Chihuahua is a dog breed that needs no introduction; with a larger-than-life sassy personality, doll-like looks, and tiny size, these dogs are sure to leave a lasting impression.
One of the earliest known dog breeds in the Americas dating back to pre-Columbian times, chihuahuas are honored as a national symbol in Mexico.
This breed has many variations in physical characteristics, coming in many colors, sizes, and patterns.
These small and charming dogs have hallmark soulful eyes and rounded “apple” shaped heads. Their alert, charming, and graceful demeanor make these bite-sized dogs stand out from the crowd.
The AKC ranks this breed as the 30th most popular one in the United States. Although chihuahuas are found in families, they’ve gained a considerable amount of notoriety during the noughties in movies such as “Legally Blonde” and in the tabloids as “purse dogs” to stars like Britney Spears.
Regardless, these tiny dogs are pretty adaptable, especially to cramped apartment life. On average, chihuahuas have a lifespan of 14 to 16 years, never weigh more than 3 kg, and grow to be about 5 to 8 inches in height.
Different dog breeds have unique dietary requirements according to their activity levels, energy, and body build. Chihuahuas are small and moderately active dogs.
Thus, they don’t have extraordinarily demanding dietary requirements. Feeding them nutrients in moderation is essential to avoid obesity, joint problems, weakened immune power, and heart and lung diseases.
Purina recommends that chihuahuas weighing around 3 kg be fed a minuscule ⅓ to 1 cup of dog food daily.
Just like with all other dogs, following a consistent feeding schedule is beneficial for dogs and owners, as it keeps the digestive predictable and regular.
Make sure to consult a veterinarian to help plan a feeding schedule explicitly formulated for your dog based on variables such as their age, weight, and activity level.
However, keep in mind that you should not feed dogs before and after exercise and other prolonged periods of activity.
This is because feeding chihuahuas after training may result in a dangerous and threatening complication known as bloat.
Chihuahuas have more sensitive digestive tracts than usual and thus are more prone to food allergies than other dogs.
Thus feeding your dog human food may not be such a great idea.
Some common foods that chihuahuas are allergic to include chocolates, caffeine, alcohol, and garlic, amongst many other common foods.
Theobromine, a compound found in chocolate and chocolate products, is toxic for dogs
and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. At a dosage of 100 mg per pound of bodyweight, Theobromine can be fatal for chihuahuas.
While caffeine and caffeinated foods and beverages are a way many of us start the day, the compound is a crystalline purine stimulant, which dogs cannot properly metabolize.
Therefore, giving caffeine to dogs may lead to seizures, hyperactivity, tremors, and more symptoms if exposed. 75 mg per pound of bodyweight of caffeine is lethal to chihuahuas.
Alcohol is a drink that contains ethanol, another compound toxic for dogs.
It can depress your dog’s respiratory and central nervous systems and damage crucial organs like the heart and the lungs.
Some side effects of caffeine on dogs are lethargy, hypothermia, and metabolic acidosis in lethal doses.
Garlic is surprisingly lethal for dogs; even though popular as a treatment for fleas, it contains an enzyme known as thiosulfate, which dogs cannot digest.
Furthermore, chihuahuas convert organosulfur compounds in garlic into oxidative compounds that cause “Heinz Body Anemia.”
Finally, raw and uncooked foods such as raw meat and eggs are strictly prohibited for all dogs.
So what food will you feed your little furry friend? We’ve compiled a list of ten popular small dog foods on Amazon.com that are perfect for your sassy little Chihuahua.
Table of Contents
Royal Canine Breed Health Nutrition Chihuahua Adult Dry Dog Food
The first entry on the list is “Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Chihuahua Adult Dry Dog Food.” With an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 4,242 global user ratings, this is clearly an excellent choice for chihuahuas.
Furthermore, this product is certified as “Amazon’s Choice” for chihuahua dog food due to its impeccable quality, pricing, and fast shipping.
“Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Chihuahua Adult Dry Dog Food” is available in two sizes; 2.5 and 10-pound packs.
This brand of dog food is made with purebred chihuahuas in mind and is formulated to meet their nutritional and energy needs.
The kibble is made with chicken and is specially designed for chihuahuas to chew on easily.
Furthermore, it is highly palatable and your dog will love to feed on it, even if they are picky eaters. The high fiber content and highly digestible proteins as well as the biotin, DHA, Omega-3, and EPA help improve skin and coat health and decrease stool and its odor.
This excellent choice of dog food is priced between $21.99 and $50.21, depending on the packet size you choose, making it a good budget choice of feed.
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Small & Mini Breeds, Sensitive Stomach & Skin
The second entry on the list comes from Hill’s Science Diet. “Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Small & Mini Breeds, Sensitive Stomach & Skin” is a touted brand of food for small dogs suffering from sensitive stomach and skin issues.
Averaging at 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 9,404 unique reviews, this is another superb choice of food for chihuahuas.
This product is made in the USA with high-quality exported ingredients.
This kibble is composed of accurately balanced and very digestible ingredients for dogs with sensitive stomachs and skin.
Prebiotic fiber helps regulate your dog’s optimal digestive health, while Vitamin E and Omega-6 help your Chihuahua get delicate and luscious skin and coat.
“Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food” has been made specifically for small dogs with digestive and skin issues. And it is tailor-made to support and sustain small breed dogs. This product is priced between $17.49 and $40.99, depending on whether you buy the four or the 15-pound pack.
Nutro ULTRA Small & Toy Breed Adult Dry Dog Food For Chihuahua
The third entry on the list is from Nutro. “Nutro Ultra Small & Toy Breed Adult Dry Dog Food” is another popular choice for small dog owners, with a weighted average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, from 4,680 individual ratings.
The popularity, easy shipping, value-for-money pricing, and quality of this brand have given it an Amazon’s choice certification. Nutro sells this feed in 3 bag sizes of 4,8, and 15 pounds.
What makes “Nutro Ultra Small & Toy Breed Adult Dry Dog Food” different from the other brands on our list is that it has three different proteins from real chicken, lamb, and salmon instead of one.
Furthermore, the food contains a Nutro-exclusive “superfoodmedley,” which is made up of organic grains such as brown rice, whole oats, and chia seeds.
Additionally, healthy proteins from eggs, flaxseeds, sunflower oils, and organic tomatoes help to keep your dog active.
Other included superfoods are – coconuts, apples, blueberries, carrots, pumpkins, kale, and spinach. These nutrients aid in promoting your dog’s well-being.
This holistic, delicious, exotic, and nutritious feed exclusively made for smaller breeds of dogs ensures that your Chihuahua can thrive with strong teeth and bones, good digestion, healthy skin and coat, and a lean body with strong muscles.
This food is priced from $16.99 to $34.99, depending on the weight you choose.
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Small Paws for Small Breed Dogs
The fourth entry on our list is “Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food,” yet another product from Hill’s Science Diet. This product is quite similar to the second entry on the list but is not formulated for small dogs with sensitive stomachs. Over 16,128 user ratings have placed it at 4.8 out of 5 stars.
This brand of kibble is available in two flavors; Chicken Meal & Rice and Lamb Meal & Brown Rice. It also comes in two packet sizes in 4 and 15 pounds.
A veterinarian-recommended brand, both the chicken meal & rice and lamb meal & brown rice flavors are made of natural, easily digestible ingredients that are easy for your small dog to digest and contain compounds such as Omega-6, Vitamin E, and other nutrients that promote skin and coat health.
Formulated specifically for small and toy dog breeds, “Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food” has an exclusive blend of proteins, grains, and nutrients that promote lifelong immune support and help maintain lean muscle.
The calorie content is 392 kcal/cup, appropriate for dogs of this size. Hill’s Science Diet has priced this brand of kibble between $18.99 and $37.99, depending on the flavor and quantity of the packet.
Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food Spring Vegetables Garnish Dog Kibble For Chihuahua
The fifth entry on our list is “Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food Spring Vegetables Garnish Dog Kibble.” Another stellar product with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from around 12,163 customer ratings.
Cesar sells this in three sizes of 2.7, 5, and 12 pounds, and in three unique and rather lavish flavors of Chicken, Filet Mignon, and Porterhouse Steak. Amazon also highlights this as an Amazon’s Choice product.
The heart of this dog food is authentic and organic beef and chicken proteins, as well as over 26 unique ingredients such as grains, vitamins, and minerals that are sure to keep your Chihuahua happy and healthy.
This gourmet kibble is exclusively made to be meaty, appetizing, and chewable for small dogs and fulfill their energy and nutritional needs, as well as ensure that they stay healthy.
Cesar uses resealable zips on their bags so that the food stays fresh and the bags can be reused and used for storage.
Overall, these are a good choice for picky eaters or if you just want to give your pup something new to try. “Cesar Small Breed Dry Dog Food Spring Vegetables Garnish Dog Kibble” is priced between an unbelievable $5.19 and $9.22, making it an incredibly bang-for-your-buck product.
Iams Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food For Chihuahua
Coming in sixth on the list, “Iams Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food” is another popular choice for small and toy dog breed owners. With an excellent rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 16,540 users.
This is yet another “Amazon’s Choice” product, meaning that it’s a fantastic surefire choice for chihuahuas. Iams provides this product in a single chicken flavor and two sizes, 7 and 15 pounds.
This veterinarian-recommended dog food is made up of real, organic farm chicken kibbles, real, wholesome ingredients, no filler, and contains antioxidants, nutrients, and Omega-6 fatty acids, which are made specifically to sustain your small dog’s immune and physical health and wellness.
Depending on the bag weight you buy, Iams has priced their feed from $14.66 to $36.97, thus making it one of the highest money-for-value products on the list.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet | Small-Breed Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
The seventh entry on the list is “Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet.” This feed has a weighted rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 2,891 user ratings. “Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet” is grain-free dog food for adult dogs of all sizes and breeds.
This food is available in a whopping eight different package sizes, varying from 4 to 26 lb in weight.
“Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet” comes in seven different flavors, namely, Chicken & Sweet Potato, Lamb, Sweet Potato & Bison, Sweet Potato & Venison, Beef, Duck & Potato, and Salmon & Sweet Potato. Thus picky chihuahuas will have a wide variety of options to choose from.
All flavors of the “Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet” are grain-free. Thus it can be eaten by dogs with sensitive digestive tracts.
These feeds champion a single protein source in their kibble, alongside sweet potatoes and minerals to provide your dog with energy and propagate healthy internal systems and physical growth in them.
Purina ONE SmartBlend For Chihuahua
In the eighth place on our list, we have dog food by Purina. “Purina ONE SmartBlend,” is a popular and trusted dog food brand by Nestle.
This product has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 16,932 international user ratings and is a clear hit with dogs and their parents. However, we can also attribute the popularity of this product to Nestle’s brand image and reliability.
Purina ONE SmartBlend is dry dog food for adult dogs. It is available in 5 packet sizes from 4 lbs to 40 lbs, in a Chicken and Rice flavor.
This feed is recommended for all breed sizes and is thus suitable for chihuahuas.
The main ingredients in “Purina ONE SmartBlend” are morsels of protein-rich chicken, crunchy pieces of kibble, as well as rice flour and corn gluten meals alongside other grains.
This kibble has a dual-defense antioxidant blend that helps pups sustain a healthy and robust immune system.
The minerals, vitamins, and supplements contained in the food promote healthy joint and bone growth. This feed has zero filler and is super nutritious for dogs of all sizes.
Depending on the specifications of the food that you buy, Purina ONE SmartBlend will cost you between $17.33 and $104.58 to purchase.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food For Chihuahua
This ninth entry is one of the best-selling dog foods on Amazon.com. With an average rating of 4.7/5 from a sizeable 30,685 global user ratings, we can safely say that this product would be a great choice to buy for all dog owners.
“Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food” is available in a huge variety of packet sizes and flavors. Packets can be found from 5 lbs to 34 lbs in weight and in six different flavors; fish & brown rice, chicken & brown rice, lamb & brown rice, beef & brown rice, and small bite chicken & brown rice.
According to the flavor of the food you buy, this kibble will contain perfect quality, organic boneless beef, chicken, lamb, or whitefish. Some other ingredients included in this kibble are a healthy and balanced blend of oatmeal grains, wholesome brown rice, barley, and beneficial vegetables such as carrots, blueberries, and minerals.
Furthermore, Blue Buffalo dog food has unique “LifeSource Bits” that help dogs achieve healthy skin and muscle growth. Depending on your purchase size and flavor, this product will set you back $16.98 to $136.50.
Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food For Chihuahua
The final dog food that we have listed is “Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food.” This product has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 3,687 global ratings and reviews.
Wellness Natural Pet Food sells this food in Turkey & Oatmeal flavors and in two packet sizes of 4 and 12 lbs.
“Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food” is specially made for small dogs with high-quality turkey protein, spinach, oatmeal grains, and antioxidant-filled blueberries alongside other nutrients and supplements to keep your dog in optimal shape.
This feed has no filler, preservatives, or meat by-product added to it and is formulated with nutrient-rich ingredients so that you can be assured your Chihuahua is getting only the best quality food.
This brand of dog food is priced from $18.14 to $31.00, depending on the weight of the bag purchased.
It is best to consult with a veterinarian before choosing a brand to feed your dog. This is because chihuahuas are more susceptible to dietary and health-related issues than other dogs. Some things to note regarding Chihuahuas are that their bowels are highly sensitive and can be easily upset and lead to numerous health issues.
Chihuahuas are not very active dogs; thus, they can easily become overweight, which could, in turn, potentially lead to diabetes. To avoid this, it’s important that you portion their meals properly, refrain from giving them too many treats, and make them walk, play or do any activity throughout the day.
Additionally, chihuahuas are also hypoglycemic, meaning that they have lower than normal levels of blood sugar. Some telltale signs of hypoglycemia include lethargy, seizures, and twitching.
In these cases, buying a brand of feed low in carbohydrates or grain-free could be a good option. These dogs may also suffer from heart diseases. Thus it is essential to ensure their diet is fortified with minerals such as sodium, potassium, and supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids and L-Carnitine.
On a lighter note, chihuahuas are also known to be picky eaters; thus, it’s best to give them delectable varieties of kibbles and dog food and to limit the number of treats you give to them.
Thus dog feeds like “Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet,” and “Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food,” which come in multiple flavors, could be a good choice for them.
Aside from a few unique entries, all dog foods listed above cover all the same basics; high in protein, specially designed to be sustaining for small dogs.
Ultimately, there is no one-stop solution for all pets, as they are all inherently different and have unique needs. Overall it is crucial to ensure that your Chihuahuas are getting a balanced and healthy diet according to their lifestyles, as a bad diet could drastically decrease your dog’s qualities of life and even their lifespans.
Pingback: Discover Fascinating world of Chihuahua Dog breed