Royal Canin Shih Tzu

Royal Canin Shih Tzu

Royal Canin Shih Tzu is breed-specific food for a dog with two demanding features: a long, dense double coat, and a short flat muzzle with an undershot jaw. We stock the adult dry food in 1.5kg, Shih Tzu Puppy in 1.5kg, and a Shih Tzu loaf wet food in 85g x 12 and 85g x 48.

The kibble is the part owners notice first. It is shaped so a Shih Tzu can pick it up easily and is encouraged to chew rather than swallow whole — a brachycephalic dog genuinely struggles with round kibble, and one that inhales its dinner swallows air along with it. The same formula uses calcium chelators to help reduce tartar, which matters in a breed with a crowded mouth and a long list of dental problems.

For the coat, Royal Canin enriches the formula with the Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA plus borage oil, to nourish the coat and support the skin's barrier role. It is also formulated to help reduce faecal volume and smell. None of that replaces grooming — a Shih Tzu coat kept in full length needs daily brushing whatever is in the bowl, and most owners end up clipping it shorter.

The adult formula is for dogs over 10 months; before that, the puppy bag. The wet loaf is the same breed line in pouch form and earns its place with a dog that has gone off dry food, an older dog whose teeth are not what they were, or as a topper to make the kibble more interesting. If you use it as a topper, take the equivalent calories out of the dry ration rather than adding it on top — on a 6kg dog the extra adds up quickly.

Shop related

• Royal Canin — the full range, dog and cat.
• Royal Canin dog food — every dog formula in one place.
• Royal Canin dry dog food — the complete dry range by size and breed.
• Royal Canin wet dog food — pouches and cans, loaf and gravy.
• Royal Canin Mini — the size-band alternative for dogs under 10kg adult weight.
• Royal Canin puppy food — growth formulas by size and by breed.