Choosing a dog food for your Chihuahua isn’t a decision that should be made lightly. Like all dogs, Chihuahuas have very specific nutritional needs that must be met through proper dieting. Unfortunately, most of the dog foods sold in pet stores and grocery stores fail to provide enough nutrients for healthy growth and development. While they may provide your Chihuahua a “full” belly, they don’t offer the right balance of nutrients and minerals. If you’re wondering what the best type of dog food is for a Chihuahua, keep reading.
Why The Right Dog Food Is Important For a Chihuahua
Many owners overlook the importance of a premium dog food for their Chihuahua. As you can expect, a good brand of dog food is naturally going to cost more money, which is why some owners opt to go with the cheaper types. The problem in doing so, however, is that cheap, low-quality dog food opens up your Chihuahua to a whole world of new health problems. You might save a couple of dollars by feeding your Chihuahua a low-quality dog food, but you’ll likely end up paying more in the long run for vet visits and healthcare.
Here are some of the most common side effects associated with feeding a Chihuahua the wrong dog food:
- The coat loses some of its color and sheen.
- May suffer from tooth decay, tooth loss or other oral problems.
- A weakened immune system leaves them more susceptible to disease.
- Stunts their growth and development, causing them to grow at a slower pace than normal.
- Leads to obesity and canine diabetes.
- Increases the chance of food allergies.
- May contain potentially life-threatening strains of foodborne illness, such as salmonella.
What To AVOID When Choosing Dog Food For Your Chihuahua
There are some common mistakes owners make when choosing dog food for their Chihuahua, one of which is placing their trust in brands sold at the grocery store. This can undoubtedly be confusing given the fact that some of these brands are labeled premium, but you have to carefully inspect any food you’re thinking of purchasing and feeding to your Chihuahua. Even some of these so-called “premium” dog foods are loaded down with junk ingredients and filler products that offer little-to-no nutritional value when consumed. Does this mean that ALL premium dog foods sold in grocery stores are poor choices that should be avoided? Not necessarily, but you need to be cautious and not risk your Chihuahua’s health based on the package labeling alone. Don’t worry, we’ll reveal what a good Chihuahua dog food needs to contain in a bit.
Another common mistake owners make is blindly following the advice of their veterinarian. There are plenty of ethical vets out there who enjoy helping people and the pets brought into their office, but there are others who simply want to sell products and services. If a vet recommends feeding your Chihuahua a type of dog food sold on their office premises, they are probably being financially compensated for selling that brand of dog food. With an ulterior motive, the dog food may or may not be the right choice for your Chihuahua.
Here are some of the ingredients that should be kept to a minimum in a dog food for your Chihuahua:
- Food dyes
- Preservatives
- Filler products, such as corn and low-quality grains
- Corn gluten
- Wheat gluten
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Animal fat
Things To Look For In Chihuahua Dog Food
Now that you know what to avoid in a dog food for your Chihuahua, let’s take a look at some of the beneficial ingredients that you should look for. As previously stated, most of the “premium” dog foods gold in grocery stores are actually poor choices that don’t offer the right balance of meat, vegetables and overall nutrition; therefore, they should be avoided. Instead, take a look at the dog food products sold in pet stores around your area. If there aren’t any good choices here, you can always order your Chihuahua’s food online, but you’ll probably have to pay to have it shipped. Of course, this is a small price to pay for your Chihuahua’s health and well-being.
The number one ingredient that dog food for your Chihuahua should contain is meat. Whether it’s chicken, beef, fish or lamb, the dog food needs to have roughly a 40% meat content; otherwise, it’s not going to offer enough protein to meet their needs. It might be hard to determine exactly how much meat a bag of dog food has, but you can read the ingredients label to get an idea. I like to see meat products listed in at least 3 of the top 5 ingredients, as this is a sign it’s made with a substantial amount of meat.
The second most important ingredient a dog food needs to contain are vegetables. This is essentially where your Chihuahua will get the majority of their beneficial vitamins and minerals, so you’ll want to choose a dog food with a good balance of vegetables and meat. Look for the more healthy vegetables labeled on the ingredients, such as carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini and broccoli. Regular potatoes are considered filler ingredients and should be avoided. These healthy vegetables should make up roughly 40% of the ingredients in a dog food as well. The remaining 20% should consist of starches like pastas.
Here’s a short list of high-quality premium dog foods that are great choices to feed a Chihuahua:
- Artemis Fresh Mix
- Blue Buffalo
- California Natural
- Canidae
- EVO
- Innova
- Nature’s Variety
- Taste of the Wild
- Timberwolf Organics
- Wellness
References:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=main
https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/nutrition/choosing-the-right-dog-food
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/frequently-asked-questions/choose-dog-food/
My dog is a Chihuahua and she eats puppy chow but that was because she was really skinny but now she gained weight she doesn’t like to work out she just likes to sleep in I don’t know what else to feed her other than puppy chow any suggestions
My vet reccomended Nutrisca Grain & Potato free Lamb & Chickpea Dog food. The ingredients are all natural, meat hormone free. The first 5 ingredients are Lamb, chickpea, salmon meal, Chicken & Dried eggs. Immediately following that is alfalfa meal, pea fiber, pea protein, carrots, tomatoe & cranberries. Other great ingredients after that.
We couldn’t be happier with the improvement we’ve seen in our dogs! My female had major skin & coat issues. My male couldn’t gain weight before. Now that they’re on this, they are so much better. It is 10$ for 4lbs. But it’s worth it. The kibble is super small too so they eat it with ease.
I was feeding my chi science diet and also some ceaser wet food as well – but I wanted to try something diff so now we just started royal canine for chi. She loves it – she’s only picky on treats
She’s 4 months old
I have my Chi on Fromm, it is one of the only companies that has never gad a recall. She loves it and her coat is beautiful and shiny. The ingredients are very high quality. I suggest any one looking to switch look into Fromm.
Hi, looking for the best for for our 4 month old Chihuahua. He would prefer fresh chicken but not very balanced. He is currently on Royal canin Chi puppy which he will eat if he has to , tried it soaked and dry. I recently changed My other dogs are on which is supposed to be fabulous( my digs love it but aren’t fussy eaters) I prefer the idea of Acana but their small breed puppy food recommends for dogs reaching 9kg Adult weight, I’m taking from that that it isn’t suitable for Chihuahuas?. Does anyone know of a more natural dog food suitable for a Chihuahua in the uk? Thank you.
Royal Cabin I tried has first ingredient corn!! Switched to wellness may switch again
Try Primal Nuggets. It’s organic freeze dried. It’s wonderful and can be fed to dogs throughout their life. My chi, Edith, loves chicken.
My chi was in wellness doing great, than starting shedding horribly, want to switch her to something else. She is 5 and 4lbs very active,,not worried about the cost..blue buffalo?
My chihuahuas stopped eating Royal Canin Chi formula and I tried 5 different brands even grain free. I’m at a loss of what to try. My vet is no help. They will eat some canned but can’t get them on dry.
hi jill – my yorkie/chihuahua is exactly the same – after eating royal canin for about a month, she threw her paws up in the air and said no more of this food – so today went on the hunt for another food – bought 3 bags of the GO shine and sensitivity dry food – will give that a try at dinner – she is so picky when it comes to dry – she likes orijen but i think it’s too high in protein, she sure poops a lot when she eats it –
have to add wet food to the dry or she won’t eat at all – she goes on a hunger strike
Good quality canned food will be fine, along with some freeze dried sprinkled on top. Kibble in general is processed food. I would not sweat the fact that your dog doesn’t like kibble. Find good quality canned foods that your dog likes; supplement with freeze-dried if you can afford it (a little goes a long way with a chihuahua!); supplement with unpasteurized goat milk for added probiotics; and add a tiny amount of Plaque-Off, a wonderful seaweed product that fights tartar, plaque, and bad breath. Good luck!
I am right there with you. I recently rescued 3chis and they are really picky. I can’t find anything they like!
When you find something your dogs like let me know please cause I have a two year old and she will not eat anything but meat,boilded chicken ,pork chops,steak,thats all I can get her to eat, I have about 20 different kinds of dog food and she will not eat it,i just bought a bag of orijen grain free and she walks away from it, I need help
I could probably open my own pet food store with all the brands that I have tried. It is very frustrating because Chihuahuas can like a food for a while and then suddenly go off it completely. I’m now at the point where I will probably be making my own chicken for him and mixing it in with a little good quality kibble because I do need a little chewing challenge for his teeth. Today just stopping by the local pet shelter to drop off another bunch of food that I have tried feeding him but failed.
My chihuahua was on Royal Canin when I got her. She didn’t like it much, I changed to IAMS. Not much difference but she likes it better than Royal Canin. Then I tried Blue Buffalo, her reactions were like with Royal Canin. So, after all that, I tried Orijen. She likes it much better, but the most important thing is, her droppings were also very good and easy. She had hard time with other dry dog food, but not with Orijen dry foods. But of course, being a chihuahua, she prefers human food. So every now and then I mixed her dry food with bits of steamed salmon, she loves this best. Hope that helps!
Hi Jill – i know your comment is nearly a year old but i thought i would reply – i have a yorkie/chihuahua X both breeds are known for being picky – i feed Lexee Royal Canin Chihuahua dry with Royal Canin Chihuahua canned – i have tried many other foods, grain free dry, dehydrated, raw and even other brands of canned – doesn’t like any of it – so back to the RC – she does well on RC but she does tire of it after being on it a month or two. Been told that i have made her a picky dog, perhaps i have to a point but i think part of it is her too – it can be so frustrating at times – take care and good luck
My dog is full bred Toy Chihuahua and he loves kibbles and bites American grilled style. Is this okay for him to eat? I mean mean he’s not that chunky but he looks like he’s fed very good.
My 5 month old chihuahua will only eat Taste of the Wild adult dog food. Ingredients list is great and it is reasonably priced at Tractor Supply. Both my 80 lb+ Sheepdog Poodle mix and my 3 lb Chihuahua eat the same food. I buy my Chi the puppy formula but he steals my Sheepdogs food and doesn’t really seem to like his so I give him the adult one too. Hope this helps!
my dog is sneezing a lot. my vet said to try new dog food my dog is part Chihuahua ten pounds. WE HAVE HIM ON WELLNESS DRY WHITE FISH AND SWEET POTATOE. WHAT IS A GOOD ONE TO TRY.
Orijen 6 fish or Acana Pacificia
I had the same issue with 2 of my Chi’s. You are over feeding them. Some Chi’s will only eat once a day and that’s okay. They also eat better when hand fed. Try the seafood formula FROMM brand dry dog food. My picky Chi’s like it because it has a strong smell. Stop giving them so many choices and whatever you do DONT give them human food.
He may have been allergic to or intolerant of something in his last food. Check out what kind of meat it has and if it had grains or glutens. The most common food allergens for dogs are beef, dairy, chicken, lamb, fish, corn, wheat, soy and yeast. So you might want to try a limited ingredient food to see what he doesn’t react to. There are a lot of options e.g. a food with buffalo as the only meat and no gluten is often tolerated well
.I boil 2 chicken breaststroke along with 4 chicken quarters than in a food processor do 1 lg. Carrot 1 can of green beans & a few nice pieces of broccoli blend. Let chicken cool , oh yea 1 can of chicken broth & 1 can of water when cooking chicken in a separate pot I cook 1/4cup of barley and add this to the mixture let chicken cool down than take all the meat off (no fat) pull or chop into small bits mix everything together freeze in individual containers ,small so each one can last 5 days. Only give 1/4 cup along with 1/4 cup of a healthy dry . He loves it & I also change up on the meats so he doesn’t get bored with his food.good luck
I adopted a 5 year old Chihuahua and didn’t know what to feed her. She is rather picky on what she eats. I tried Blue Buffalo and Timberwolf… both of which are expensive but good for her… but she only would eat it if that’s all that was in the bowl. She sulked most of the time. I switched to Science Diet and she now is eating. I mix it with a little Cesar Grilled Chicken… perhaps a tablespoon. She loves that… so that’s what she gets now. A dog food is only good if the dog will eat it. For treats she gets Science Diet Chicken and yogurt treats and small dog buiscuits.
My chi is also a very picky eater but lately ive been adding coconut oil (Which I did a lot of research on before feeding it to both my dogs) to her dry Blue Buffalo food. As soon as she hears the bottle of coconut oil open, she runs to get her food. Its been amazing adding it to her diet. They recommend adding it to the diet little by little.
What makes them throw up white vile.
My Diego was a kill dog and rescuded from Texas and brought to Canada. We had him for a week
When they throw up white bile it means that their stomach is empty. Last week my Jesse threw up white bile and the next day he ate and today and stomach is hurting. Chihuahuas are very sensitive little dogs and I am accepting the fact that I may be on the search for the right food for the rest of his life.
And by soft I mean wet dog food. 🙂
Amari-
I had a dog a few years ago in my foster care who did this exact same thing! I found mixing 1/4 cup of blue buffalo small breed with roughly two tablespoons of the soft blue buffalo and then half a chicken breast shredded/unseasoned altogether worked. Then I just slowly added less chicken, to no chicken, to less soft food. Now she only get soft food mixed in as a treat in the morning. Maybe this will work for you? I’m not sure 🙂
My Chihuahua is very similar, when it comes to food. I started putting his dog food in the refrigerator. It seems to help when he see me open the refrigerator door, he is more intrigued to eat his food. I still leave available food and water in his dish throughout the day. Good luck I know how you feel.
If it gonna feed her human food feed her boiled chicken breast, I also boil or bake carrots, broccoli if u have it but don’t over cook them cook them til they are done but slightly firm and mix together but make sure u don’t put any seasoning her food. my chihhuha loves it and I feed her chicken breast twice a day Everyday but he also eats his dog food. BUT not til about midnight and he has beautiful white teeth and a beautiful shiny coat, he’s a tri color short hair chi. And he never sheds.
plain kibble is the best
I have 2 Chihuahuas different breeds they don’t like any of the wet food I’ve bought and they choke on regular size dogfood even kibbles and bits I buy puppy food cuz its smaller pieces but worried that even though one is only a year old and my other is about 6yrs the puppy food isn’t going to give enough nutrition help please there my babys
Please help . My chihuahua wont eat anything but human food . She won’t even touch dog food . I have dog food sitting out for her and she will literally make herself throw up yellow and starve herself until she gets what she wants . What food can I feed her or suggestions on what she will eat .
I’m no pro, but I know my 2 chihuahua’s LOVE people food and will not eat their “puppy chow” if I over do it with the human treats. But occasionally I have to play hard ball and withhold the treats till they eat some real food. They act upset but eventually they will eat their food. They won’t go longer than an entire day without food. I make sure to give them fresh (bottled, of course) water a few times a day. But they are picky especially when it comes to premium foods. They’ll eat Kibbles and Bits and other ‘regular’ dog food all day long but it’s not great nutritionally. Right now we’re on Wellness and I “cook” it for them in the microwave for a few seconds with water. If I just boil water and pour over it they won’t touch it, they have to see it come out of the oven. They’re so smart, but so dumb sometimes. That’s why we love them.
Your dog is throwing up yellow which is bile. This is due to allergies and more than likely allergies in the food itself. Read you label, stay away from corn, wheat and other fillers in dog food which accounts for just about all dog food in a store.We feed ours Acana food or Orijen only. you can find them at the “better” dog food stores or at chewy.com. They may seem expensive but the saying goes “pay it in the food or pay it at the vet”. I prefer to pay it in my dogs food and they NEVER go to the vet except for their annual shots. Read dogfoodadvisor.com They will tell you if you food is worthy of your dog.
Try Nature’s Variety Raw Boost small breed kibble, and their canned food. I have a very, very, very picky girl who absolutely won’t eat anything else. I take the little dehydrated chicken nuggets and smash then up in my fingers and sprinkle over the top of the food, she loves it. I also will feed her a very small bowl of canned food that I make into “soup” by adding water. She isn’t a fan of drinking enough water,so this helps. She was a puppy that I home cooked puppy food for (using real human ingredients) she now eats THIS kibble 🙂
Hope this helps.
So sorry! Maybe don’t let food sit out and sprinkle a bit of turkey on top or hand feed a bit of dry food when shes real hungry
the dog must know you are the boss she’s making herself sick so you will give in do not give in
My 13 1/2 purebred chihuahua, Zeus, has been a fussy eater all his life and he used to throw up due to not eating. We do two things that have worked great: We feed him 1/2 tablet of Pepcid daily, and we mix foods like roast beef or chicken with his doggie kibble. This has done the trick for many years.
Ty for asking this. ..my Lil boy chi is 8yrs old and absolutely refuses to eat anything dogfood related. I have to fix him a plate at dinner too. Ty for all the suggestions ppl listed. .
Your chihuahua is smart!
Feed her homemade food!
i’ve been feeding my 13 year old Chihuahuas Royal Canin Chihuahua specific food for the majority of their lives. I recently switched to the Royal Canin Mature formula and it doesn’t agree with them as well. Mostly resulting in softer stool. We were on a trip and I picked up a Senior Version from Science Diet that agreed with them splendidly. I’m a little nervous to switch to Science Diet because I’ve read not great things on the Internet. I think I need to do more research. In the meantime, we’re going to stick with our original Chihuahua specific Royal Canin.
That is very true Shanna, my dog’s teeth have been falling out to, I thought it was because it was his baby teeth, but it could be the food. I will be changing his food it that is the case.
I meant halo food. Sorry incorrect:)
Try Balo toy breed or Blue. Great ingredients. I mix with a bit of water and add few spoons of wet food by same brands. Everything else makes my chihuahua vomit and bleed!
I was feeding my dog Blue Buffalo she became sick and was admitted to the hospital. Her doctor said the food was poisoned and not only me but my family was upset. Lucky nothing happened to my dog otherwise I would have sued the company.
I have been feeding my dog Royal Canine plus. It runs a little expensive but I bought it because it says especially for chihuahuas. I tried changing to a cheaper food but he didn’t like it and started vomiting. Is this a good food, as I really haven’t even looked at the ingredients in it.
I also use Royal Canine.My dogs love it and are pretty picky like most chihuahuas .But they have lost alot of teeth,and have a lot of plaque on their teeth.So I wonder if it is food.
Depending where you live, I would suggest the following. Canine Source. My chi eats surf and turf and all is good with her. I have had comments about her coat and teeth and she just loves this food. Where I purchased they gave me Royal Canin as this is what they were giving her. The next day I changed the food and did not have any side effects. I am extremely pleased and the store Mondou told me that this was I grade food
i was looking to try and find something my lil girl chi would eat she is so picky,i was feeding her the Royal Canin Chihuahua Bites and looked at ingredients and its CORN.THIS FOOD IS WAY TO PRICEY TO BE FEEDING MY BABY GIRL CRAP,SO ROYAL CANIN YOU JUST LOST ALL MY MONEY.
Well I just looked first I ingredient is corn! Second meat by products then gluten and other not so great stuff 🙁 doesn’t sound very good for the price especially!
Science Diet dry mixed with warm water and Science Diet wet. The only proven dog food for longterm care. Keeps them healthy and their fur soft.
I feed my chihuahua Earthborn Holistic grain free. He is 3 and I noticed that he has a dark staining on his teeth. I wondered if it could be from his food. He is a very picky eater and it took us 11 different dog foods to find one he would eat.
I too use Earthborn and notice darkening of the teeth on my older chi. Sometimes they throw up their food but that could be just a sensitive tummy for a number of things. I just wonder if the food is causing in the dark marks on her teeth. She will be 5 in October.
I feed my six month old Acana Puppy small breed. Is this a good brand? nIt says it is 65% chicken, egg or Fish 20% reginal fruits or vegetables and 15% low-glycemic Alberta oats.
Acana is one of the best foods available! It is from the same Canadian company that makes Orijen, probably THE best high quality kibble out there. Acana is a slightly lower protein that Orijen, but that’s okay, because it’s still far, FAR better than Science Diet or other low quality kibbles.
My 3 y.o. Chi likes Arkana and Origen but the kibbles are too big for her. I believe she’s allergic to chicken, so I’ve tried salmon and 6 fishes. Now I think she’s turned off by the fish smell. Any suggestions on a QUALITY brand, small kibble turkey or lamb or beef adult food?
I have two Chihuahuas now 6 and 8 yrs old. I used lots of dog foods at the beginning and they picked around it but I have stayed with BilJac for some time now and they love it and their coats looks great and good stools.
I am fostering a 3 yr old 3.5 pound female Chihuahua. She is in desperate need of a dental and to be spayed. She has a healing abcess by her eye the vet believes is because of her teeth. She is on antibiotics currently. She was an owner surrender so we don’t have much info about her. The vet thinks she will have some trouble eating kibble right now. I am currently feeding her the refrigerated roll of dog food sold at Petco. Is that the best choice or should I cook chicken beans and sweet potatoes for her?
I have a chihuahua 2 yr old losing hair spoty places here and ther,she is tri color, energetic and fun to have ,need ideas on what to feed her or vitamins to give her, help please need info diana
How funny I thought it was just my dog that was sooo picky!! It sounds like a lot of Chuahuas are huh? And someone wrote about giving their dog cat food? I don’t give my dog cat food but she sure sneaks it from my cat lol! She’s so picky I just let her eat it now. She mostly just eats with me. I Also gave up on trying different dry dog foods….waste of money! Omg she’s sooo picky I love her tho! My first dog she’s 2.9 pounds one year five mo.
Is natural balance good for chihuahuas?
I have been feeding my Chihuahua science diet for a year now is that a healthy choice or should I switch
I have a 13 yr old chi, he has bad skin allergies, and is overweight, I started feeding him natures variety instinct, grain free limited ingredient lamb & pease formula, I switch to this because I think he is allergic to either chicken or grains. He’s not scratching no more and wondering is instinct limited, has the right balance of nutrients and vitamins for long term use?
I have a two year old chihauahua who is not only tremendously picky, she suffers from allergies and because of this there are many different types of foods that she cannot eat. After being advised by our vet numerous times to switch her food to several different brands because none of them worked, my husband and I decided to start cooking her food ourselves. Because we have a total of two puppies (min pinscher, 1 year) both of them would now be going to “regular” food. Both of our puppie now eat a combination of bonless chicken breast, lean turkey, lamb, sweet potatoes, rice, a variety of fresh vegetables and eggs. I do add or put anything additional in their food such as seasoning, butter, etc. They still enjoy regular doggie treats, but we only give them the all natural beef or chicken jerkey treats. Since doing this, I have noticed a tremendous change in our dogs coats, our chihauahua use to scratch so much that she could hardly go fo a walk without stopping every 2 seconds. She doesn’t do that anymore, and I am no longer having to give her benadryl daily. I know that everyone doesn’t believe in giving their dogs “real” food, but it’s whatever works for you, they are your babies!
Hi, I have 3 chi. 2 adults and one baby who is 2 months. I feed them Beneful. Is this a good brand? Should I change?
Pedigree***
Hi I have just got a chi like a month ago. And have been feeding her oedigree, is that a good thing to feed her? I’m willing to pay more cash for her to stay healthy. And one more question, how would I get rid of her tear drop stains?
Ive noticed over the years those of my friends who act as personal chefs for their dogs stating they need particular diets and custom cooked foods seem to have very Un-healthy animals. Just an observation.
I know Hills Science Diet does not seem to be on anyones list of great dog foods. However my male chi is 7 years old, very happy, weighs about 9 lbs, lean and muscular, has never had any poor health issues, good stool, full of energy, good coat, never a picky eater. Ive always felt if any dog is hungry enough he will eat anything placed in a bowl anyway so I started him as a pup on dry kibbles. He is presently on Hills Science Diet Small Bites Advanced Fitness for quite a long time now. Costs me about $ 12 a month to feed him with a 5 lb bag. Maybe I’m just lucky.
Is Pedigree good for chihuahuas?
I was feeding my chi’s Purina One Beyond Lamb formula and they loved it and were doing great, then they changed he formula and now… they have an allergy, don’t buy the new formula for your chi, unless you want itchy and scratchy!
Is sport mix good for my 14 yr old Chihuahua
My chihuahua / dachshund and my chihuahua / pug both love Fromm, and I’ve heard all really great things. Is this a good one?
Hi I;m getting new puppy and I don:t know how feed him
Thanks everyone you guys were very helpful.
I have a 2 year old and a 6m old Chihuahua and they have brought me the most happiness! I feed them Amicus Grain Free it has all the above nutrients listed and more…they love it! I was giving them Blue and they wouldn’t eat the antioxidants they put in it so I switched and they seem to like this much better. I get all my products from Petflow.com the have the best treats for my babies…I recently started giving them dried beef lungs as treats. I hope these are okay as I haven’t read anything to the contrary. ..thanks so much for your info.
Well I just rescued a Chihuahua and so glad I read
all your posts as I did not know what to feed her,
though I was hearing to go healthy with the vegetables
and meat so that is what I will do. No commercial food
for her. It is horrible what is in the dog food at
the grocery stores and if you have ever read how they
make it, it would turn your stomach. So lets all go
healthy for our little chi’s and it is good for us
humans too!!!
The wet food I have been getting are. Beneful Chopped Blends, Purina brand as well. $1.68 @ walmart compared to $2.19 @ krogers
New to having a chihuahua, going from Cheap food to name brand food that i think would work for him, but i think he’s having trouble adjusting and not eating well, He has been trying to eat cat food and i get on him about it when I see him near their bowls.. he has his own and i show/tell him that but he just sniffs and walks away.
I also brought some wet food for dogs, chicken kind and give him a little on each morning. Is that good? or something I should steer away from..
I went this route so I could be sure that he’s eating something..
I have him currently on dog chow/little bites PURINA, but need suggestion on something else..
Thanks
My main store source would be Petsmart, Meijer, Walmart if any food suggestion would come..
so what is wrong with royal canin – my yorkie/chihuahua won’t touch most of the foods that are rated 4 and 5 star and i’m getting fed up with pet store owners and associates shoving high calorie, high protein, high fat dry foods at me – she’s just as healthy eating royal canin as the dog that eats orijen
Hi, I feed my 6year old chihuahua Eukanuba which apperantly is
Made for chihuahua especially but it contains gauranteed
Levels of glucosamine and chondroitin what is that and
Does it cause any harm I want to know if that’s
A good choice because, I care so much about
His health, also his skin has been darkening and
It’s not the pretty pink it used to be years back
But I shower him regularly and moisturize his skin as
Well, is there any vitamins that I should be aware
Of like fish oil and such to help with this problem thank you
Our 5 yr. old chi eats wet cat food mixed with Kimbles & bits dry food and she loves it and its the only thing Nessie will eat.
hi jenni – how much do you feed your chi a day – i have a 5 yr yorkie/chihuahua – very fussy eater
I feed my chihuahua castor and pollux and he absolutely loves it♡
There is no such food as Chi food. I posted above about Royal Canine. It’s a corn based food and the only thing breed specific is the bag. Find something that is meat based.
Hi, I have a 9 1/2 month long coat chi female. I changed her food recently from blue buffalo freedom red meat to blue buffalo healthy weight because she is very small and has a tendency to put on weight. I only feed her a little less than a 1/4 cup in the morning and the same in the early evening and she still puts on weight. I noticed that she has started to lose her hair about a month after I changed her food and was wondering if this is due to the low fat content in the food- 9% minimum. I want to add wholeistic wild salmon oil to her diet to raise the fat content, but wondering if this will also cause her to put weight on. Any thoughts?
I am not sure why losing hair – could be allergy? I had to go to a dermatologist for my Bambi and she is allergic to everything including people and cats. Lucky me. She is now on apoquel and a sublingual which is helping and her hair is slowly growing back. I did not realize that steroids would inhibit hair regrowth and prior to seeing he dermatologist we had used a steroid for her itchiness. I do give my guys Noridic’s cod liver oil. Our Seattle Super Supplements stores carry it for pets. My western vet uses the same brand for herself. She said they test the fish for mercury. It was recommended by my holistic vet. Everyone comments on how soft my fur kids coats are.
I have a 9 year old, 5lb. chi named Champ. He has already lost his front teeth but has his canines due to periodontal disease. They judt fell out last year while his vet was cleaning his teeth. I have fed him Science Diet ever since he was a puppy with the exception for 3 months. I have a 6 year old terrier mix and I cannot keep them from eating out of each others bowls. I am wondering if Science Diet really is best for him since he is getting older?
Have you read the ingredients on science diet food. Most I have read have corn in them which is not good. I would not feed my dogs Iams, Eukanuba or Science Diet. I used to, but then I educated myself with help from others including my holistic vet after my oldest dog Maxine RIP was diagnosed with Brain Cancer. I now advocate for a raw diet, or something like Orijen.
I have raised many. Let me tell u science diet is not good.. Switch to blue buffalo slowly. Ur dog will be happy and so will u…
I’m looking for a good food to feed my 10 month old chihuahua. He’s picky and will get into my cats science diet food. I currently feed royal canin. I have read here that it isn’t a good choice. I see that blue buffalo is a good choice. I did the puppy version of that with the life bits in it and he didnt like it. Which one would be a good choice? He has lost weight due to not eating much. I’d like him to gain some of the weight back at a healthy rate. Can someone help me out?
Hi! I just wanted to add what I’ve found to be extremely important. I’ve learned, from owning dogs diagnosed with epilepsy, that many dogs are allergic to rosemary. The result is seizures. Most high quality foods use it as a natural preservative. When I found that Taste of the Wild was free of rosemary, all my “epileptic” dogs have been COMPLETELY seizure free for 5 years now! In fact, when hubby gave them randomly purchased “healthy” treats, a seizure would follow.
My two chihuahuas eat royal canine made for chihuahuas. Is this a good choice?
what is the best food for 6months male chihuahua?
Blue buffalo is the best..
I’ve been feeding my chi royal canin for chi’s. How great is that? Should I change it? Can my chi eat dog food that isn’t specified chi only
I just got a 1yr old chi and have never owned a small dog before so I have no idea what food to buy for him. I have always had big dogs so I have always bought Pedigree for them. I just purchased Pedigree for small breed dogs, is this ok?
Is it normal or okay if my pet is experiencing hair loss?
My chi experienced hair loss after I switched his food to accomodate our terrier mix as she ate more than he does. After about 3 months of eating Iams Natural he started losing his hair. The vet told me he probably had a food allergy. I switched him back to Science Diet and his hair grew back.
Hi – i have a 5 yr old yorkie/chihuahua – been fighting with her for the past 4 yrs to eat dry food – i have bought just about every brand of high end dry made by man to no avail – have mixed canned food with the dry – still won’t eat it – have given up on the dry and now she eats wet and yes i do brush her teeth
try Weruva if you can afford it – Amazon carries it. I feed my cat Weruva. All of my dogs are on Darwin’s Raw food. My G Shep mix also gets kibble – usually Orijen though the last bag I bought from Costco is Nature’s Domain which I was told is made by Taste of the Wild (now not sure it is the same recipe and will change back).
Hi, I am a new chihuahua owner. And i was feeding him Purina puppy chow, I went into a local pet shop and a lady there was telling me about this dog food called “Earthborn Holistic” she said it was a natural food for dogs. I am just really unsure on what to feed him, I dont want to pay for a good thats not good for him.
Please don’t feed Purina. Check the ingredients. There are some great foods out for small breeds but you cannot buy them at most grocery stores. You will need to go to a specialty dog/pet store. Wellness and Solid Gold have food for small breeds. I personally feed my Chihuahuas Darwin’s raw food – the get Duck and the organic version. They do not get kibble. Treats are typically Orijen Dehydrated duck or for classes they get string cheese/chicken or other protein cut into very small pieces as they are very small dogs.
Is k9 natural ok for my chihuahua?
Petsmart is the best place to purchased food. They are not on a commission for dog food, so their advice is genuine! I was pleased to read that Blue Buffalo is one of the premium choices, because that’s what I buy. Deuce is now on the Wilderness Brand-Rabbit. He is loving it, along with his doggie treats. By the way, is peanut butter flavored treats ok?
Sista T
Hi,my moms boss is willing to give me his chihuahua,I don’t know what foods he feeds him but if they were not the right brands.will he still eat the good brand food when I give it to him?
Often I’ll read the ingredient list of the premium dog food brands, then make my homemade food mimicking those ingredients. I’ll buy Pedigree in the HUGE bags for my big dogs, then buy premium dog food brands as they are on sale, and create a blend always with the cheaper dog food as the base, then dollop homemade food on top. This makes it more economical to feed the big dogs, and they are thriving on it. So the homemade food satisfies both the chihuahua and the big dogs.
I have a six-year-old Chi and he’s always been finicky. He mainly eats Blue Buffalo for small breed, but sometimes he won’t eat that. I have two large dogs as well. Sometimes I’ll boil chicken and roast a beef heart and add to the boiled chicken, then add regular store brand oatmeal, carrots, sweet potato and whatever else I know is safe to give dogs, then I use my hand blender to blend to rough “goo.” I safe to-go containers, and fill them with this home cooked mix and it typically makes about 18-20 per batch. I freeze most of them and leave a couple in the fridge. I mix this with his Blue Buffalo and sometimes he eats it better, sometimes he licks all around the dry dog food and only eats the good stuff. It’s a constant battle, but I do enjoy seeing him eat well when he does.
I am the new owner of Chihuahua. I find difficulties make him to eat. After consult from the PET Shop I bought a food but he refuse to eat it. I am not sure what to do. He eats some foods once only. After that he refuse to eat it. Please help.
Regards
Mala
hi, my to chi’s only eat meat that i eat,mostly chicken and beef although they do eat their doggy biscuits. i’ve
tried the premium(uk) but they dont go near it. should i just persevere with the dog meat? cheers
Hi there I have 3 chihuahuas I feed the royal canin adult chihuahua specific breed
they’ve been on this for a year now and are fit aand healthy I was wondering what’s your thoughts on this food also 2 them seem to have gone off it any suggestions
Kind regards
From a former Royal Canine rep that works at my local pet store. Royal Canine is among the worst foods for dogs. The only thing breed specific is the bag its in. If you run out of Chi food you could feed the Lab food or the Boxer or the Bulldog food. Just the kibble is shaped differently. We had our Chi and bulldog on that food and all the vet saw in it’s stools was undigested corn. That’s what that food is mostly made of. Find a food that has mainly meat in it as the article reads. RC is not it.
I have been feeding my chihuahua 4health. Is that a good quality brand? If it is I won’t switch him, but if its not of the quality I’m looking for I want to switch him to a brand you have listed on this web page. Thank you!
Hey Stephanie,
4Health looks like a pretty good brand of food for Chihuahuas. Some of its primary ingredients are chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley and millet. I wouldn’t switch food unless your Chihuahua is showing signs of allergies, malnutrition, digestive issues, or hair loss.
I just read online its best to cook the food yourself. The article said brocolli,chicken, (hearts and live) and carrots. The whole think cost me 3.65. I cooked it with2 garlic cloves n my pressure cooker for 20min and wala! Have enough for serval days, plus I know what is going into her little body. She loves the food.
Isn’t garlic bad for dogs ? I saw that many times on list of food bad/dangerous for dogs. I avoid it !
Garlic should never be used in their food, nor onions. Go online and find out the “top” things you should never feed your dog. I know some are: garlic, onions, grapes & chocolate. I am sure there may be others too.
Garlic is a huge nono. Along with onions,chocolate,avacado,beer or liquor,coffee tea cocoa,grape macadamia nuts or products containing it (can be fatal like chocolate),candy,gum,and as much as they love us for it fat and table scrapes like bones, fat is just plain bad and bones can splinter and puncture the bowel thus killing the dog,they can also break teeth and cut gums,persimmons peaches and plums have a pit that contains cyanide, the dog dosn’t know nit to eat that like we do and it’s highly toxic should the dog consume the pit,raw egge, raw meat or fish,salt,sugar,yeast dough breads,and human meds. This list is pretty good roundup of what not to feed our fur babies, also they love ice cream but dogs can’t process milk products and can have bad intestinal issues from it. I cook for my little guy but omit all salt,pepper and garlic, I put a dab of poultry seasoning in for flavor. Good luck with your baby.
Sherrie,
I don’t agree on the raw meat and bones that you said you should not feed your pet. Cooked bones are not good for them, however raw bones should pose little to no risk to them. I have been feeding my two Chihuahuas a diet consisting mostly of raw chicken legs and thighs for more than a year now. They love it, and they eat it all including the bones. It closely mimics the diet that nature would have provided them as they are carnivores by nature. Their coats are in the best possible health, they are full of energy, and their teeth/gums are in excellent health. I don’t knock those that choose not to feed raw as long as they put some thought into the food they choose, but the health benefits of raw are well worth the extra work it takes me each week to prep chicken. I typically buy a 10lb bag of quarters, cut the legs off and split the thighs in two. I bag them and freeze them. I put one in the fridge and each night when I feed them I pull one from the freezer and put it in the fridge. It’s thawed by the next night.
No No Garlic bad for dogs !!!!
Garlic and onions are bad for dogs. Over time it can cause serious problems.
I have a 3 year old Chi which has been eating the little Ceasars hard dog food since she was a pup. My vet suggested taking her off this and getting her to eat ” their food” I ve had 3 different bags of food from he vets and all she does is picks it out and leaves it at the side of her dish. I m from Canada and a lot of he products mentioned are States brands . Can you offer suggestions for Canadian brands?
Also wondering about treats…. I ve been making jerky for her which she loves, but I d like harder smaller treats for her. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Im wandering the same thing …Purina puppy chow ..thats what I’m feeding mine. Is it good for him?
Purina puppy chow? Is this an unhealthy choice? My chi has eaten it for two years should I change it?
It’s not the most nutritious choice simply because it’s filled with corn (#1 ingredient) along with other filler ingredients.
also, watch out for meat by-products. dogs cannot digest that. if you will not eat it then dont feed it to your dog. i saw another site saying that apples are bad, wrong. apples are healthy for all dogs but do not give the core. the core containing seeds is toxic, remove the core and fill it with peanut butter is a healthy and taste treat (ofc a bit too big forchihuahuas)
Is NuTro a good food for Chihuahua?
Hey Dennis,
The original formula for Nutro was an excellent choice of food for a Chihuahua; however, the company changed their formula in 2012, and since then the complains have skyrocketed. There are literally over a thousand complaints about Nutro posted http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/nutro.html. While some owners continue to feed their dogs Nutro without suffering from any ill effects, personally I would avoid it, especially for a small Chihuahua. Hope that helps and best of luck to you and your Chihuahua!
I have been feeding my Chihuahua’s (11 yr & 8 yr) Nature’s Valley Instinct for . several years; recommended by a client who had her dog tested for allergie. Both have allergies but one is worse than the other & take allergy pills! One has had cortizone shot & got some better. 2,wk later bad again-vet qput on prednisone & is on last phase-1 every other day for couple more weeks. Went to vet & just told the vet the situation. He thinks we need to change dog foods &they r pickey & must be. Small bites! We have already tried his HP suggestion & they wouldn’t eat it?? We tried Blue but they pick out the nutrient bites & leave them all over the floor? Any suggestion is best to try?