How much should a Shih Tzu eat?
Adult weight range 4–7 kg · adult feeding factors apply from 10–12 months of age · raw rate 3.0% of body weight. Portions below are computed with the same veterinary formula as the main calculator — not copied from a bag chart.
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Pre-filled with the breed's mid-range weight — adjust to your dog.
Shih Tzu portions by weight
| Adult weight | RER | Daily target | Kibble / day | Cups / day | Per meal (×2) | Raw / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 kg | 198 kcal | 317 kcal | 77 g | 0.8 | 39 g | 120 g |
| 5.5 kg | 251 kcal | 402 kcal | 98 g | 1.0 | 49 g | 165 g |
| 7.0 kg | 301 kcal | 482 kcal | 117 g | 1.2 | 59 g | 210 g |
Neutered adult (×1.6), kibble at 370 kcal/100 g, 10% treat allowance removed. Raw at 3.0% of body weight (size-correct rate). Cups ≈ grams ÷ 100 (typical kibble — weigh in grams for accuracy).
Worked example: a 5.5 kg Shih Tzu
A 5.5 kg adult Shih Tzu (neutered): RER 251 × 1.6 = 402 kcal − 40 kcal treats ÷ 3.7 kcal/g = 98 g — that is 49 g per meal, twice a day. The same arithmetic runs in the calculator above: change the weight or the life stage and every number follows.
Shih Tzu puppy feeding by age
| Age | Factor | Meals / day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | ×3.0 | 3–4 | On current weight — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 4–8 months | ×3.0 → ×2.0 (taper) | 3–4 | Factor falls smoothly — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 8–12 months | ×2.0 | 3 | 3 meals; 2–3 from 6 months |
| 12 months to adult | ×1.6–1.8 | 2 | Adult factor from 10–12 months |
Factors multiply RER on the puppy's current weight, not adult weight. Large and giant breeds keep the growth factors until 10–12 months.
Feeding notes for the Shih Tzu
Small breeds are the most overfed class relative to size — a single chew can be 10% of the day. Keep the treat budget inside the number and use the inactive factor if walks are short.
What makes feeding a Shih Tzu different: A flat-faced small breed: Shih Tzus often eat fast and gulp air, and their long coat hides weight gain completely. Judge condition by feeling the ribs through the coat, and weigh portions — a few grams is a big share of the day at this size.
Health, treats and the senior years: Shih Tzus are prone to dental disease, so small kibble and dental chews counted inside the treat budget pay off twice. In old age, keep meals small and regular and the coat out of the food bowl — a Shih Tzu that stops eating is a vet visit, not a reason to offer richer food.
Training, treats and everyday feeding: Shih Tzus often eat fast and gulp air, so a slow-feeder bowl and small meals help — and a shallow bowl suits a flat face better than a deep one. They are famously fussy, so keep the routine strict: the same food, the same times, and the bowl taken away after fifteen minutes if untouched.
Weight & condition for the Shih Tzu: A Shih Tzu's long coat hides weight gain completely — judge condition by feeling the ribs through the coat, weekly, and weigh monthly. At 4–7 kg, a few grams is a big share of the day: weigh portions in grams, never scoops, and keep treats inside the 10% budget.
Body condition check: Judge the portion by the dog, not just the table: on the 9-point body condition scale, aim for 4–5 — ribs easily felt under a thin fat cover, a waist visible from above, a tuck from the side. If you can't feel the ribs, feed 10% less than the table even if the weight looks right; if ribs show, feed 10% more.
Puppies of this size class reach adult factors at about 10–12 months; until then, growth portions follow the puppy factors (×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months) on current weight, recalculated every two weeks. Individual dogs vary by up to ±50% from any formula — the scale and your hands on the ribs outrank this table.
Guides: feeding a senior dog · feeding schedules by age
Sources: method & factors · AAHA 2021 guidelines · Pet Nutrition Alliance RER/MER · AKC breed profile
Portions by brand — Shih Tzu
What that is on 5 popular brands, for a 5.5 kg adult (neutered, treats removed):
How to use this calculator
Enter weight
Enter the dog's weight (use ideal weight for weight loss).
Select life stage and goal
Select the life stage and goal so the correct MER factor applies.
Enter food energy density
Enter the food's energy density (kcal per 100 g) from its label.
Read the daily portion
Read the daily portion in grams, split it across meals, and adjust by 10% every 2 weeks based on body condition.
Shih Tzu feeding questions
How much food should a Shih Tzu eat per day?
Across the full adult weight range (4–7 kg), a Shih Tzu needs about 317–482 kcal/day — 77–117 g of typical kibble (370 kcal/100 g) after the 10% treat allowance is removed — depending on weight, sex and activity. A typical adult at the middle of the range (5.5 kg) needs about 402 kcal/day, roughly 98 g, split over 2 meals.
How many meals a day should a Shih Tzu eat?
Two small meals a day suits a Shih Tzu: about 49 g per meal from a daily total of 98 g (402 kcal) for a 5.5 kg adult. A flat face and a fast eater mean a slow feeder and small meals beat one big bowl, and a shih tzu that turns up its nose at breakfast should have the bowl lifted after fifteen minutes — not topped up with treats. Keep the same food and the same times, every day.
How many cups of food does a Shih Tzu need per day?
About 98 g/day is roughly 1.0 cups at the typical density of 100 g per cup — but cups vary by up to 40% between kibbles, so weigh the grams once and the question disappears. A cup is a volume; grams are the portion. At this size the margin is tiny — a heaped cup instead of a level one can add a fifth of the whole day, which is why a gram scale pays off most for small dogs.
How do I switch a Shih Tzu to a new food?
Over 7 days: 25% new food for 2 days, 50% for 2 days, 75% for 2 days, then 100% — keeping the total daily grams at the number on this page throughout. Small dogs should not skip meals during a switch: if your Shih Tzu refuses the new mix for more than a day, slow down and check with your vet rather than letting them go hungry. If stools loosen, hold at the current mix for an extra day or two.
How much should a Shih Tzu puppy eat?
Small-breed puppies reach adult factors at about 10–12 months. Use ×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months, on current weight, recalculated every two weeks — growth is quick at this size and the answer changes monthly.
How much raw food does a Shih Tzu need?
At the size-correct BARF rate of 3.0% of ideal body weight, a 5.5 kg Shih Tzu eats about 165 g of raw food per day — split 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other organ, 10% vegetables and fruit on the BARF model.
How does feeding a Shih Tzu change as they age?
From about 10–12 months a Shih Tzu counts as fully adult; the senior shift usually arrives years later, when activity and muscle mass fall. The calculator's senior factor (×1.4 instead of ×1.6) trims a 5.5 kg Shih Tzu from 402 to about 352 kcal/day — roughly 86 g of typical kibble. Make the change gradually and judge by body condition, not birthdays alone: a still-active older Shih Tzu may hold condition on the adult number.
Why does my Shih Tzu eat so fast?
Flat faces make Shih Tzus gulp air with their food, which causes gas and discomfort. A slow-feeder bowl and the daily portion split into two small meals helps — the amount stays the same (98 g/day for a 5.5 kg adult), only the pace changes.
How much should a Shih Tzu eat if it is mostly indoors?
Use the inactive factor (×1.2): a 5.5 kg adult drops from about 402 kcal/day to about 302 kcal/day — roughly 73 g of kibble. Indoor life is normal for this breed; the portion should match the real activity, and monthly weigh-ins catch the drift early.
Related calculators
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Growth portions by age in weeks and months, kibble or raw.
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Safe deficit portions at target-weight RER, with a realistic timeline.