What to Feed Your Tibetan Spaniel

Feed me!In their native land, the Tibetan Spaniel had the same diet as the Tibetan people. They ate tsampa (ground barley), meat (generally sheep and yak) yogurt and tea. The tea is made from tea leaves, yak butter (rancid) and salt.

Tibetan Spaniels, as all domestic dogs, descended from wolves and are classified in the order Carnivora. But the domestic dog is an omnivore who does not depend on meat-specific protein nor does he need a very high level of protein in order to fulfill his basic dietary requirements. Tibbies can digest a variety of foods, including vegetables and grains.

Most people feed a commercially prepared dry and/or canned dog food. We've never fed our Tibbies a raw diet but many do with success. Please be sure to do your research.

It has been our experience with our own Tibbies that a protein level of 23%-25% is good. We do not feed the grains corn, soy or wheat if possible. We do not feed chemically preserved food. What we look for is a well-balanced, meat based food with vegetables and grains. We supplement with Nu-Vet vitamins to be sure they are getting everything they need.

Our Tibbies love chicken. We have had some individuals prone to yeast infections in ears, itchy skin, licking/chewing their feet, general allergy symptoms. Chicken and lamb are "hot" meats which can cause the problems some of our dogs were having. We switched to a potato/duck food that totally stopped the yeast infections and itching. Duck, and fish are both “cool” foods so they tend to cause fewer allergy issues. All of our Tibbies have had itching problems with lamb.

Completely fullIf your Tibbie is on the hefty side, you can put him/her on the famous "green bean" diet. Feed them canned cut green beans with no salt added as a "filler" to their regular food. They love them right out of the can! There is no set amount to feed so you'll have to experiment. It's just something to help your chow hound feel more satisfied.

Let your dog tell you if you're feeding him the right food. He will readily eat it, have bright, clear eyes, energy, and a healthy shine to his coat.

 

Further reading