A Look at Dog Food Ingredients that Promotes Good Health for Your Shih Tzu

A high quality dog food for the Shih Tzu does not contain by-products or inferior grains, chemical additives or preservatives of any kind. By-products, inferior grains, chemical additives and preservatives are all known to be harmful to your Shih Tzu.
Many times dog food manufacturers will use very high temperatures when cooking their products. This actually destroys nutrients and vitamins. They will then add flavor enhancers or coloring to replace what the high temperature cooking process takes from the appearance and flavor of the food. Pay attention to how your dog food is cooked.
A high quality dog food for the Shih Tzu will only contain natural goodness in a superior food product that is formulated especially to promote good health. Dog food manufacturers who are actually concerned about the health of your Shih Tzu will be extremely careful about every single ingredient. Fresh human quality foods from carefully selected farmers and growers combined with the high quality extras such as proteinated minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and bacteria cultures are known to have a beneficial effect on the health and well-being of the Shih Tzu as well as other canine breeds.

Shih Tzu Nutrition: Tips for Choosing the Highest Quality of Food for Your Shih Tzu

Your Shih Tzu will eat about the same food every day. This is why it is so important that the brand of dog food you feed is high in nutrition. The food you feed your Shih Tzu is his or her main source of nutrition and it is vital to a long and healthy life.
You might think that all pet food manufacturers have your dog’s best interests in mind when it comes to formulating their dog food products. This is not always the case. The current pet food regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that you would never knowingly feed your Shih Tzu. You would probably be in a state of shock to learn exactly what some pet food manufacturers actually put into their foods. Many pet food manufacturers include by-products like feet, bones and intestines, chemical preservatives like BHA and BHT, and grains like corn, wheat, gluten and soy, that are used as protein sources, but are most often difficult to digest. All these “wrong” kinds of ingredients can put unnecessary stress on your pet’s system and can lead to an unhealthy Shih Tzu as well as shorten the life of your Shih Tzu. Read on at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com/ purchase high quality dog foods at http://www.healthylife27.com/

Learning to Tube Feed Shih Tzu Puppies

It is not difficult to learn the correct tube feeding procedure. Purchase the tube feeder through your veterinarian, who will be able to equip you with the correct diameter catheter and syringe size for your Shih Tzu. Sterilize both catheter and syringe between early feedings. The syringe will have graduated markings on the side to record accurate intake. You will need a bowl or large measuring cup for warm water, a candy thermometer and a nontoxic indelible pen or dull knife.
1. Place water heated to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the bowl or measuring cup.2. Heat the formula separately (also to 100 degrees Fahrenheit) using the candy thermometer to regulate the temperatures of both liquids.3. Put the thermometer, syringe, catheter and warmed formula into the bowl of water for transport to the Shih Tzu puppy.
Each puppy should be measured for gavage feeding. Correct measurement is crucial to the Shih Tzu puppy’s well-being. Read on at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Early Shih Tzu Puppy Stimulation

The first sense of a Shih Tzu puppy is “scent.” The newborn Shih Tzu puppy will be able to smell the scent of the breeder immediately after the sac is broken. The Shih Tzu breeder is familiar with litters of Shih Tzu puppies before their eyes open. Up until the Shih Tzu puppy opens its eyes they became familiar with their breeder’s scent through their dam’s coat. Shih Tzu puppies learn where there is and is not a place of milk and nourishment on their mother through scent.
It is advisable that only the Shih Tzu breeder handle puppies during their first two weeks. This does limit the Shih Tzu puppy’s reality of the world around them; however, it is practicing sound early responsible care practices. As Shih Tzu puppies begin to open their eyes they become aware of differences in people. Because of this awareness, a very young Shih Tzu puppy may act violently the first time handled by anyone other than their breeder. The Shih Tzu puppy may begin to struggle or scream to be free. It really is not necessary for other people besides the breeder to handle Shih Tzu puppies during this very early period of their lives. If a Shih Tzu puppy is frightening by early interactions with other people it could set the stage for later mistrust toward all humans. It is therefore extremely important that all early contacts with a Shih Tzu puppy be positive. Once a barrier of distrust is instilled in a newborn Shih Tzu puppy, the puppy can become hard to work with and sometimes even unmanageable as adults. Limiting contact with humans also aids in the spreading of germs to newborn Shih Tzu puppies.
There is a proper way to hold a very young Shih Tzu puppy. You should not “swoop” a Shih Tzu puppy quickly into your arms, or hold it at arm’s length. Do not ever pick up a Shih Tzu puppy by its legs, ears, tail or scruff. Severe and even irreparable damage can result.
Use the following steps to pick up and hold a newborn and very young Shih Tzu puppy: Read on at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com/

Shih Tzu – Difficult Deliveries

Most Shih Tzu puppies present themselves normally at birth. There are times, very few times, of which I have experienced with the Shih Tzu that required assistance. Usually the most difficult Shih Tzu puppy birth is the first one. Delivery of a dry Shih Tzu puppy or overly large Shih Tzu puppy can take longer than normal and may affect the next Shih Tzu puppy birth. This next Shih Tzu puppy may be stillborn or have more fluid in the trachea and lungs. Oftentimes, subsequent Shih Tzu siblings are born normally.
Not every stillborn Shih Tzu puppy or difficult delivery is the result of a Shih Tzu matron suffering inertia. The problem of inertia, however, will cause a higher percentage of stillborn Shih Tzu puppies. Shih Tzu puppies are normally vigorous while attached to the uterine wall. Once freed from the uterine wall, a Shih Tzu puppy has limited time in which to arrive. Read on at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Bottle Feeding Orphan Shih Tzu Puppies

Nursing bottles for orphaned Shih Tzu puppies can be obtained through the veterinarian, pet supplier, wholesale catalogs or the internet. You should purchase several nipple styles to see which works best for you and your Shih Tzu.
Shih Tzu puppies can become colicky just like human newborn babies. Be careful about allowing a Shih Tzu puppy to ingest air when either tube or bottle feeding. Always turn the bottle and nipple end down, before offering it to the Shih Tzu puppy. All the air in the bottle will rise to the solid end. When the Shih Tzu puppy is nursing freely bubbles rise in the bottle. The bubble flow should be fairly rapid, small and uniform in size, rising in even response to the Shih Tzu puppy’s nursing. If the bubbles are large the Shih Tzu puppy may also be ingesting air. Check the nipple cap.
Occasionally remove the bottle from the Shih Tzu puppy’s mouth to allow a return passage of air back into the bottle. A return passage of air occurs either through turning the bottle upright or by momentarily loosening the cap. Do not abruptly pull the bottle from the Shih Tzu puppy’s mouth. Place a finger in the corner of the Shih Tzu puppy’s lip to break the nursing hold.
Some Shih Tzu puppies may instinctively resist the unnatural feel of a manufactured nipple. 1. If the dam is available, rub the bottle and nipple and a towel over her mammaries.2. Drape this towel across your stomach and lap.3. Hold the puppy on your lap against your abdomen.4. Express a small amount of formula from the bottle and wipe it over the nipple. Read on at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Does Your Shih Tzu Eat Its Own Stool?

One of the most unpleasant aspects of Shih Tzu breeding or owning a Shih Tzu is the Shih Tzu who takes to eating its stool. The official name for this practice is “coprophagy.” It is one of the unsolved mysteries in the dog world. However, there are several theories.

Some people say nutritional deficiencies. I can honestly say that since I have been feeding my Shih Tzu HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance food I have seen a remarkable “decrease” in this activity. I can only assume my problem was being caused by inadequate nutrition. Read on at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Imagine Yourself as a Little Dog

Benny pictured here is available from his litter of 3 girls and him. He is a sweet little guy with beautiful coloring in the category of silver/blue. He will lighten to a bluish beige platinum color. He is an Imperial size Shih Tzu.

Your little dog has just as much intelligence and instincts as the larger 150 pound dogs. Sometimes these little dogs forget they are little. When he growls and snaps at bigger dogs it is most likely he figures that he is safer being the aggressor. Your little dog needs extra encouragement to feel safe. Gentle and happy training methods work best for the little dogs. Positive training methods are essential for the small toy breed dogs.

Read on at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com/

Always Feed Your Shih Tzu the Highest Quality of Pet Food to Avoid Pancreatitis

The disease of pancreatitis can occur in your Shih Tzu if you feed the Shih Tzu table scraps and/or garbage. It is important to feed your Shih Tzu a well-balanced diet of high quality pet food. Pancreatitis presents itself from a severe inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that aids in the digestion of the Shih Tzu’s food.

Symptoms of pancreatitis in the Shih Tzu include:

A Shih Tzu who suddenly starts to vomit
The vomiting may cause dehydration and the Shih Tzu may become lethargic
The Shih Tzu may also experience diarrhea

The above symptoms are of course common to many diseases in the canine population as well as your own beloved Shih Tzu puppy or Shih Tzu adult. To help your vet make an appropriate diagnosis, be prepared to give him or her a good past history of events of your Shih Tzu eating patterns and what you been feeding the Shih Tzu as well as other health related history. A good history from you, the Shih Tzu owner, will help your vet determine whether or not the Shih Tzu has pancreatitis due to improper eating or some other disease.

Basics of a Shih Tzu Dog Show

If you have never gone to a Shih Tzu or any breed dog show you might wonder exactly what the judge will be doing.

The judge will look into the mouth of the Shih Tzu or other dog breed to check for the correct number of teeth and the bite. I mean after all, do you ever see a winning Miss America with no front teeth? The same holds true for Shih Tzu and other dog breeds in the show ring. Missing teeth is a disqualification in many of the breeds.

He will also check a male to be sure he has two testicles. A missing testicle is a disqualification.

During this inspection the judge will feel various parts of the Shih Tzu or other breed of dog, searching out the angles of the shoulders and hips, the head and ribs. This is especially true with the heavily-coated breeds like the Shih Tzu. You can’t tell exactly what the structure of a heavily-coated Shih Tzu is without hands-on examinations. Some of the smaller breeds are examined on a raised table. If you see a handler lift the Shih Tzu or other dog breed from the table to the ground with one hand under the chin and the other hand using the tail, they do this to avoid messing up the Shih Tzu’s hairstyle. It is not uncomfortable for the dog at all.

Read on at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com/