For this reason, always offer sausages as treats and not as a part of their regular diet.
You May Also Read – Can Shih Tzu eat cheese?
What to do if your dog has eaten too many sausages?
If your dog accidentally feeds on a large amount of sausage, you shouldn’t offer any food for a while.
Putting your dog on a whole day of fasting will give its stomach some time to settle.
Further, provide plenty of water and let your dog drink up as much as it wants.
Most dogs who have overeaten salty food tend to be more thirsty. Of course, excessive drinking would also result in excessive urinating.
High amounts of water intake can help flush out too much sodium. It will also help lessen the effects, especially on the kidney and liver.
Water will also help your pet stay hydrated, especially if it suffers from diarrhea.
After the fasting period, start by feeding your pet some bland food until it recovers after some time.
What human foods can Shih Tzus eat?
Don’t worry if you can’t give sausages to your pet. Aside from that, there’s a whole lot of options we can provide them. Further, some of these are our favorites as well.
Here’s a list that is ideal and nutritious for this type of breed:
Here’s some food that is rich in protein:
- Organs (liver, heart)
- Fish
- White chicken meat
- Lamb
- Eggs
If you wish to feed fruits & veggies, go for these:
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Raspberries
- Sweet potato
- Green beans
- Sweet peas
- Baby carrots
- Cucumbers
Dairy products that can be occasional treats:
- Cottage cheese
- Ice cream
- Whole yogurt
Shih Tzus can also eat grains and grain products for energy:
- Plain white or brown rice
- Bread
- Pasta
The key to a healthy meal is balance. Thus, feeding your pet a balanced diet helps in maintaining good health.
What is bad for Shih Tzu?
Shih Tzus may have a wide range of food options. Still, some food can harm them if fed.
Like most other breeds and other pets, here is a list of food that you should not feed your Shih Tzu:
- Chocolate (a huge red flag for all pets)
- Fruit pits and seeds (naturally dangerous for them)
- Salt (too much sodium is also a bad thing)
- 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)
- Soda (has a lot of toxic chemicals)
Keeping these foods out of your pet’s reach will help you avoid unwanted incidents.
If your pet takes any of this food by accident, it may show symptoms. If that happens, consult a vet. Help from an expert is necessary to avoid making the problem any worse.
Summary
Shih Tzus and sausages aren’t suitable for each other. While we can eat sausages, our dogs shouldn’t.
Sausages contain ingredients that are toxic to them. Pork and other meat products are safe for Shih Tzu. As long as the meat you offer is free from harmful components, it should be alright.
Knowing what is right and what is not for your pet helps in maintaining good health. Further, it can avoid any sickness and any health issues from eating.
Resources
Image credits – Photos by Edson Torres and Rich Smith on Unsplash
