Chihuahua Feeding Guidelines

Outwardly, miniature Chihuahuas, which, due to their modest dimensions, are considered the smallest dogs in the world, give the impression of fragile creatures. But with proper care, these animals are able to live to a respectable age, while maintaining excellent health up to 15-20 years. But only if the selection of the correct diet for the Chihuahua is taken with full responsibility. So, let’s try to figure out what products are needed for dogs of this dwarf breed, and what should not be fed to a Chihuahua.

The Best Way to Feed a Chihuahua at Home

Feeding a Chihuahua involves the inclusion of proteins, fats, vitamins, carbohydrates, and minerals in the diet. If desired, the owner can feed the Chihuahua at home:

• High-quality ready-made food containing all the necessary ingredients a dog needs.
• Natural food, consisting mostly of meat, dairy products, cereals, and vegetables.

Pros of Feeding the Chihuahua with Ready-made Food:

• Saving time. Actually, he opened the pack or box with food, and the dog is full. No need to waste time cooking;
• The ready-made feed is easy to take on the road. They take up little space in the bag, but you don’t travel much with pots and bowls with homemade food;
• Good food contains all the nutrients your dog needs. That is, the owner will not have to spend money on the purchase of vitamin preparations;
• Super-premium food can be selected taking into account the characteristics of the dog’s health. If, for example, a Chihuahua has digestive problems, you can choose special dietary food;
• Dry food perfectly relieves the chihuahua baby from tartar and plaque. But many dogs of this breed have dental problems.

Pros of Feeding Chihuahuas with Natural Food:

• Opportunity to choose the freshest and highest quality products for your pet;
• The natural menu can be quite varied;
• Food prepared by a caring owner certainly does not contain harmful ingredients (preservatives, dyes). While some premium feeds have such components.

Based on their financial capabilities and level of employment, the owner must immediately decide how and what to feed the Chihuahua: self-made food or store food. You cannot mix the one and the other, because this will be a serious burden for digestion. And what kind of food to feed the Chihuahua is a master’s business. The main thing is not to harm.

Features of Natural Feeding Chihuahua

If it is decided to feed the Chihuahua at home with dishes prepared by yourself, you should include the following products in the pet’s menu:

• Lean meat is the main source of protein, the main food for the Chihuahua. It should account for about 60% of the total amount of food eaten by the dog. At the same time, the best meat for a Chihuahua is veal, beef, turkey, chicken in boiled and well-chopped form. It is not worth giving raw meat to the dog, because it can contain dangerous parasites;
• Cereals. They should not be abused, but the dog’s menu should contain about 15% of cereals cooked in meat broth or water. Buckwheat, oatmeal, millet are sources of carbohydrates that make pets energetic;
• Vegetables (and fruits) are a vitamin base for Chihuahua’s health. The share of plant components can fluctuate within 15%. Vegetables (carrots, pumpkin, zucchini) are thoroughly washed and chopped before serving to the dog. If desired, they can be pre-cooked or baked. The fruits are also washed, peeled, and chopped. Dogs can be given apples, pears, watermelons;
• Fermented milk products are also a protein that is necessary for the proper development of cells and tissues of the body. In addition, milk products strengthen bones, and this is important for Chihuahuas who do not have the strongest skeleton. The share of these products should be 10%. For Chihuahuas, low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, yogurt are suitable;
• Vegetable oils are a source of fats necessary for transporting nutrients, assimilating vitamins, and energy. Of course, chihuahua does not need to give a lot of sunflower or olive oil, because there are fats in meat. But it is possible and necessary to season dishes with oil a little: it contains a lot of vitamins and useful elements.

In addition to the listed products, the Chihuahua’s diet should also contain boiled sea fish, devoid of bones. It contains a lot of protein, vitamins A, D, B. But often you should not give fish, because kidney problems may develop. Once a week is enough.

For a good coat condition, feeding with natural food may include eggs, but boiled. Raw eggs threaten salmonellosis. Parting with eggs is also not worth it, otherwise, the Chihuahua may have problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Boiled eggs are needed no more than 1-2 times a week.

Sometimes meat is replaced by offal – tripe, udder, abomasum, liver. But their consumption often causes diarrhea and vomiting in dogs. Therefore, it is better to give giblets to dogs no more than 2 times a week.

What Can Not be Fed Chihuahua

Now let’s list the foods that should not be in the Chihuahua diet:

• Pickles and smoked, spicy foods – carry a load on the liver and kidneys, increase blood pressure;
• Fatty meat (pork) is fraught with obesity. And raw meat is also a source of harmful microorganisms;
• Bones – Chihuahua’s digestive organs are not designed to digest sharp bones. In some cases, not far from the tragedy;
• Sweets – threaten to gain excess weight, problems with stool, damage to teeth;
• Milk – This product usually causes diarrhea in adult Chihuahuas;
• Flour – gives the intestines completely unnecessary fermentation;
• Nuts are harmful to bones and bladder;
• Beans – cause prolonged bloating and gas;
• Mushrooms – hard on the liver, can cause dog poisoning;
• Some berries and fruits (strawberries, currants, raspberries, melons, etc.) – often cause allergies, from which dogs can have diarrhea.

And of course, Chihuahuas do not need products that are invented for their owners. Agree, it’s silly to expect that the doggie will benefit from alcohol, soda, chocolate, fast food, and snacks.

Features of Feeding the Chihuahua with Ready-made Feed

So, feeding a Chihuahua properly with natural food is not easy. You will need to choose certain foods (for example, you cannot give the Chihuahua some types of meat), stand at the stove, and count the number of nutrients. Then you can choose ready-made feeds as an alternative to natural food. Let’s take a look at what “best food for chihuahua” means. So, in order not to harm your small pet, you need to consider the following:

• For Chihuahuas, a wet or dry food marked “for small (or dwarf) breeds” is suitable. Food for large dogs has a higher calorie content than the Chihuahua needs;
• Wet and dry food for Chihuahua dogs must be of extra premium or premium quality. Unfortunately, cheap economy feed does not have anything particularly good in its composition. They contain soy, vegetables of dubious quality, a minimum of meat, meat waste, flavor enhancers, dyes. And good food contains meat, cereals, vegetables, herbs, eggs, that is, those products that Chihuahuas require;
• Most good foods are categorized as toddlers, adults, and older Chihuahuas. The chihuahua crumbs have one need for vitamins and useful components, and the elderly Chihuahua has a completely different one;
• Chihuahua food should be purchased based on the characteristics of the dog.

In addition to dry food for Chihuahuas, you can buy good quality wet food. They can be alternated with dry products, but you should not combine feed in one bowl. The disadvantage of canned food is its quick spoilage after opening. Whereas dry food is stored for a long time.

When, How Much, and How Often to Feed a Chihuahua

• An adult Chihuahua is traditionally fed twice a day. The portion of food that the doggie should eat per day is approximately 150-250 grams. How many times a day to feed a Chihuahua and how much can a veterinarian find out, based on the weight and age of the animal, its level of activity.
• If we are talking about a Chihuahua puppy, then the situation changes a little (you can ask your veterinarian how to feed a Chihuahua puppy if it is difficult to come up with a menu yourself):
• Up to 1 month, the baby drinks mother’s milk (or milk replacer);
• After 1 month, a little mashed meat or soaked dry food is introduced into the Chihuahua’s diet;
• A Chihuahua puppy at 2 months is usually transferred to “adult” food – natural food or purchased food, taking into account age characteristics (food is crushed, allergenic products are excluded, do not overload the baby with food).
• Once a day, you can feed a Chihuahua puppy at such an early age with milk, if it has not been separated from its parent. From 2 to 4 months, dogs of this breed are fed 6 times a day;
• From 4 months to 6 months, the Chihuahua needs 4 meals a day;
• From 6 to 12 dogs are fed three times a day;
• One-year-old Chihuahuas are fed twice.

It is important that the feeding of Chihuahua puppies is balanced, complete, and of high quality. Saving on natural food products or buying cheap feed can lead to an animal growing up weak and unhealthy. For example, feeding a Chihuahua puppy at 3 months old with economy food is simply depriving the pet of good development. You should not get carried away with meat alone, because the animal needs a variety of foods.