It’s not surprising that Chihuahuas can be fickle about their food choice, as it coincides with their fiery, stubborn personalities. Known for having weak digestive systems, the Chihuahua needs a properly balanced diet filled with nutrients in order to grow and to maintain their health. But that’s not necessarily coming from the jumbo pack of dog food, nor do ‘high quality’ brands always deliver on their promises. It’s important that you–as the owner–know exactly what sort of a diet your little canine requires, and why it’s a necessity.
Invest In High-Quality Food
It’s often not that owners are lazy and prefer to buy standard food in bulk, but the difference in pricing between regular dog food and premium dog food is polarizing. Eating healthy in this day and age for humans is pricy, and it’s the same thing for your little companions.
However, when it comes to Chihuahuas and their fragility, if you’re feeding your pup an overabundance of food that works specifically as sustenance, but doesn’t provide the proper nutrients, then you’re exposing him to more health risks.
When trying to be cost efficient, know that if your Chihuahua develops an illness it’s most likely going to cost you a pretty penny.
If you happen to be feeding your Chihuahua the wrong food, some of the symptoms that can arise from malnutrition are as follows:
- Excessive hair loss outside of shedding
- A lack of energy
- Poor dental hygiene, often taking the form of tooth decay
- Obesity
- Stunted growth and constantly exposed to sickness
As you can see, these symptoms are not so different from what happens with the human anatomy when the body does not receive the proper nutrients. It is important to objectively research the different food products you are considering giving your pup. In addition, there are certain foods that should be avoided altogether.
Foods To Avoid
- Dyes
- Additives that work as fillers
- Gluten
- Sugars
- Corn syrup
- Certain types of fat (specifically animal fat)
What To Feed Your Chihuahua
The short answer: meat. No matter what variation of diet, a Chihuahua’s primary food choice should be meat. That means you can feed your pup chicken, fish, beef, lamb, and pork.
But so long as your Chihuahuas diet consists of 40% meat, you’re already on a better track. Then comes vegetables (avoid regular potatoes) which will help with all the essential vitamins and minerals.
Of course, there are tons of dog foods out there that are a mixture of meat and vegetables, but there’s nothing stopping you from administering homemade meals.
In fact, there are plenty of owners that prefer to cook their dog’s food themselves, so to monitor exactly what’s going into their pups diet.
All in all, how well your Chihuahua eats is entirely up to you. He will need fresh meats and a balance of rich, nutrient and mineral filled vegetables. A proper diet will keep your Chihuahua healthier, happier, and reduce the risk of any health issues or complications. This is a fragile, tiny breed (the smallest of all dog breeds). They’re relatively resilient to illness, but can easily be malnourished if an owner isn’t being responsible.