Best Dog Food for Shih Tzus

Our top 4 picks — ranked by ingredient quality, nutritional balance, and verified recall history.

📊 4 products 🔍 Independently ranked 📅 Last reviewed June 2026
#1
Best Dry Dog Food For Shih Tzus: Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Real Chicken Recipe

Best Dry Dog Food For Shih Tzus: Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Real Chicken Recipe

5.0 / 5.0

This Small Breed with Real Chicken recipe is a high-protein, grain-free mix of kibble and freeze-dried raw food made in the USA. It’s one of 11 dry recipes contained in our review of the Instinct product line. Instinct Raw Boost receives the majority of its meat protein from fresh chicken and chicken meal . Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 22% fat, and 32% estimated carbs, creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

Main Ingredients
Chicken, chicken meal, chickpeas, tapioca, chicken fat
Texture
Dry
Type
Grain-free
#2
Best Wet Dog Food For Shih Tzus: Merrick Lil' Plates Teeny Tiny Steak Tips Dinner

Best Wet Dog Food For Shih Tzus: Merrick Lil' Plates Teeny Tiny Steak Tips Dinner

5.0 / 5.0

Teeny Tiny Steak Tips Dinner is a high-protein food crafted for small-breed dogs. It’s one of eight wet recipes included in our review of the Merrick product line. Merrick Lil’ Plates derives most of its animal protein from fresh beef and is served in convenient, single-serving trays proportioned for small dogs. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 44% protein, 17% fat and 31% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 38%.

Main Ingredients
Beef, beef broth, venison broth, beef liver, dried egg whites
Texture
Wet
Type
Grain-free
#3
Best Affordable Dog Food For Shih Tzus: Blue Buffalo Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe

Best Affordable Dog Food For Shih Tzus: Blue Buffalo Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe

5.0 / 5.0

Small Breed Puppy is one of 20 dry recipes analyzed in our review of the Blue Buffalo Life Protection product line. This formula obtains most of its animal protein from fresh deboned chicken , chicken meal , and fish meal . Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 19% fat and 41% estimated carbs, leaving a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.

Main Ingredients
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, barley, fish meal
Texture
Dry
Type
Grain-inclusive
#4
Best Grain Inclusive Dog Food For Shih Tzus: Nutro Ultra Small Breed Adult

Best Grain Inclusive Dog Food For Shih Tzus: Nutro Ultra Small Breed Adult

5.0 / 5.0

Nutro Ultra Small Breed Adult is one of nine dry recipes rated in our review of the Nutro product line. This small breed recipe derives most of its animal protein from fresh chicken as well as chicken meal . Although this recipe contains protein boosters such as flaxseed and chia seeds, it still contains a notable amount of meat . Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 19% fat and 44% estimated carbs, creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 65%.

Main Ingredients
Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain sorghum, whole grain oats, whole grain brown rice
Texture
Dry
Type
Grain-inclusive

How we ranked these: Every food on this page is scored using our transparent methodology — 40% ingredient quality, 30% independent third-party rating, 20% recall history, 10% manufacturing transparency. No partner gets favorable placement; commissions don't influence the rankings.

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