Can Shih Tzus Eat Peanuts? This is a great source of added protein and fiber for your pup and a tablespoon on their dry food is a surefire way to get them to eat it! Make sure to choose an all-natural peanut butter that does not contain the ingredient xylitol as it can be dangerous for pets.

Your Shih Tzu can eat Peanuts or peanut butter as is it has lots of added protein and fiber but you must make sure it is natural peanut butter that doesn’t contain Xylitol. Xylitol is very dangerous and can kill your dog in as little time as sixty minutes, and here’s why.

Why is Xylitol Toxic To Dogs?

For both humans and your Shih Tzu blood sugar is controlled by your Pancreas which releases Insulin . In humans, Xylitol doesn’t stimulate the Pancreas into releasing insulin but it does in dogs.

When insulin is released into your dog’s bloodstream it will result in a rapid drop in blood sugar which is almost guaranteed to be fatal, in fact, it can be as quick as sixty minutes and if not treated will kill your dog.

How Much Xylitol is Poisonous To a Dog?

Make no mistake, even a small dose of Xylitol can be very dangerous for your dog. Hypoglycemia can occur with as little as 50MG per pound of body weight of Xylitol being ingested and as Shih Tzu dogs are small it won’t take a great deal to cause major problems.

Not a lot of people know but some sugar-free gums contain Xylitol and even though it is quite small it can be dangerous so if you enjoy sugar-free gum don’t leave it lying around for your dog to chew on.

The dose of xylitol that can cause hypoglycemia in the dog has been reported between 50 milligrams (mg) of xylitol per pound of body weight (100 mg per kg).

The higher the dose ingested, the more the risk of liver failure. The most common source of xylitol poisoning that Pet Poison Helpline* gets calls about comes from sugar-free gum.

Some brands of gum contain fairly small amounts of xylitol, and it would take up to 9 pieces of gum to result in severe hypoglycemia in a 45 pound (20 kg) dog, while 45 pieces would need to be ingested to result in liver failure.

With other common brands of gum which contain 1 g/piece of gum, only 2 pieces would result in severe hypoglycemia, while 10 pieces can result in liver failure.

As there is a large range of xylitol in each different brand and flavor of gum, it is important to identify whether a toxic amount has been ingested.

What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Something Containing Xylitol?

If you find or you suspect that your dog has ingested any product that contains Xylitol then it’s very important that you call your veterinarian right away, or the Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680) immediately.

What Not To Do?

Unless you have been instructed to do so by your veterinarian or Pet Poison hotline DO NOT induce vomiting or give your dog anything to make them sick.

You must take your dog to your vet immediately to get treatment, as your dog may already be hypoglycemic and making them throw up what they have eaten, could make them even worse.

Can My Shih Tzu Eat Yogurt? This is a difficult question to answer as there are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration.

A simple answer would be yes because Yogurt is a protein-rich food that can boost your dog’s digestive system, help with bone growth and can help with yeast infections.

But like a lot of foods make for humans they contain sweetener, which as we have previously explained can contain xylitol which can be lethal to dogs.

We would advise plain Yogurt rather than any flavored Yogurt’s that do not contain sweeteners for the best health of your dog. You may also need to consider if your dog is lactose intolerant, if so then avoid any products containing milk.