Chihuahua Feeding Guide (Everything You Should Know)

Hello, pet parents! Welcome to my ultimate guide to feeding a Chihuahua.

In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a Chihuahua, how often to feed your Chihuahua; when to feed your Chihuahua, what foods to feed your Chihuahua, what foods to avoid feeding your Chihuahua; and other questions you may have about your Chihuahua’s nutrition.

You can read the article to the end, or go through the table of contents below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.

Chihuahuas are one the smallest dog breeds in the world. They tend to have big personalities, which you would not expect from a small sized dog. They also need to participate in some dog sports and require 25 to 30 minutes max of exercise daily to remain in good form.

I have created this ultimate guide to feeding your Chihuahuas to curious and new pet parents to solve your dog’s nutrition problem. I will go into details from my knowledge working for a vet on every feed question you might have.

Let’s jump into the article.

Chihuahua Nutritional Requirements

Chihuahuas are small size dogs that require the proper nutrients in their specific amount to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog.

Your Chihuahua’s meal should majorly consist of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins to meet their nutritional requirements for a healthy lifestyle

Your Chihuahuas feed should contain adequate proteins for growth as puppies and a healthy amount of vitamins and minerals for a healthy immune system and bones. Their source of protein should come from animal sources like fish, chicken, turkey, lamb, and organ meat. Their source of fat should be Fish oil or any healthy vegetable oil.

Nutritional Requirement for a Chihuahuas Puppy

The diet of a Chihuahuas puppy and adolescent should consist of 30-35% protein, 8% fat, and 6% fiber. Puppies have a faster metabolism and need as many nutrients to grow muscles and strong bones; this is the growing phase of your dog and they will be fed more times than in other stages.

Nutritional Requirement for an Adult Chihuahua

The meal plan for mature and adult Chihuahuas should consist of 25-30% protein, carbohydrate, 5% fat, and fiber. At this stage, Chihuahuas are agile and expend the most energy, so it’s important they get some energy-giving (carbohydrate) food in their diet. Your Chihuahua should not be overfed at this stage to avoid health problems that can stem from weight problems because small dogs like the Chihuahua tend to possess a fast metabolism. 

Nutritional Requirement For Senior Chihuahua

Your Chihuahua is less active at this stage than at other stages. A senior Chihuahua’s food at this stage of life should ideally consist of 30–35% protein, 8% fat, and fiber. Senior Chihuahuas will need minerals and vitamins added to their food to keep their immune system and bones healthy.

Factors Affecting The Feeding of a Chihuahua

Some factors will affect the diet of your Chihuahuas such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.

Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.

Size consideration

The average length of a Chihuahua is 9.5 to 15 inches (24–38 cm) from the sole of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of a Chihuahua is 1-3 kg (2–7 pounds).

Both males and females are the same size. So, they will require the same number of calories to meet their nutritional requirements for optimum growth.

Age consideration

Brittany puppies will require more calories during their growing stage due to their high metabolic rate. They need to be fed a lot if you want them to grow into strong, healthy dogs.

Adult Chihuahuas should not be fed more often than puppy Chihuahuas. Adult Chihuahuas have a slow metabolism that can lead to stomach bloating and indigestion if they’re fed excessively.

Your Chihuahua will be less active as an adult and will require fewer calories. Doing otherwise might lead to obesity and other serious health problems. 

Activity Level

Athletes are required to maintain a strict diet compared to non-athletes, so you should also keep your Chihuahua away from certain foods if you want to maintain its athletic abilities.

You wouldn’t want to feed your pet food high in fat and sodium, like cheap fast food, which would make him sluggish and lethargic.

These fast foods don’t contain the nutrients that would make your Chihuahua perform to the best of their abilities and make them slow to learn new tricks or obey your commands.

Health Consideration

Chihuahuas are prone to certain health conditions, which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues.

Some health issues that affect your dog breed include: luxating patella, hypoglycemia, tracheal collapse, tooth and gum disease, hydrocephalus, spinal injuries, bladder and kidney stones, scleroses, reverse sneezing, and obesity.

These health problems could be avoided or mitigated by eating or avoiding certain foods from the start, rather than treating them as they arise.

It might be tempting to cut corners and go for the cheapest food. But engaging in such an act in the long run could lead to pain, seeing your Chihuahua sick, frequent visits to the vet, and thousands of dollars in expenses.

Chihuahua Feeding Amount

Your Chihuahuas, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to their stage of development. The amount of food a puppy will need will be different than the amount of food an adult will need according to their nutritional requirement.

On average, feed your puppy Chihuahuas 0.25 to 0.5 cups of food that has 105 to 140 kcal per day; feed your adult Chihuahuas 0.5 to 1.33 cups per day that has 200 to 240 kcal per day, according to their activity level; and feed your senior Chihuahuas 0.5 to 1 cup per day that has 200 kcal per day.

I will provide you with charts below to help you plan your dog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.

How Much Should You Feed Your Chihuahua Puppy?

For your puppy and adolescent to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat.

A Chihuahua puppy should be given 0.25 to 0.5 cups of food per day that contains 105–140 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The feeding requirement of your puppy is given in detail in the charts below:

Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications.

 How Much Should You Feed Your Adult Chihuahua?

The nutritional requirements in the meal of an adult Chihuahua are different from those of a puppy. The food of a mature Chihuahua should have a lower percentage of proteins and fats to prevent obesity. This is done by reducing the feeding frequency to two times per day.

An adult Chihuahua puppy should be given 0.5 to 1.33 cups of food per day that contains 200 to 240 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of adult Chihuahuas and help you with their meal plan.

How Much Should You Feed Your Senior Chihuahua?

Senior Chihuahuas are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain lesser quantities of calories, protein, and fat.

Geriatric Chihuahuas are often plagued with health issues, which can be controlled by feeding your dog more vitamins and minerals to help revive their weak immune systems and fragile bones.

Senior and geriatric Chihuahua puppies should be given 0.5–1 cup of food per day that contains 0.5–1 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.

The table below gives you some details about the meal plan for older Chihuahuas.

However, you must still ensure that they get the essential nutrients they need.

You can continue giving your senior Chihuahua the same food you gave them as adults, only in  smaller quantities as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.

Chihuahua Feeding Frequency

Your Chihuahua’s meal frequency will vary the same as the feeding amounts, which are majorly dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your Chihuahuas:

How Often Should You Feed Your Chihuahua Puppy?

•         During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.

•         8 weeks to 3 months old: feed them four to six times daily with snacks at equally spaced intervals.

•         4 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them three to four times daily with equally spaced time intervals

How Often Should You Feed Your Adult Chihuahua?

You should feed your adult Chihuahuas three to four times daily with snacks. Chihuahuas have a fast metabolism, coupled with their energetic nature, and will burn through calories. If they are not fed an adequate amount, they can develop hypoglycemia and collapse.

How Often Should You Feed Your Senior Chihuahua?

You should feed your senior Chihuahuas three and four times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.

Chihuahua Feeding Schedule

• Chihuahua puppies should be free-fed or fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues.

•         Adolescent Chihuahuas should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into an adult.

•         Adult and Senior Chihuahuas should also be fed in the morning, Afternoon, and evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.

As a general rule, you should feed your Chihuahuas a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.

In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Sugary treats can become a problem for your Chihuahua, as they are susceptible to tooth and gum diseases.

The Kind of Food to Feed Your Chihuahua

The food you feed your Chihuahuas should specifically cater to small breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.

The kind of food to feed your Chihuahuas includes dry dog food, wet dog food, a home-cooked diet, and biologically appropriate raw food to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.

Let me touch on these few points to help you understand what to feed your dog:

• Dry Dog Food: Dry dog food, or kibble, is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry dog food contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein, and is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.
• Wet Dog Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often more protein. They are recommended by veterinarians due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.
• Home-Cooked Diet:    Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food and want to go the extra length to prepare a meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal gives you control over its nutrition and can put your mind at ease knowing that you are always providing the best care for your dog.
• BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a diet that includes raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.

The Kind of Food To Avoid Feeding Your Chihuahua

You should take caution when giving whatever food you’re eating to your Chihuahua. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.

There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your Chihuahua because they contain toxins that are harmful to your pet and could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.

Human food to avoid feeding your Chihuahuas includes chocolates, coffee, gums, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.

The fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your Chihuahuas include grapes, avocado, garlic, onions, etc.

You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.

When To Transition Your Chihuahuas From Puppy Food To Adult Food

You should transition your Chihuahua’s puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 10–12 months old.

Transitioning your adolescent Chihuahuas from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at that stage of life.

Transitioning needs to be gradual by introducing adult feed bit by bit until you get to 100% adult feed.

However, feeding your adult puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth.

For your reference, you will find the typical regimen for food transition as recommended by the AKC in the table below:

Why Your Chihuahua Is Not Eating

Your Chihuahua will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:

Illness, dental problems, teething, medication, separation anxiety, time of day, spoiled food, stress, and picky eaters

Chihuahuas can be picky eaters, but one of their main issues with not eating is tooth problems. Some Chihuahuas are known to never grow adult teeth but keep their baby teeth. Excessive treat feeding in your Chihuahua can also lead to dental decay. However, always consult your veterinarian.

Why Your Chihuahua Is Always Hungry

Chihuahuas are high-energy breeds with a faster metabolism. Your pet’s body burns energy very quickly and needs to be replenished by eating more food.

You can take measures to train your dog with a food schedule and adequate exercise, but you should avoid free-feeding adult dogs as this can lead to obesity, which will certainly cause health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions on Feeding a Chihuahua

Final Thoughts

Chihuahuas make cute pets that are sure to make any family happy. While they are too small for security dogs, they do not get in a Chihuahua’s way of being your lovely companion.

For your pup to grow up healthy and happy, you must ensure that all nutritional values are met and the quantity of food does not exceed or be lower than what is stipulated in this article.

Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. You can free-feed your Chihuahua as a puppy, but you have to draw up a strict plan as they grow. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some are toxic.

However, if you desire more information on how to take care of your Chihuahua, you should contact the nearest vet for information on essential nutrients, and you can also see a pet nutritionist for a regimen schedule for your pet.