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The Chihuahua is already a unique dog and so is their nutritional needs. Often times once someone brings home their first Chihuahua, they resort to reading a general puppy guide or book for guidance on how to feed their new addition. Unfortunately, these types of guide are just that - General. The nutritional needs of a Cocker Spaniel or Labrador are very different for those of a Chihuahua. Breed specific feeding information is a necessity!
Also, relying on the feeding information printed directly on the bag of commercial dog food that you purchase is not necessarily the best for your Chihuahua. They are in the business of selling dog food. Following their directions will often times create an overweight Chihuahua issue.
What to Feed Your Chihuahua
Commercial Dog Food
Ideally, if you choose to go the commercial dog food route, you should feed your Chihuahua dry, premium dog food. Be sure to check the ingredient for extra fillers. These fillers are what make the difference between standard foods and premium foods. The less expensive the 5 pound bag of dog food, the more fillers it has - The more expensive the 5 pound bag of dog food is, the more meat it contains.
These fillers are actually ingredients which have zero nutritional value and simply bulk up the dog food to make it appear as if there is more in the bag - and more in your Chihuahua's belly! These fillers also pass right through your Chihuahua rather quickly which can lead to nutritional deficiency as well as behavioral issues like eating grass or eating feces.
Recommended commercial dog foods include Royal Canin Puppy 33 for your puppies and Royal Canin Small Breed once they have reach one year of age. Another premium dry dog food with a high protein content is Natural Balance Small Bites.
Moist Dog Food
Chihuahuas have the tendency to love moist food and once they have had a taste, switching them to a healthier dry version will not be easy. Chihuahuas can be finicky and getting them onto a diet that makes you both happy can be a timely process. Canned foods are not healthy for Chihuahuas. If you currently feed your Chihuahua canned or moist food, it is suggested that you make a change. If you wish to treat them with a moist delicacy, try soaking their dry food in a tab bit of warm water once a week. They won't know what their missing but still feel your love!
Going The Home Cooked Route
If it is at all possible, home cooking your Chihuahua's meals the best alternative. This give you ultimate control over what goes into your dog's body (Need we mentioned the multitude of dog food recalls?). Giving your Chihuahua an appropriate and healthy diet will help you give your best friend a long and happy life!
Home cooked dog food does NOT mean scraps from the table or a portion of the meal that you and your family just ate. If you are going to go to the extreme of cooking for your dog, you need to make it healthy for them. Home cooked dog food must be prepared properly and with the appropriate ingredient:
| Type of Ingredient |
Example of Ingredient |
Amount per Meal/Recipe |
| Organs |
liver, kidney, brain |
40% |
| or Meat |
chicken breast, fish, lean hamburger |
40% |
| Vegetable |
zucchini, broccoli, baby carrots, potatoes |
30% |
| Starch |
white rice, brown rice, pasta |
30% |
Feeding A Chihuahua Puppy
Due to their tiny size, a Chihuahua puppy should be free-fed until it is 3 months old or over 2 pounds, which ever comes first. When a puppy of such a small size goes too long without food, their chances for experiencing a hypoglycemic episode increases immensely. Young Chihuahua puppies need to be able to maintain their sugar levels and this can only be done with free-feeding.
Chihuahua Feeding Schedule and Amounts
| Age |
Number of Meals |
Amount of Food |
3 months to 6 months
(if they weigh 2 lbs) |
3-4 scheduled meals |
1 ounce of dry, premium dog food per pound of body weight disbursed between all meals. |
| 6 months to 12 months |
2-3 scheduled meals |
1 ounce of dry, premium dog food per pound of body weight disbursed between all meals. |
| 1 year and older |
2 meals (morning and night) or 1 meal at dinner |
1/2 ounce of dry dog food per pound of body weight every day |
Dog Treats
The word treat says it all! It wouldn't be appealing if it was good for you. Since it is rather difficult to shed those extra ounces (and sometimes pounds) off of a Chihuahua, commercial dog treats should only be given in small amounts. A healthy alternative is baby carrots! Chihuahuas love them and they also are a healthy way to help clean their teeth!
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