Chihuahuas may be small, but they have beastly appetites. The problem is that they are picky eaters who can very easily become obese so the choice of dog food you make is vital. To help you out, here are the 8 best dog food for chihuahuas and what each brand has to offer your pooch.
Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Chihuahua Dry Dog Food
The Royal Canin kibbles are tailor made to suit the small jaws and often weaker teeth of chihuahua breeds. This makes it easy for the little one to pick their treats up from the bowl which significantly reduces your stress during feeding time.
The food also contains omega-3 EPA and DHA and biotin. These play a role in promoting skin and fur health for your little pooch. This is particularly important with chihuahuas as their coats tend to easily run dry and flaky.
These dogs are incredibly energetic and need food that allows them to keep up with this lifestyle. This Royal Canin formula is packed with energy dense ingredients including grains like corn, oat and rice. The high protein content from the chicken also contributes to this energy while also ensuring that the dog’s muscles are strong enough to handle all the activity.
Key features
- Formulated for chihuahuas 8 months or older.
- Contains natural flavor additives for a more palatable treat.
- It is easy to digest.
- Contains several minerals and vitamins.
Why is it our top pick?
Everything about this dog food is ideal for your chihuahua from the kibble design to the nutrient balance. That way you have all you need for your beloved dog’s nutrition in one package. It is also very tasty which is ideal for the picky eaters both as main meals and fun treats.
Nutro Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
This is designed essentially as a weight management formula for small dog breeds. It is ideal for chihuahuas as despite their active lifestyles, they are actually at risk of being overweight or even obese due to their weight. The weight management formula primarily contains protein rich ingredients like salmon, chicken and lamb. These help to build up muscle while also offering enough energy for the dog to stay active.
It is also free from dense carbohydrates like corn, soy or wheat. These usually contribute to weight gain as excess is stored as fat in the chihuahua’s body. In there place, the formula includes other food groups including nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables which offer fiber and energy where the grains would have.
Key features
- No GMO ingredients.
- Includes 15 superfood fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains.
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
- Small bite-sized kibbles.
Is it worth it?
This is a top choice if you are looking for a weight management dog food option for your chihuahua. The ingredient combination ensures that they have just the right proportions of all they need to remain healthy, active and strong. The best part is that you get all these perks at some of the best chihuahua dog food prices on the market.
Victor Dog Grain-Free Food
This dog food from Victor stands out with its no grain formula. This makes it ideal for chihuahuas with allergies to grains or products like gluten. It is also works well for weight control as you do not have too many carbs for the dog to burn off.
The formula is also fortified with other essential nutrient groups. These include vitamins and minerals from supplement addition as well as from other ingredients like the meat products and vegetables. That way, your pooch has a healthy balanced diet.
Key features
- Contains probiotics for improved gut health.
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
- Multiple protein sources including fish, beef and chicken.
- Ideal for pregnant or lactating chihuahuas or their puppies.
Final verdict
This is a great alternative when you are shopping for your chihuahua if you suspect a gluten or grain allergy. The formulation ensures that they get healthy and safe food free from the allergens without missing out on proper nutrition.
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food
This is yet another option you could consider if you have been struggling with your dog’s overweight status. The weight control formula features lean chicken meat as key ingredient. This is low in fats and high in protein for the ideal combination of calorie control and muscle strengthening. That way, your pet gets the strength they need to stay active and burn fat without negating these effects by piling on more fat.
It is also very rich in fiber from the other ingredients including corn, brown rice and barley. These come in very handy when it comes to weight loss as it they have a filling effect which helps prevent the chihuahua from overeating.
Key features
- It is designed for adult chihuahuas.
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
- Fortified with vitamins C and E for immunity.
Final verdict
Hill’s Science is a pretty good alternative to our budget pick if you want a weight control formula for your dog. The best part is that it made from natural ingredients which definitely does your furry little buddy a lot of good.
Castor & Pollux Organix Grain Free Organic Puppy Recipe
This chihuahua dog food from Castor & Pollux stands out form a lot of options on the market due to the use of organic and all-natural ingredients. The key ingredient here is chicken from free-range poultry. This guarantees that your dog will be getting high quality food rich in muscle-strengthening proteins and healthy omega fats. These are key for growing chihuahuas.
It is also unique form most formulas as it is grain free. This makes it worth considering if your dog has shown any physical reaction to feeds with grain ingredients. You could also try it out if you want your dog on a protein heavy and carbohydrate light diet.
Key features
- Includes DHA for improved chihuahua puppy development.
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
- Rich in omega 3 and 6 healthy fats.
Final verdict
This dog food is specifically designed for puppies and pregnant or nursing chihuahuas. However, with all the nutritional benefits as well as the grain free formula it would be ideal for any chihuahua with gluten allergies.
IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Minichunks Chicken Dry Dog Food
This is another unique option made from free range chicken. The chicken is a lot tastier due to the presence of natural chicken fat flavoring which is definitely a plus for the picky chihuahuas. The organic meat is also richer in proteins which are needed for muscle development.
The recipe also contains prebiotic which help with improved digestion for the chihuahua. The effect is complemented by the presence of fiber rich ingredients like grain and beet root pulp. All these are crucial for the breed which is often prone to digestive problems.
Key features
- Includes l-carnitine for improved metabolism.
- Wheat gluten-free formulation.
- Omega 3 and 6 for healthy coat and cognitive function.
- Crunchy bite sized kibbles.
Final verdict
With the prebiotics and fiber content, this is a wonderful dog food to consider if your little pooch has been having potty problems whether it is constipation or diarrhoea. The ingredients help improve gut health for a happier dog.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
This chihuahua dog food option offers your best buddy a balanced diet with the key ingredients being farm-raised chicken, brown rice & sweet potato. The chicken offers proteins for muscle growth and repair while also adding flavor to make the kibbles tasty for the pooch. The sweet potato and rice on the other hand are carbohydrates that offer energy to the little firecrackers to keep them active.
The formula also contains natural fibers. These are necessary for improved gut health and function. That way you do not have to worry as much about your chihuahua suffering from tummy upsets and conditions like constipation.
Key features
- Fortified with important minerals and vitamins.
- No GMO ingredients.
- No corn, wheat or soy.
Final verdict
This is an ideal choice if you want to give your dog a proper balanced diet. They will have everything from proteins and carbohydrates to vitamins and minerals to survive and thrive.
Diamond Premium Recipe Complete and Balanced Dry Dog Food
The Diamond Premium dog food has special ingredients useful in brain development. These are DHA and omega oils which are obtained from animal oil sources like fish oil and chicken fat. Their effect on improved brain development and cognitive function makes the food ideal for chihuahua puppies as well as for pregnant or lactating adults. The omega oils are also required when it comes to promoting skin and fur health.
The formula also contains a lot of fiber from the beet and whole grain ingredients like corn. These help improve the chihuahua’s digestion and overall gut function.
Key features
- Fortified with antioxidants for improved immunity
- Includes probiotics.
- Natural flavor enhancement for the picky eaters.
Final verdict
The formula is ideal for Ideal for puppy chihuahuas for the brain development effects as well as for the improved digestion as they move to solid food.
Best Dog Food For Chihuahuas Buyer’s Guide
As with any other dog breed, shopping for a chihuahua is an art. You need to understand what the breed needs in terms of the preferences, activity levels and overall health statistics. To help you out as you shop for your little bundle of hyperenergetic joy, here are a few things you should know about their special dietary considerations. That way you will find the best food for furry buddy.
Weaker Jaws and Teeth
Small dog breeds do not exactly have the strongest jaws; this is a well-known fact. As some of the smallest in the family of tiny dog breeds, chihuahuas have a particularly hard time with their jaws and teeth.
Due to the size, they are prone to strains and other injuries especially while eating. Their weak teeth are also at risk of issues like chipping or developing cavities. For these reasons, you need to ensure that you find dog food with kibbles that are of perfect size and consistency for your dog.
You want something small enough that they can easily pick up the kibbles as they eat without having to stretch their jaws too wide. The consistency needs to be the perfect balance between crunchy enough to have a mechanical tooth cleaning effect and soft enough that they can easily be chewed by the weak jaws.
Burn Through Energy Quickly
To call a chihuahua a firecracker would be a gross understatement and if you have one then you know better than anyone else how these dogs just never seem to run out energy. And while their constant barking, running around and demand for playtime might get endearing, it could also put them at risk of issues like hypoglycemia.
This exhaustion of their energy reserves happens when they play too much. It could be as mild as a crash and nap or as serious as full on hypoglycemia with all the nasty symptoms. So how do you deal with this? How do you ensure that your dog gets to stay active without putting them at risk?
The answer is to feed them well. They must get adequate amounts of food rich in healthy carbohydrates. Whole grain options are particularly awesome as they offer a slow and constant supply of energy without any crashes.
They Are At Risk Of Developing Obesity
On the opposite end of the spectrum, chihuahuas are also at risk of becoming overweight. This happens in cases where the dog is either not playing enough due to injury and other restrictions or when they eat more than they need to.
The best way around this is to go for weigh management dog food options. These are formulated to offer the right amount of energy to the little one while also keeping fattening components like fats and carbs low. These come in particularly handy if the dog is gaining weight due to lack of enough physical activity.
If overeating is the problem, then consider fiber dense options. These are incredibly filling and ensure that your pooch does not need too much to be satisfied.
Their Coats Need Some Tender Loving Nutrition-based Care
Chihuahua fur is not very thick which leaves the skin exposed to the elements including water, sun, wind and even pests. They therefore need a lot of tender loving care to keep their coats glossy and healthy. Nutrition is one way to achieve this through ingredients like omega fats which help to keep the skin supple and the fur thick and shiny.
They Have Very Sophisticated Palates
This is quite frankly nothing more than a nice way to say that chihuahuas are really picky eaters. This is particularly the case with puppies. If you are not careful, you will end up with an underfed and malnourished pooch that is not as active and happy as you they have the potential to be.
The good news is that they respond very well to flavorful foods. So, find something with natural flavors like chicken, lamb or pork fat. These make the food a lot more appealing and the dogs more excited about feeding time.
Final Thoughts
Shopping for chihuahua food is all about understanding the dog’s needs and what options out there best satisfy them. With all that you have learnt from the review and shopping guide, you should know enough to make an informed decision as to what to feed your precious little buddy.
If you are at a loss as to where to start in what is essentially a flooded dog food market, check out any of our 8 best dog food for chihuahua options. Whether it is for weight management, an organic meal plan or dealing with grain allergies, you will definitely find something ideal to keep your adorable little pooch fueled.