It is very important to feed your Shih Tzu a well-balanced diet of pet food and not table scraps. Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas that can result from feeding your Shih Tzu table scraps.

A Shih Tzu with pancreatitis may suddenly vomit, become dehydrated, be lethargic and have diarrhea. These symptoms are common to a lot of different canine diseases; therefore, the diagnosis of pancreatitis is very difficult for a vet to make. He will depend a lot upon a good history from the Shih Tzu owner.

High amounts of fat in the Shih Tzus diet, a high-fat meal or allowing your Shih Tzu to get into the garbage and consume leftover food may cause pancreatitis Pesticides. Some canine drugs can cause side effects of pancreatitis as well. There is a higher incidence of this disease in obese Shih Tzu.

Pancreatitis can also lead to diabetes and loss of some liver function in your Shih Tzu. It is very important to introduce an easily digestible diet to avoid diarrhea.

Repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis or has signs of diabetes may be chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis can appear suddenly, but doesnt last as long. There is little or no permanent damage to the organ. In chronic pancreatitis the pancreas undergoes permanent damage and possible loss of function.

Once a Shih Tzu is diagnosed with pancreatitis, the intestinal tract must be rested. All food and water is withheld from the dog for a period of time, usually 24 hours. If the Shih Tzu is dehydrated, intravenous fluids will have to be given. The Shih Tzu normally responds to treatment in a few days and can gradually be put back on food.

You need to avoid acute or chronic pancreatitis at all times with your Shih Tzu. Feed your Shih Tzu a well balanced commercially prepared diet to be certain your Shih Tzu is getting all the nutrition it needs.

The best choice of food for your Shih Tzu is a veterinarian formulated product inspired by nature and made using good science. Your Shih Tzu depends upon you to make the right choices when it comes to his or her health and happiness. Your Shih Tzu is a part of your family and you probably want the very best for him.

You might think all pet food manufacturers have your pets best interests in mind. This is not always the case. Current pet food regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that you would never give to your pet. You probably would be shocked to learn what some brands of pet food really contain.

For example, the use of by-products on the label of a dog food actually means feet, bones and intestines, etc.). You will often see listed on the dog food label, chemical preservatives (BHA and BHT), and grains that are often difficult to digest (corn, wheat, gluten and soy). These things are often used as a protein source instead of meat. These types of ingredients can also cause acute pancreatitis and possibly even chronic pancreatitis in your Shih Tzu.

Choose a dog food for your Shih Tzu that is made with the freshest, human-quality ingredients, which can give your Shih Tzu the best quality possible. This would be also a dry dog food that contains all natural chicken and top quality catfish with the best fresh fruit, vegetables and select farm foods. The dog food you choose for your Shih Tzu should contain no artificial flavors, colors, sugars, or chemical preservatives. Be sure to read the labels on the dog food before purchasing for your Shih Tzu.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

It is really important to read labels and pay attention to the nutrition information in dog food. Dogs are carnivores, which mean their diet should be made up mainly of meats. The basic percentages of dietary needs for dogs to ensure they get the nutrition they require is 60% meat, 40% fruits and vegetables. Some holistic recipes claim that grains are safe for dogs because a lot of the animals dogs eat in their natural diets have grains in their bellies. However, grains are probably the most common allergen for dogs. Also, most commercial dog foods, especially the cheaper ones, contain grains as the first ingredient.

There are many commercial dog foods that, when you read the labels, you will notice that they contain bone/meat meal and no actual real meat. A lot of times commercial dog foods will contain meat by-products such as hooves, eyes, beaks, skin, fur, feathers and other items that you really wouldn’t want in your dog’s belly. Dog food nutrition is really important. Making sure your dog has a well balanced diet makes sure your dog will stay healthy, strong and live well. Avoiding meat by-products, corn products, grains, animal fats and bone meal in food you feed your dog.

Making your own dog food gives you the control to ensure your dog gets the nutrition in food that he/she needs to stay healthy. It is easy to make your own dog food. You can make sure to give your dog the balanced diet he/she needs. Most of the recipes for homemade dog foods can be made using common household items that you probably already have in your home. Make sure to avoid food items that are harmful to all pets such as onions, caffeine, chocolate, grapes and bones. All homemade dog food recipes are nutritious for your dog.

They are generally much better than any commercial dog food nutrition. You can even make nutritious dog foods in bulk and freeze them in individual serving size containers for later use. Most of the time, dogs can enjoy the same meals you make for you and your family, as long as they are considerate of the needs of dog food nutrition. Also, make sure that no allergy items are included if your dog is known to have allergies or intolerance to any food items.