Shih-Poo feeding guide
Complete nutrition guide with personalized feeding calculator, portion recommendations, and diet advice.
How much should a Shih-Poo eat?
Breed research puts an adult Shih-Poo at 280 to 520 kcal a day.
Calculated based on standard adult resting energy requirements (RER) multiplied by 1.2 to 1.4 for neutered, moderately active companion dogs between 4 and 8 kg
Meals per day: puppy 3-4 · adult 2
For your own dog
At 6 kg your dog needs about 429 to 483 kcal: roughly 120 to 135 g of dry food.
Starting weight: the breed's average adult weight.
Calculated from resting energy (70 x weight^0.75) times an activity factor, and dry food at about 360 kcal per 100 g. Check the label of your food and adjust to your dog's body condition.
Per life stage
Spread over 3 to 4 meals.
Puppy food until about 10 months.
Adult phase: 1.5 to 10 years.
From about 10 years: fewer calories, same protein.
Puppy amounts assume about half the adult weight before 4 months and about 80% after.
Feeding a Shih-Poo puppy
Feed an energy-dense, small-breed puppy kibble with mini-sized discs to accommodate tiny jaws. Toy-sized Shih Poo puppies (under 2.5 kg) are vulnerable to transient hypoglycemia and require 3 to 4 scheduled feedings daily until 6 months of age. Transition to adult formulation occurs between 10 and 12 months.
Keeping a Shih-Poo at a healthy weight
Extremely high propensity for post-neutering weight gain. Because total daily caloric allotment is small, even minor overfeeding causes rapid adipose deposition. Assess body condition score (BCS) bi-weekly: ribs must be easily palpable under coat without pressing, and an abdominal tuck must be visible when viewed from above.
Known food sensitivities: Chicken and poultry meal proteins, Wheat and corn gluten fillers, Artificial colorants and flavorings (frequently linked to facial tear staining exacerbation)
Select kibbles with cross-shaped or concave geometries engineered specifically for brachycephalic/toy dentition to promote mechanical tooth cleansing and prevent choking.
What to watch with a Shih-Poo
- Shih-Poos put on weight easily. Weigh food instead of scooping, and count training treats.
- Bloat (GDV) risk is none: give smaller meals and no hard exercise right after eating.
- Sensitive stomach: change food gradually over a week.
- Prone to skin allergies, which are often food-related.