Shih Tzu Weight
Is your Shih Tzu just a little too chubby? Even the addition of two-pounds in Shih Tzu weight is a lot of weight on a ten-pound dog. That’s like a 150-pound person gaining 30 pounds! Extra weight puts a strain on internal organs like the heart and lungs, stresses joints making them more prone to arthritis, and contributes to a host of chronic diseases as your dog gets older. Some Shih Tzu can also be underweight, although this issue is less common. These dogs can be underweight because of a health issue or just because they’re extra finicky, and they may not be getting the proper nutrition to stay healthy.
Shih Tzu Weight Chart
If you want to know how large your Shih Tzu puppy will grow, a Shih Tzu Puppy Weight Chart might be very useful. It is often true for other small breed dogs, but not for big breeds.
Do you want to know how large your Shih Tzu will grow? Use this Shih Tzu Puppy Weight Chart to determine your puppy’s mature size. Although the chart is more accurate for Shih Tzu dogs, it may be used to predict the mature size of most miniature breed dogs.
How Much Do You Feed A Shih Tzu? – Portion size
Portion size matters, especially for small dogs, who can gain too much weight if they eat even a little bit too much. Every dog’s different, and the amount you feed your dog depends on your dog’s individual metabolism and activity level. Dog food bags and cans often recommend more than dogs should really eat unless they’re extremely active (which most Shih Tzu aren’t).
A good place to start is on the very low end of the recommended portion on the dog food label. If this amount keeps your Shih Tzu at a healthy weight (which is 9 to 16 pounds), you’re on the right track. In case, your Shih Tzu gets too thin, increase the amount by just a tablespoon. If your Shih Tzu weight gets too heavy, decrease the amount by a tablespoon, even if it’s less than the lower limit the dog food label suggests.
Watching for signs of obesity
According to many vets, being overweight is the number one most common health problem among companion dogs today. But your Shih Tzu doesn’t have to suffer that fate, as long as you monitor what he eats and make sure he gets enough exercise.
What is Average Shih Tzu Weight and Height?
Or, How Much a healthy Shih Tzu is Supposed to Weigh?
The Shih Tzu breed standard states a healthy Shih Tzu between 9 and 101⁄2 inches at the shoulder should weigh between 9 and 16 pounds. However, despite what the scale says, your Shih Tzu may be overweight for the build.
Over Weight Shih Tzu – Determining
Determining whether your Shih Tzu is becoming overweight under that fluffy coat can be difficult, so to monitor your Shih Tzu’s waistline, you need to use your hands. Feel your Shih Tzu’s ribs. If you can’t feel them at all, and if you can feel no discernible waist curving in from your Shih Tzu’s rib cage, your pup is probably overweight.
Talk to your vet to confirm your findings and then ask about the best way to get your pet back to a healthy weight. If your Shih Tzu gained weight suddenly, he could have a medical problem, so be sure to mention this to your vet.
Underweight Shih Tzu
If an adult Shih Tzu weighs less than 9 pounds and you can easily feel her ribs, and if she has a dramatic tuck-in below the rib cage, she may be underweight. A sudden weight loss can also indicate a medical condition.
What To Do if Shih Tzu Losing Weight?
If you think your Shih Tzu is underweight, talk to your vet about it. He/She may recommend a special food or high-calorie supplementation to get your Shih Tzu back on the right track.
