Chihuahuas are small in size, but they can be ravenous when it comes to food. The best dog food for Chihuahuas are the kind that contains nutrients for strong bones, shiny coats, and respiration improvement. The last one can be a bit tricky to find, but we’ll give you a few of the best options for the top dog food for Chihuahuas.
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Editor's Picks | Product Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
Best Choices | EUKANUBA Chihuahua Breed Dog Food | |
Best for Chihuahuas With Simple Tastes | Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food | |
Best for Chihuahuas With Sensitive Skin | Organix Small Breed Recipe Dry Dog Food | |
Best for All Types of Chihuahuas | Canidae Life Stages All Life Stages Dog Food | |
Best for Chihuahuas With Health Issues | Royal Canin Breed Health Dog Food |
How to Choose Dog Food For Chihuahuas
Like most dogs, Chihuahuas will eat almost anything. They are not a picky breed. They may be tiny, even if they are teacup Chihuahuas, toy Chihuahuas, or mini Chihuahuas. Their appetites can be huge because of their energy levels. You can feed them the best dog food you can find, but sometimes you’ll need to look into it some more. Here are some points to consider when choosing the best dog food for a Chihuahua
1. Anatomy Consideration
Chihuahuas fall under the toy dog or small breed category because they don’t grow larger than 8 inches at the withers. The ratio of food to the size and weight of their body must be adequate, but not too much that they will become overweight.
Chihuahuas also have small mouths, which makes it difficult for them to eat large pieces of kibble. Their stomachs are also tiny, which means they can only eat a certain amount of dog food.
They need more protein for muscle repair because Chihuahuas can be very energetic and intense when they’re playing. They also like running long distances and agility exercises. So, when you choose dog food, calorie levels are important to consider.
2. Health Concerns
Chihuahuas are also prone to periodontitis. The teeth and gum disease can be quite painful, and the only way to know it’s there is to check the dog’s teeth. You can also tell that there may be a problem when they refuse to eat kibble. Chihuahuas with periodontitis usually eat wet dog food, regardless of the pain they feel.
Aside from tooth and gum disease, Chihuahuas are also prone to tracheal torsion or collapse. It happens when your Chihuahua starts to make a honking sound instead of their regular bark.
The only way to deal with it is through surgery, but the immediate response to an emergency incident is to massage the front part of the neck. Do this until your Chihuahua calms down enough and the trachea starts to relax again.
I mention tracheal torsion because feeding your Chihuahua large bits of kibble may trigger it or they may choke on their food if they experience tracheal collapse while eating. This means that you should probably consider a smaller type of kibble.
3. Nutrition Requirements
Apart from the teeth and respiratory issues, the Chihuahua is considered to be one of the healthiest dog breeds. They grow fast, their bodies are lean, and they are very energetic. However, their stomachs can be sensitive, especially if they’ve only eaten dog food all their life.
The regular nutritional requirements of a Chihuahua include:
How Much Dog Food Must a Chihuahua Eat?
Chihuahuas should eat 10-20% of their body weight daily. Chihuahua puppies should eat just as much, but your Chihuahua’s dog food must have twice the nutrients contained in adult dog food. Since they have small stomachs, you can feed your Chihuahua twice a day. Just remember to train them how to eat properly.
It also depends on the type of dog food you are feeding them. Some will have fat-burning properties, while others are designed to add excess weight. Before buying the food, you should check to see how it will affect your Chihuahua in the long term.
What Kind of Dog Food Do Chihuahuas Eat?
It is best to ask your vet as to what kind of dog food your Chihuahua needs; however, here are some of the common answers you may receive:
How to Prevent Chihuahuas From Overeating
One of the biggest problems Chihuahua owners face when feeding is food aversion, overeating, or food aggression. The last two are sometimes intertwined because of how a Chihuahua is raised.
Food aversion can easily be managed by ruling out any medical issues and changing the dog food to a temporary hydrolase diet. You can also train your Chihuahua to eat on time by removing the food after feeding time and giving it back only during the next feeding schedule.
Now, overweight Chihuahuas are another problem. Some Chihuahuas know how to limit their food intake, but others can eat too much if they are given too much food.
If they don’t know the healthy limit, they will eat more than what they can absorb and the excess food will be converted into fat instead of energy.
Food aggression also leads to overeating because your Chihuahua may feel that they won’t get enough food because they feel they are competing with other dogs or with other people in the house. This can be fixed with human behavioral therapy for dogs.
Don’t worry, however, because most Chihuahuas start to learn how much food they should eat by 8-12 months and they can sense if they don’t have enough vitamins and minerals in their food as well.
Top 5 Best Dog Food For Chihuahuas
Best For: Obese Chihuahuas
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Although Eukanuba offers kibble form dog food, their formulation is ideal for Chihuahuas who have tartar buildup, which can lead to periodontitis. This brand of dog food is also filled with added fiber to promote better bowel movements, while still keeping your Chihuahua nourished.
The additional ingredients are also designed for increased energy, giving your Chihuahua extra fuel for play time and exercise. It is also best for obese Chihuahuas who need to lose weight.
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Best For: Picky Chihuahuas
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Small breed dry dog food is always ideal for dogs with small mouths like Chihuahuas. This particular brand is considered a premium product, which can make it more expensive than most products. It contains 26 different types of nutrients that can help vitalize your Chihuahua.
It’s mostly for adult dogs and cannot be fed to a Chihuahua puppy even with the small size of the kibble. The only downside is that it can be more expensive that other types of Chihuahua dog food.
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Best For: Sensitive Chihuahuas
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Organic food is always good for any dog, especially Chihuahuas. The ingredients in this type of dog food is designed to tamp down on allergies, except for dogs who have chicken allergies. However, the Chihuahua is one of the breeds that have little to no allergies to chickens. The standards of manufacturing of this type of food is also impressive.
They have an Oregon Tilth certification that ensures that they produce organic-only dog food. This way, you can rest knowing your Chihuahua has a healthy diet.
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Best For: All Chihuahuas
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Canidae is ideal for any type of Chihuahua, regardless of their age. It is also best for Chihuahua mix, and Chihuahua mix puppies. Because of the versatility of the formulation, your Chihuahua can safely eat this food without worrying about transitioning between adult, senior, pregnant, and puppy food.
Canidae is also best for Chihuahuas who participate in dog shows because it also includes ingredients that can improve their coat. The food is also grain-free which ensures less allergen exposure.
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Best For: Chihuahuas with Health Issues
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Although Royal Canin does not employ a science diet, they are one of the brands that use high quality ingredients and formulations that are breed-specific. Even if you have a mixed breed Chihuahua, the food will still sustain them enough and keep their energy levels high.
Royal Canin also helps prevent allergies and teeth problems. Gum and teeth issues are one of the biggest concerns for Chihuahuas, as well as the occasional tracheal collapse. The food is small enough to prevent choking and fibrous enough to help clean your dog’s teeth.
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Conclusion
EUKANUBA | Cesar Dry Food | Organix | Canidae | Royal Canin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $$ | $$ | $$$ | $$$ | $$ |
Form | Dry | Dry | Dry | Dry | Dry |
Doses | Based on Weight | Based on Weight | Based on Weight | Based on Weight | Based on Weight |
Best For | Obese Chihuahuas | Picky Chihuahuas | Sensitive Chihuahuas | For All Chihuahuas | For Chihuahuas with Health Issues |
Dog Age | Adult | Adult | Adult | All Ages | Adult |
Best feature | Nutrient Content | Taste | Organic Ingredients | All Ages | Healthy Formulation |
My review | 5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
Out of all the dog food brand reviews we shared, our recommendation is the Eukanuba Breed Specific Adult Dog Food for Chihuahuas. While other brands have specific nutrients in their formulation, som are more expensive than Eukanuba. Even so it has all the necessary nutrients a Chihuahua needs and then some.
While the best dog food for Chihuahuas may cause smelly poop, it’s worth the stink because some of the other types don’t have the nutrients that cause this type of reaction. Regardless of the fat-burning component, which does not exist in other brands, you can always feed your Chihuahua the necessary amount to keep them at a normal weight. The biggest priority is your Chihuahua’s wellness.
Now, which dog food would you prefer?
Hey there, I’m Ruby Smith, founder of Pet So Fun, and I’m here to provide you with useful information about your precious pet. All pets deserve the best care, don’t they? But not all pet owners have access to the right products and tips for their pets. And the central core of my work here is to change that.