Diet for a Small Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are the smallest recognized dog breed in the world. Heralding from the small town of Chihuahua in Mexico, they can range from 3 to 15 pounds. They are energetic and require a large number of calories to keep their little bodies going. Feeding them can be a bit tricky, though.

  1. Frequency

    • Chihuahuas, especially young ones, are somewhat difficult to feed because most often they do not have the stomach capacity to eat enough in one sitting to carry them much longer than four to five hours.Therefore they require multiple feedings throughout the day to combat hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.

      Most Chihuahuas do well if they are allowed to eat "at will" with their food being left out for them all day. Chihuahuas are natural grazers, preferring to snack all day versus eating large meals, though this tendency will make housebreaking a bit more difficult.

      Another trick to combat this problem is to feed puppy food instead of adult dog food. Kibble for kibble, puppy food contains more calories than adult preparations, giving your Chihuahua more bang for his buck, so to speak. Be careful, though. If your Chihuahua shows signs of excessive weight gain, reduce the amount of food or switch to adult formulas.

    Sources of Nutrients

    • Chihuahuas are notoriously picky, so getting enough calories into them is sometimes difficult. If a Chihuahua refuses to eat, try tempting him with another brand or flavor of dog food, but do not offer him table scraps. Most Chihuahuas would prefer to eat human food for every meal, and you are only reinforcing his finicky behavior if you give in

      It is also not a good idea to switch to wet food unless you plan to continue feeding it. Chihuahuas are highly intelligent and will think that getting a particularly scrumptious meal is a reward for balking at his normal fare and will continue to hold out for the good stuff.

    Formulations

    • Small Chihuahuas may have difficulty eating most brands of commercially prepared dog foods because the kibbles are too large for their mouths. This has been addressed by most manufacturers with the introduction of small bites or puppy bites. The kibble in these formulations is much smaller than average, so a smaller Chihuahua will have less trouble eating it.