Hi...and welcome to YT. I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Shih Tzu. I know how they become so dear to your heart. You already know that you walked with blinders on into a 'gotcha' situation, and, again, I am sorry to hear that you were taken advantage of like that. I hope that works out for you.
However, the Yorkies could become, with patient loving care and training, some of the best and most devoted pets...as is their nature...but, again, how you decide to handle the situation is for you to decide based on your own circumstances.
A belly band for the boy will definitely help but you realize that, not only was he established in a completely 'dog' mentality by lack of human socialization and 'manners/potty' training, you had a previous dog in the space he now occupies...which is now "his" new "territory" which may account for his "need" to mark...and his senses are keen. You might want to consider a gentle cleaning with vinegar and water 50/50 solution of surfaces your Shih Tzu might have touched/walked on/rubbed against that might be scent-marked and is within the reach of the male Yorkie.
Also, I, too , and unfamiliar with Cesar dry food...have never seen or heard of it, but I have read the label on the wet food...which, for one thing, has sodium nitrite...to preserve color...???...do dogs care what color their food is? Anyway, sodium nitrite alone is a carcinogenic chemical added in human food, too, typically, in bacon, hot dogs, ham, luncheon meats, corned beef, etc., to preserve color...to keep ham and corned beef 'pink' and it is an ingredient I avoid. Other ingredients I avoid are emphasized in bold below for just one wet Cesar product...others are questionable, and note that the first ingredient...the largest proportional ingredient...which is listed first:
"t-bone steak flavor in meaty juices - Ingredients:
sufficient water for processing, beef by-products, meat by-products, liver, beef, chicken, chicken by-products,
added color, calcium carbonate,
natural flavors,
sodium tripolyphosphate,
carrageenan, dried yam,
xanthan gum, potassium chloride, salt,
erythorbic acid,
t-bone steak flavor,
guar gum, zinc sulfate,
sodium nitrite (for color retention), vitamin A, D3, and E supplements, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1)."
From the
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) about sodium nitrite:
"Section 3: Hazards Identification
"
Potential Acute Health Effects:
Very hazardous in case of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant).
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (permeator). Prolonged exposure may result in skin burns and ulcerations. Overexposure
by inhalation may cause respiratory irritation. Severe over-exposure can result in death. Inflammation of the eye is
characterized by redness, watering, and itching.
"
Potential Acute Health Effects:
Very hazardous in case of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant).
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (permeator). Prolonged exposure may result in skin burns and ulcerations. Overexposure
by inhalation may cause respiratory irritation. Severe over-exposure can result in death. Inflammation of the eye is
characterized by redness, watering, and itching."
Did you know...You can mix charcoal and sodium nitrite and light it with a match, and watch the pretty which flash as it ignites...like gunpowder without the sulfur?
Below is a link to help explain chemical additives in "food" since I have led you down this road a few steps
:
Food Additives ~ CSPI’s Food Safety
I hope none of this is offensive to anyone...if so, I apologize...but...I didn't actually
invent any of it...I just read...a lot!
