Food & Diet – Shiba Inu Care

This post contains affiliate links With so many different options for kibble, it’s hard finding the one that’s right for your Shiba, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Some Shiba Inus have sensitivities to common fillers such as corn and wheat along with food allergies to proteins like beef, chicken, and eggs. A great way to find the best dog food for your pet is by giving them an allergy test. Then filtering by their unique dietary restrictions. But that revolves around you ordering an at-home dog allergy test or getting one taken while at the vet. If you are looking for a quick and healthy recommendation, then keep reading. Common Ingredients To Avoid Shiba Inus have been known for having sensitive stomachs. It’s common for them to have food allergies to certain proteins like beef, chicken, or even pork. Most dogs actually have an intolerance to beef, chicken, or both so it’s best to avoid those if they haven’t taken an allergy test. If you would like to know more ingredients that are best to avoid, here’s a good list to start off with. Beef Chick Corn Corn syrup Food dyes Eggs Meat meal Pork Soy Vegetable oil Wheat A lot of dogs, including Shiba Inu, have a hard time digesting grains and complex carbs. Both of which are common fillers in kibble. If you want your pet to be as healthy with minimal inflammation it’s best to avoid foods with tons of fillers added to them. I have a more detailed post going into different foods and ingredients that are and aren’t safe for Shiba Inu. High-Quality Dog Foods For Shiba Inus After getting my puppy up-to-date on her shots at the vet I started asking about food. Training, grooming, and what to avoid feeding them I'm comfortable doing on my own, but when it comes to food or medicine I prefer to ask a professional. Over the course of a few visits, some research, and a phone call or two I was able to get the following recommendations from my vet. Nutro Natural Choice When asking my vet what I should transition my Shiba to as she was coming off puppy food they heavily recommended Nutro Natural Choice. After some research, I decided to go for the lamb option, since lamb allergies were less common than chicken, the other protein option. Nutro’s natural choice can be found in 5 lbs, 12 lbs, and 30 lbs options on amazon, here. Royal Canin It’s best to go for the medium adult dry dog food option, Royal does offer prescription-based meal options but that may not be for everyone. Royal Canin can be found in 6 lbs, 17 lbs, and 30 lbs options on amazon, here. Stella and Chewy's Stella has the option to go for grain-free or wholesome grains, but I recommend grain free. They also have red meat, prairie, and ocean-based protein combinations, of which all are fantastic. Stella and Chewys can be found in 1 lb, 3.5 lbs, and 21 lbs options on amazon, here. The Honest Kitchen The Honest Kitchen has the option to go for grain-free or wholesome grains, but I recommend grain free. They also have turkey, beef, and chicken, along with a combo beef & turkey option but with turkey being a less common sensitivity for dogs I recommend that option. The Honest Kitchen can be found in 1 lbs, 5 lbs, and 20 lbs options on amazon, here. Zignature Zignature has an astounding variety of proteins to pick from: lamb, kangaroo, catfish, duck, goat, guinea fowl, pork, salmon, turkey, venison, whitefish, zssential, along with a combo trout & salmon option. All of which avoids the common chicken and beef issues, so I recommend talking to your vet and potentially getting an allergy test taken since the options are so specific. Zignature can be found in 4 lbs, 12.5 lbs, and 25 lbs options on amazon, here. How To Keep Your Kibble Fresh Longer Unopened bags of kibble on their own have a rough maximum shelf life of 18 months. Which drops down dramatically to around 6 weeks when opened, assuming it’s in both a cool and dry environment. To get the most bang for your buck I recommend buying in bulk, aiming for bags over 20 lbs. While it’s a bit more upfront it saves you money in the long run because you can buy them less frequently. And the best way to capitalize on those bulk orders is with quality food storage. For that, I use an airtight plastic container. I simply pour in the new bag of kibble when it arrives, blend it together with the little bit that’s left over from my previous order, leave my scoop on top, and tuck it away till mealtime. Thanks to that container I’ve been able to order Faith’s food bi-monthly, saving me a few hundred dollars each year. The one I have is older but there’s a newer one with clear sides so you can see how much food is left before you order more, which you can find here on amazon. Summary One of the biggest issues elderly pets run into is inflammation, inflammation that’s usually caused by sensitivities or even food allergies from one or multiple ingredients in their food. Take that extra step while your Shiba is young by investing in an allergy test. They line out the foods your unique dog is and isn’t sensitive to, giving you a better idea of what ingredients to avoid when picking your dog’s food. Not only that, but you can save a bit of money by buying that new food in bulk and storing it in a safe airtight container so it stays fresher for longer. Frequently Asked Questions Why Is My Shiba Inu A Picky Eater? Due to their stubborn nature, it is common for Shiba Inus to develop picky eating habits. There are several potential causes of picky eating and each one requires its own specific solution. Most owners make the situation worse by drastically changing their pet’s diet or feeding schedule. How Often Should I Feed My Shiba Inu? Shiba Inu puppies less than 12 weeks old should be fed four small meals a day. Puppies between 3 and 8 months do best on three meals per day. And it's best to feed Shiba Inus that are 8 months or older just twice a day. What Should I Do If My Shiba is Overweight? The three common causes of Shiba obesity. Poor quality food drives dogs to overeat in hopes of getting the nutrition their body is craving. Shiba Inus are a high-energy breed that needs at least 1 hour of exercise per day to stay happy and healthy. The best meal plan for adult Shiba Inu is 2 Meals totaling just over 1 cup of kibble per day. What Is The Best Way To Store Dry Dog Food? Dry dog food, kibble, is best stored in a container with an airtight lid. These types of long-term kibble storage are often made of plastic, can hold a large bag of food or two, and usually have the option to add wheels. There's an IRIS dog food container that's commonly on Amazon I highly recommend.