Best Food for Shiba Inus: What to Look For

What a Shiba Inu's diet has to support

The AKC lists the Shiba Inu at about 23 lb for males and 17 lb for females, with a life expectancy of 13 to 16 years. Shibas are small to medium, sturdy, agile dogs, originally bred for hunting in rough terrain, and they keep a fit, athletic outline when fed correctly. A healthy Shiba should have a clear waist and ribs you can feel under its thick double coat.

That dense coat hides weight gain, so check by feel rather than looks. Because Shibas are long-lived, keeping them lean pays off over many years in comfort and mobility. Nothing about the breed requires an unusual diet, just a complete one fed in the right amount. For everyday gear, see our toys for Shiba Inus and harnesses for Shiba Inus.

How to judge any dog food label

The WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee suggests ignoring unregulated marketing words such as holistic or premium and reading the nutritional adequacy statement. It should say the food is complete and balanced for a life stage, based on AAFCO feeding trials or AAFCO nutrient profiles. Foods for intermittent or supplemental feeding should stay a small part of the diet.

WSAVA also recommends asking whether the maker employs a qualified nutritionist, who formulates its recipes and how it controls quality. Those answers are a better guide than the ingredient list. Check calories per cup too, because two foods that look similar can differ widely in energy.

Feeding a Shiba puppy

Choose a food labeled complete and balanced for growth, and feed several small, measured meals a day while the puppy is young. The AKC notes that most commercial foods are designed around medium dogs, and that owners of puppies nearer the smaller end should feed more frequently, so a Shiba puppy's meals are best kept small and regular.

Keep the puppy lean, avoid supplements unless your vet prescribes them, and introduce any new food gradually. Ask your vet at checkups whether weight is on track and when to move to adult food, which for a Shiba is usually around its first birthday.

Picky eaters and portion control

Shibas have a reputation for being independent and sometimes fussy about food. Resist the urge to keep switching brands or topping meals with human food, which tends to teach a dog to hold out for something better. Offer measured meals at set times, pick up uneaten food after about 20 minutes, and keep treats small, perhaps carried in a treat pouch.

Weigh your Shiba every month or two and adjust portions gradually. If your dog suddenly refuses food for more than a day, loses weight, or has vomiting or diarrhea, call your vet rather than changing food, because appetite changes can be the first sign of illness.

Skin, coat and food types

Owners sometimes look to diet when a Shiba has itchy skin or a dull coat. A complete and balanced diet supplies what a healthy coat needs, and regular brushing with a deshedding tool during the heavy seasonal sheds matters at least as much. Dry, wet and fresh commercial foods can all be complete and balanced. Grain-free diets are not necessary for most dogs; ask your vet first.

Persistent itching, paw licking, ear problems or loose stools are reasons for a vet visit before another food change. A vet-guided elimination trial is the reliable way to find a food intolerance, and many itchy dogs have environmental allergies instead.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.