5 Best Foods For Chihuahuas

Chihuahuas are the world’s most iconic small-dog breed. While this breed is generally known for being healthy, the foods we feed our beloved pets should ensure they’re getting the best!

Moreover, due to their small size, the quality of the food is more important than the quantity of food. Overfeeding can cause obesity which is not good for their small size. However, we can nurture this adorable breed by giving them quality dog food.

What really defines “quality” is what is in the dog food. Dog foods with unnecessary ingredients are never a good choice. Choosing dog foods with more wholesome ingredients is always the better choice.

In the case of Chihuahuas specifically, the dog foods they are fed should help aid them to live long, healthy lives. Moreso, the foods should help encourage good joint health, skin and coat health, and dental health.

These issues are the biggest health issues that Chihuahuas can face. When they have foods that will help promote healthier lifestyles in concerns about these issues, it is overall better for them!

Other good characteristics that define “quality” are dog foods made in countries that do not use toxic ingredients. Dog foods can contain a hodge-podge of ingredients.

The countries that provide the best quality foods are ones that come from the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and parts of Western Europe. These countries have high standards when it comes to producing the foods we feed our dogs.

With these key health issues in mind, what are the best dog foods for Chihuahuas? There are top-rated foods out there that will contain the appropriate nutrients for Chihuahuas. They will also have meat as the first ingredient.

The first listed ingredient is the primary ingredient used in the recipe. Knowing that meat is the first ingredient gives real peace of mind in the quality of the food.

These types of foods are aimed to give Chihuahuas everything they need to live long and healthy lives. We should want to give our pups the best! Chihuahuas are well known for their big personalities despite their small size and the food they consume gives them all the energy they need!

So let’s explore the more specific foods that will keep the pep in any Chihuahua’s step!

Best Foods For Chihuahuas

Whether you’re a new Chihuahua owner or want something new for your beloved pup, there’s a perfect choice of food out there for Chihuahuas! The following are the top 5 choices for Chihuahuas.

1. Blue Buffalo Small Breed Food for Adult Dogs

Blue Buffalo is a well-respected dog food based out of the US. It offers the perks of having chicken as its first ingredient and is known to help support joint health in small breeds. Chihuahuas can really benefit from this brand of dog food.

Their joint health is important as it keeps them active! It also contains fruits and veggies which are important to small breeds’ immune systems. While it has its perks, the biggest complaint is that sometimes dogs don’t digest it well, but this can be an issue with any dog food on the market! Blue Buffalo makes for a great choice to feed Chihuahuas.

There is another variation of Blue Buffalo that is from their ‘Wilderness line”. This line boasts extra proteins to help keep Chihuahuas satisfied longer and energetic! Primarily, this variation of Blue Buffalo has probiotics to aid in digestive health. This makes it a fantastic choice as a secondary Blue Buffalo brand option!

While adult foods are important, puppy Chihuahuas need special foods too. Blue Buffalo also offers premium puppy food that is made of chicken, oatmeal, and brown rice. These ingredients can be easily digested and add important fiber to a puppy’s diet.

Moreover, this food contains fatty acids found in mother’s milk. These fatty acids (known as ARA and DHA) promote healthy development for puppies in terms of their retinal health and cognitive functions. Overall, Blue Buffalo delivers delicious foods for small breed dogs like Chihuahuas!

2. Canidae Pure Small Breed Food

Canidae strives to deliver delicious small breed food. One of its biggest attractive points is that it promotes dental health! It does this by having perfectly sized kibble bits. Kibble is an important part of any dog food as it helps clean teeth as it’s eaten.

Alternatively, the kibble should be the right size as not to pose a choking hazard for small dogs. Pieces that are too large can be choked on and pieces that are too small may not benefit the teeth. Canidae provides this perfect balance!

Canidae also prides itself on having meat as the first ingredient. Its most popular varieties include chicken and freeze-dried salmon. Freeze-dried salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids that are great for heart health. Freeze-dried may seem like a strange term, however, it simply means the fish is not processed and freeze-drying keeps it fresh!

On top of having premium ingredients listed first, it has no soy or grains making it a great choice for dogs with allergies. Not all dogs will have allergies to grain or soy, but in the rare case that a Chihuahua does, Canidae is an exceptional choice!

3. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Food

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Food is one of the best for a shiny coat and healthy skin. Made with salmon oil, this small breed dog food is perfect for Chihuahua’s and their coats. Wellness CORE also prides itself on having the appropriate proteins in it to keep active dogs…well active!

Chihuahuas are known for being high-energy and they need food that supports that! Wellness CORE brings energy to Chihuahuas to keep them at their peak!

Another great reason Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Food is great for Chihuahuas because it promotes bone and joint health. One of the most important ingredients to have in dog food to support this is glucosamine and chondroitin.

Bone and joint health are important all throughout a dog’s life, however, it is especially important in older Chihuahuas. They will need all the bone and joint support they can get! Keeping up with this throughout their lives will ensure that as they age, their bones and joints are fully supported!

4. Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Food

Made in the US, this brand is known for its venison flavor. Venison is its first ingredient and is a tasty alternative to chicken. Moreover, Taste of the Wild provides skin and health as well with its omega fatty acids. It is also appropriately sized so Chihuahuas can have healthy teeth and also have better digestion on their small tummies!

This highly-rated small breed dog food is a delicious taste for Chihuahuas and really gives them a “taste of the wild”. While they may be small dogs, they are still dogs. Dogs have natural instincts connected to the wild, so having a little taste of this is truly a treat for them!

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Food is also a great choice for Chihuahuas because it also contains pre-biotics for digestion. It also includes delicious ingredients like fruits and vegetables, lamb, duck, and even egg. Having ingredients that are recognisable is very important to any Chihuahua’s diet!

5. Eukanuba Adult Small Breed Food

This brand of Chihuahua dog food is by far the best when it comes to teeth and mouth health! Eukanuba puts extra consideration in small breed’s teeth health with this brand of food. It is full of antioxidants that promote gum and teeth health. These antioxidants are known to reduce tartar build-up on the teeth within 28 days.

Eukanuba also provides digestive health properties through these antioxidants. Chihuahuas can benefit from these for easy digestion. This really makes this brand appealing for those looking for new choices for their small pups! It really stands with all the quality expectations that should come in dog food.

These five choices give Chihuahuas the best of the best when it comes to ingredients. From bone and joint health to teeth health, all these choices will benefit these adorable personable dogs. Once again, picking something with better quality over quantity is best.

While some of these dog foods carry a high price tag, they are worth every penny. Chihuahuas only need up to a 1 1/3 cup of food a day, so spending a little extra is well worth the money!

What Human Foods Can A Chihuahua Eat?

Chihuahuas can eat human foods, especially because some of them are incorporated into their dry foods. It is important to know what foods may be safe to feed a Chihuahua and which ones are not.

While it is not suggested to only give a Chihuahua human food, it can be used as a treat every now and again. This is because it can cause upset stomachs or diarrhea.

Things like meats and fish should always be cooked as raw meats and fish are never good for anyone or anything. Any human food being feed to a Chihuahua should be done in strict moderation.

Moreover, overfeeding human food (or regular dog food) can lead to obesity. Because Chihuahuas have small frames, obesity can really be bad for them and their joints as well as their hearts. Below is the list of human foods that can and can’t be fed to Chihuahuas!

Foods Safe For Chihuahuas

• Fish
• Unseasoned chicken (with NO fat)
• Unsalted peanut butter (with NO additives like sugar-free substitutes etc as they are toxic)
• Unseasoned turkey (with NO fat)
• Blueberries
• Cucumbers
• Most veggies, in moderation of course

These foods are great as a really rare treat for a dog. It should never be “table scraps” as they usually have seasonings on them.

Unsafe Foods For Chihuahua

• Chocolate
• Bacon or fatty meats
• Milk or dairy
• Grapes or raisins
• Garlic or onions

These unsafe foods can cause death, however, they can also cause serious health issues such as organ problems and failure. Always be aware of what’s available for a Chihuahua to get into. Keeping these foods away from them is critical!

How Do You Make Homemade Chihuahua Food?

For those looking for alternatives to buying expensive dog foods, it is possible to make homemade food safe for your Chihuahua. Primarily, these will be made up of fresh ingredients and no additives.

This ensures that only the best is going into the food! But how do you make homemade Chihuahua food? It may sound complicated, however, it really isn’t! Below are some great examples of recipes to make delicious treats or food options for a Chihuahua!

Boiled Chicken And Veggie Mix For A Chihuahua

Chicken, trimmed of its fat, can provide quite the nutritious meal for a Chihuahua. While they can be picky eats, chicken is generally a favoured flavour!

Boiling the chicken will completely cook it. Always allow it to completely cool before serving. Below are the ingredients needed:

• 1.36kg of chicken
• 1419 milliliters of water
• 946 milliliters brown rice
• 236 milliliters of veggies (green beans, pumpkin, sweet potato, etc), pureed.

Cook the chicken in the water until done. Boil the rice in the same water, to add flavor to the rice. Mix with the pureed veggies and store extras in the freezer for easy access. Consult a vet for any additional vitamins that can be added to this recipe or others!

Ground Meat and Veggie Mix

Ground meat can be cooked quickly but it also serves to provide more for your money! Any meat and veggie mix can be made ahead and used daily for feeding. Below are the ingredients needed:

• Ground turkey or chicken, lean with little fat content
• Water
• Rice
• Veggies like peas or green beans or a small amount of carrot

Using a crockpot, this recipe can come together on low for 8 hours. After letting it completely cool, the ingredients can be melded together for a perfect unison of dog food! Easy to eat and delicious, it can be a great choice for homemade dog food. Once again, consult a vet for any added nutrients that need to be incorporated into the food.

Homemade dog food is a simple way to provide iconic ingredients but some may find it hard to get all the right nutrients in there. That is why kibble can have health benefits for Chihuahuas and be combined with homemade foods as well.

No matter what, the very best should be given to Chihuahuas so they can live their best lives! Basic kibble and bits don’t have to make up a dog’s diet, small breeds like Chihuahuas benefit from delicious and exclusive choices of kibble!