DOGS 101: Feeding your Chihuahua

I went to the veterinarian today to do have Tami's checkup. I was surprised when I found out he gained 0.15 pounds in a span of 2 weeks. I know I shouldn't be worrying about his weight, but him being a 3-month-old Chi that weighs 2.75 pounds sort of alarms me. I'm not sure if I'm over feeding him so I looked all over the web for the proper feeding time table for Chi's.

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

According to LoveTheChihuahua.com, here are the recommended food that a Chihuahua owner must give:


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:

I hope this post helps! Whatever kind of food you decide to give to your Chi's, remember to prepare it with extra TLC, tender loving care.