5 Foods That Could Kill Your Shih Tzu

5 Foods That Could Kill Your Shih Tzu

DO NOT FEED!!

What Are the Foods That You Shouldn't Give to Your Shih Tzu?

Like many pet parents (me included), you probably get tempted to give your little Shih Tzu a tasty morsel whenever you sit down to a meal or enjoy some snacks (Hugo's favourite is crisps). After all, who can resist it when your Shih Tzu turns his beautiful puppy eyes on you and begs for a taste? However, not all human foods are safe for your furry friend to eat.  In fact, a lot of your treats can be harmful to his wellbeing and cause serious health problems or even death.

Here is a list of the food and drinks that you should never give to your Shih Tzu:-

1.Chocolate

It might seem nice to give your pet a sweet treat every now and then, but it is actually a bad idea since chocolate can make dogs very sick. This comes from the fact that it contains Ignore — substances that are present in cacao beans, which are what chocolate is made of. Methylxanthines can cause a wide range of symptoms in dogs, such as panting, vomiting, diarrhoea, extreme thirst, and excessive urination. In severe cases, they can lead to seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, and even death.

Take note that methylxanthines are also present in coffee and soda, so you should also avoid giving them to your Shih Tzu.

2.Grapes

Grapes are healthy for people, but they can be toxic in dogs. It’s not yet clear what substance can cause this toxicity, but it’s already been observed that eating grapes can cause dogs to develop kidney failure. So make sure to keep your Shih Tzu away from grapes as well as raisins, which have the same effect on canines.

3.Garlic and Onions

One of the reasons why you shouldn’t give table scraps to your pet is that they may contain garlic and onions. These vegetables make human food taste great, but they’re dangerous to dogs since they can irritate their gastrointestinal system and cause damage to their red blood cells. Because of these, it’s important to stick to dog food that’s approved by your vet and keep your Shih Tzu away from fresh garlic and onions.

4.Macadamia Nuts

Thinking of giving your dog macadamia nuts as a treat? Think again. These nuts have been proven to cause tremors, vomiting, muscle weakness, and even fevers in dogs that ingest them, and these symptoms can last up to two days. Fortunately, most dogs that ingest macadamia nuts don’t need any treatment and can recover on their own, although you should still avoid exposing your pet to this type of nut to keep him away from the symptoms above.

However, it’s not just macadamia that’s dangerous for your pet. Other nuts such as pecan, walnuts, and almonds contain large amounts of oils and fats, which are considered to be healthy for humans but can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs and may even lead them to develop pancreatitis.

5.Bones

Over the years, dogs have been shown with bones clutched in their mouths in many movies and TV shows. But what you have to realize is that bones can actually be dangerous for dogs since they cause them to choke and can even damage their digestive tract. Again, stick to the dog food and treats that your vet recommends instead of giving your Shih Tzu a bone to gnaw on.

These are some of the foods that you should not give to your Shih Tzu.  Keep them in mind to keep your pet safe and healthy!

If anyone has any other foods to add to this list please leave a comment - thanks.