Answer: In my experience, dogs and corned beef do not get along well. So the answer is a big NO. Corned beef is not good for Shih Tzu. Shih Tzu is a special breed of dog which originated in Tibet. Believe me, they are adorable and wonderful to have around.
Being dogs, Shih Tzu should never be fed corned beef. This is because of the components of corned beef and the adverse health effects of these components on Shih Tzu. The most detrimental component of corned beef is salt. Salt causes sodium poisoning in dogs. In addition, in a hypertensive Shih Tzu, ingestion of corned beef can grossly aggravate the condition and this could prove very detrimental to the health of the Shih Tzu.
What is Shih Tzu?
The Shih Tzu is a beautiful breed of “toy” dog which originated in Tibet. Their name comes from the Chinese word for “Little Lion”. Due to their beauty and peaceful nature, the Shih Tzu is a prized possession of the Chinese Royals.
MUST READ: Why Do Dogs Drool When They See Food?
The Shih Tzu is notable for its enormous round eyes and short nose, as well as its floppy ears, short and heavy stance and consistently developing coat. Albeit little in size, they are notable for their generally fun and perky character and quiet and amicable disposition. The Shih Tzu has an average lifespan of about 13 years; this could be anywhere from 10 to 16 years. In terms of height, the Shih Tzu has a height of about 8 to 11 inches. It however weighs about 9 to 16 pounds.
Guess you can now see why they are so lovable. Personally, I’m an ardent lover of Shih Tzu.
What is Corned Beef composed of?
Corned beef (also known as salt beef) is beef that has been infused with salt. Corned beef is produced by treating beef with a large amount of rock salt. Sometimes, some sugars and spices are added to give the corned beef a refreshing and sweet taste.
Nitrites are essential preservatives in corned beef. Their major role is in limiting the risk of Botulism. When Nitrites are present, the corned beef has a pink color.
As a result of its delicious taste, corned beef is an important component of several cuisines worldwide. However, whatever has an advantage has a disadvantage.
Can I feed my Shih Tzu with Corned Beef?
No, no, and no. Not unless you want to see your beloved Shih in pain and vomiting. I once saw a Shih that had ingested some leftover corned beef from his owner’s plate. The result was catastrophic. This beautiful creature initially showed symptoms of incessant thirst. With time this turned into a bout of vomiting and continuous diarrhea thus messing up the environment. These were all the effects of an upset stomach that was engendered by feeding the Shih Tzu with corned beef. Since that incident, my advice to everyone considering feeding their Shih Tzu with corned beef has been to avoid corned beef at all costs.
Why Should I not feed my Shih Tzu with Corned Beef?
Imagine feeding a human with food laced with excessive salt content; the medics say that this causes thirst, brain damage, coma, hypertension, and even muscle spasms. The issue with feeding Shih Tzu with corned beef is that being dogs, they require only an extremely minute amount of salt (about 100 mg per day in contrast to man’s requirement of about 2300 mg per day!!!).
Corned Beef isn’t really great for Shih Tzu since it likewise contains flavors, added substances, and certain ingredients that are poisonous to them. These ingredients include garlic powder and onion
What corned beef is truly composed of is mainly excessive salt, and this doesn’t agree with Shih Tzu. There is a continuous covering of Corned beef with rock salt from the beginning to the very end of its production. Thus, salt enters into each square inch of the meat over the long haul.
In addition, most corned beef products are preserved using a sodium nitrite preservative. This also ultimately contributes to the increased sodium content of the corned beef thereby resulting in salt poisoning.
In summary, the main health manifestations that I have seen occur from feeding Shih Tzu with corned beef include:
- Vomiting incessantly
- Exorbitant Thirst
- Stomach Upset
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Generalized weakness
What then Should I feed my Shih Tzu with?
Every dog likes the smell and taste of meat. So, if you are an ardent lover of meat, you can try some foods which I have found to be acceptable to Shih Tzu; they are mainly protein from animals such as chicken and turkey. Eggs are also a good source of lean protein for them. Other good sources of food for Shih Tzu include Sweet potatoes, Green beans, Blueberries, raspberries, and whole yogurts.
It is important to note that the meat should neither be undercooked nor overcooked; it should be thoroughly prepared. Most importantly, bacon should be avoided at all costs.
What Should I do if I find out that my Shih Tzu ate some corned beef?
One can never be too careful and as a result of the alluring smell and delicious taste of corned beef, Shih Tzu may be attracted and hence consume the food.
MUST READ: Dog Ate Algae Wafer Fish Food [Is this bad]
Upon suspicion of consumption of corned beef by your Shih Tzu, the best course of action is to immediately contact your Vet for advice and assistance. In the meantime, provide the best support possible to the Shih Tzu during its period of experiencing discomfort from vomiting or diarrhea.
Conclusion
As a Shih Tzu lover, it is best to avoid feeding Shih Tzu with corned beef. A few bites every now and then wouldn’t hurt but be careful not to introduce an addiction to corned beef to your Shih Tzu as this could introduce a whole other host of issues.
Above all, never feed your Shih Tzu with a large amount of corned beef. Trust me when I say that no good can come out of it.