Chihuahuas are the pocket rockets of the canine world – small but mighty! These little pups have unique nutritional needs to keep those engines running. It’s essential for pet parents to choose a top-notch diet for their four-legged friend or risk poor health due to obesity and other ailments such as dental disease and hypoglycemia.

Don’t just settle on any dog food; make sure they get one that is designed explicitly with Chihuahua tummies in mind. To help you pick out something fit enough even Fido would be proud of, here are reviews of several foods tailor-made for your tiny pal: guaranteed it’ll become man’s (or woman’s!) best friend approved!

Our recommendation for the best dog food you should be feeding your chihuahua is towards the bottom. First, Let’s learn all about your chihuahua’s needs.

The Best Dog Food for Chihuahuas

Chihuahuas are pocket-sized pooches who pack a heftier punch than their size implies. Due to this small pup’s high energy output and fast metabolism, they need specially formulated grub that packs more of an energetic punch as well – Chihuahua nutrition must be taken seriously!

Smallmouth matters too – tiny teeth can’t tackle larger kibble sizes, so look for pet food made especially with little mouths in mind. Don’t worry, though; you don’t have to sacrifice nutritional quality when shopping specifically for your Chihuahua’s dietary needs – there are plenty of options out there designed just right to fit your furry friend perfectly!

Protein

When it comes to small-breed pup chow, protein should reign supreme! Make sure the #1 ingredient on your furry friend’s food label is meat – their diet depends on it. Treat ’em right with quality nutrition and flavor they can really sink their teeth into.

Important sources of protein include:

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Beef
• Fish
• Venison

Chihuahuas may be small, but they demand nourishment! With a minimum protein content of 25%, and an optimal mixture of calories to protein ratio – the same as puppies would need – you’ll have your fur baby’s diet covered.

Animal proteins are much easier for dogs to digest than their plant-based counterparts, so opt out of those when shopping around. You’ll find all of our recommendations fit the bill!

Fats

Does your Chihuahua need more energy? Well, they naturally burn a lot of fuel – so fat can help them stay lively. But it’s important not to overdo it! Puppy formula has higher levels of fats which are great for puppies as their metabolisms grow into adulthood.

Adult Chihuahuas only need 13-15% fat in their diet – any additional intake could mean obesity problems down the line. So make sure you look at that food label before serving up some yummy treats for Fido!

Your Chihuahua will likely get its fats from:

• Fish oil
• Flaxseed
• Omega’s
• Chicken fat or other animal fats

Carbohydrates

When it comes to feeding your Chihuahua, don’t forget the carbs! But not too many: no more than 20% of their daily diet should come from carbohydrates. This is even lower for smaller breeds that have a tendency towards obesity—these kinds of complex carbs are necessary. Still, they must be carefully managed to avoid dangerous spikes in blood sugar levels like those seen with hypoglycemia.

Whole grains, veggies, and some fruits can provide these types of much-needed nutrients while ensuring they stay healthy and fit – perfect if you’ve got an adventurous pup on your hands who needs plenty of fuel!

Examples of Complex Carbohydrates

• Sweet Potatoes
• Whole grains
• Chickpeas
• Rice
• Barley
• Peas
• Beans

Give your pup a premium diet with wet food! Not only is it deliciously juicy, but lowering the carb count in their meals could be beneficial for small breeds like Chihuahuas. Offering them treats that are 20% carbohydrate or less can go a long way to optimum nutrition and health.

We listed the best wet dog food for your Chihuahua below!

Fruits & Vegetables

Keep your Chihuahua healthy and happy in their later years by including plenty of fruits and veggies into their diet. Not only will this provide essential vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats – but also fiber to help promote comfortable digestion!

As an added bonus many antioxidant-rich foods are packed with deliciousness that’ll keep Fido energized for all his adventures!

How Much Food Should I Feed my Chihuahua?

For your little Chihuahua to remain healthy, it’s important that you provide them with two meals a day. But just as all dog breeds have their own specific set of dietary guidelines – so too do individual pups within the same breed!

Depending on whether Fido is three pounds or six pounds makes quite a big difference in terms of how much food they’ll need. So don’t forget: feeding times should be divided up into smaller portions throughout the day, like one pack for breakfast and another right before bedtime!

How Many Calories Does my Chihuahua Need?

A moderately active Chihuahua that weighs about 5 lbs requires a daily intake of 200-500 calories.

However, not all Chihuahuas weigh 5 lbs; thus, you’ll need to calculate the number of calories based on body weight.

Your dog will require a daily intake of 35 to 45 calories for every pound of body weight.

Chihuahua Food math: 6 lbs Chihuahua multiplied by 40 calories divided by two meals equals 120 calories per meal or 240 calories daily. See, math CAN be fun!

You can see how easy it is to overfeed these perfect pups accidentally!

Best Dog Food Ingredients for Chihuahuas

Feeding your Chihuahua the best dog food is one of the most important ways to keep them healthy and happy throughout their long lifespan. While it’s tempting to choose a meal with an appealing label, be sure to read ingredient labels carefully.

Look for proteins like fish, chicken, or venison at the top, and then note other wholesome ingredients such as fruits and vegetables, plus essential fats & carbs that can help guard against problems including hypoglycemia. After all – good nourishment now pays off in improved health down the line!

(hint: we’ve done this for you!)

Health Problems That Affect Chihuahuas

Dental Problems: This small breed, just like any other dog, is prone to dental problems, and the best way to curb this is by brushing their teeth and being proactive with their dental health.

Dry food will actually help clean your dog’s teeth as it chews on them. That’s not an excuse not to brush your dog’s teeth. Good try!

Diabetes: Chihuahuas are also susceptible to diseases like diabetes, especially hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia literally means low blood sugar. Keep their diets healthy and their schedule consistent.

Obesity: Chihuahuas are also prone to obesity. We already saw how many calories a 6 lbs average chihuahua needs; it is effortless to overfeed.

It gets even easier with age as they become less active. Dog food formulated for seniors helps combat this.

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Best Dog Food for Chihuahuas

Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Small Bites

Hill Science is a widely known dog food brand. Many people swear by their formula and think it is the best dog food brand out there.

• Formulated specifically for dogs that have sensitivities or allergies to certain foods.
• Gives your dog optimal digestive health from the prebiotic fiber.
• Specially formulated for small dog breeds, miniature, and toy sizes.
• It gives your dog 392 calories per cup of food it consumes.
• Kibble size is formulated small for small dog mouths and teeth. Kibble spans 6.5mm by 3mm.
• It contains fatty acids, omegas, and Vitamin E to give your dog a healthy coat.

This formula is made to be gentle on your dog’s stomach because most Chihuahuas can have sensitive stomachs. The prebiotic fiber in the food helps give your dog’s gut good bacteria to help support gut health. The food is also designed to create firmer stools making it easier to pass and pick up later.

The first ingredient in the food is chicken. You can rest easy knowing your dog will get a good source of protein from it. Other ingredients include brewers rice, yellow peas, pearled barley, and some other goodness!

Hill Science has omega 3s in the food and vitamin E to keep your dog’s skin healthy and the coat looking healthy and shiny. Each cup of food will provide your Chihuahua with 392 calories and a perfect blend of protein, carbs, and fats. The food is made with all-natural ingredients and back by many veterinarians.

Again, this is our pick for the best dog food for Chihuahuas with sensitive stomachs.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Small Breed Dry Dog Food

​Blue Buffalo is a top brand with high-quality and premium products. Blue Buffalo does not contain useless fillers found in other low-quality brands. It has no artificial flavors, coloring, or preservatives.

• Blue Buffalo always contains real meat as the first ingredient to ensure your dog is getting a good source of protein.
• Formulated with other all-natural ingredients such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
• Smaller kibble size for small breeds.
• Added fruits like cranberries will give your small dog antioxidants to help boost immunity.
• Does not contain wheat, corn, soy, or animal by-products.
• Gives your dog all the nutrients it needs for a healthy life.

It has a well-balanced combination of carbohydrates and high-quality proteins that ensure that all the nutritional requirements of your dog are met.

This specific product from Blue Buffalo is made for small-breed dogs. The kibble size is significantly smaller to be gentle on your dog’s small teeth. It also contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and omega 3’s for healthy skin and coat. This food will give your dog 350 calories per cup.

Royal Canin Chihuahua Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin is great because they create breed-specific dog food to ensure your Chihuahua gets the best nutrients it needs.

This will be your Chihuahua’s complete nutrition giving your dog a healthy balance of protein, fats, and carbs. Your dog will get 26% protein and 14% fat.

• Perfectly designed for Chihuahuas eight months and older.
• Perfect-size kibble for the Chihuahua’s small-sized mouth.
• It benefits your Chihuahuas coat due to the omega 3’s and biotin in the dog food.
• Reduces the odor of your dog’s flatulence.

The kibble has been designed in a shape that will be the easiest for your Chihuahua to pick up. The food is formulated to help gut health. This will make the digestion process easier for your dog.

Does your Chihuahua have a gas problem? You may want to try out this brand. We can’t help you with your husband, though!

Your Chihuahua’s coat will look better and better thanks to the omega-3s, DHA, and biotin in the formula of the dog food. Check out your dog’s coat. It should start to look much healthier and shiny thanks to these minerals.

You can start using this dog food when your Chihuahua is an adult. After eight months, your dog will be ready to switch to the Royal Canin Chihuahua Dog Food. Each cup contains 323 calories.

ORIJEN Dry Dog Food for Small Breed Dogs

Orijen Adult Dog Food has high-quality ingredients. 85% premium animal ingredients, providing a solid source of essential protein, vitamins, and minerals. The first 5 ingredients are always fresh or raw animal sources: including nutrient-rich meat, fish, poultry, whole fish, and organs

• This small breed formula is made with turkey, chicken, fish, quail, and protein-rich eggs.
• Food is designed to help give your dog a whole body and immune system support.
• Dog food contains fresh, raw, and dried sources of food.
• Supports your Chihuahua’s coat, skin, and eye health.

Orijen focuses on your Chihuahua’s total body health. This will help the body system, aid better digestion, and promote healthy eyes, skin, and coat.

This is a very high protein-forward dog food that works well for very active dogs. If your Chihuahua is highly active, then this may be just what you’re looking for to keep your dog sustained throughout the day.

The company work with local farmers to produce the best quality ingredients sustainably.

If money isn’t an object, this is paws-itively the best way to keep your pup fed! Treat them with top-quality food from a trusted brand, and you can be sure that their tail will be waggin’ in no time.

Best Wet Dog Food for Chihuahuas

Purina Beneful Small Breed Wet Dog Food Variety Pack

This is an excellent value pack of wet dog food that comes in three different flavors for your Chihuahua to enjoy. There is a chicken, beef, and salmon flavor in this variety pack. You will get 10 cans of each flavor. No more constantly running out to the grocery store to pick up dog food!

• This is a value pack of 30 cans, all weighing three ounces each.
• All wet food is made with real chicken, beef, and salmon.
• There is sauce in the food to add extra flavor.
• Perfect for adult dogs as a standalone food or eaten along with dry food.
• Complete nutrition in every can.

Each flavor comes with wild rice, tomatoes, and carrots. The product has been designed to give your small dog all the nutrients it needs. You can use this as a stand-alone feeding option, or you can mix some wet and dry food together.

The beef and salmon flavor is 86 calories per can, and the chicken flavor is 87 calories. This is also an excellent way to get picky eaters to eat some food. Many dogs like the texture of the shred of meat and vegetables.

Overall, this is an excellent, affordable wet dog food for your Chihuahua. It is perfect for adult-aged dogs and provides your dog with complete nutrition. Make sure you feed your dog the appropriate amount according to its weight.

This is an excellent option for mixing in a little wet food in with the dog’s dry food.

Blue Buffalo Delights Natural Adult Small Breed Wet Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Delights is another awesome option for wet dog food for your Chihuahua. The first ingredient in this wet food is beef. This is also grain-free, so if your dog has that type of diet, then this is a great option.

• Grain-free dog food option if you don’t want to give your dog grains.
• This wet dog foods first ingredient is beef.
• Free from animal by-products, soy, corn, wheat, artificial flavors, and colors.
• Single-serving portion perfect for small dog breeds.
• 85 calories per portion.

Blue Buffalo is a highly trusted dog food brand that puts quality over quantity. Your small dog will love the taste of this fresh dog food made with natural ingredients.

One of the best things about this wet food is it comes in a single-use portion. This means it’s not in a big can that you will have to put away and save for later. You can open this up, give it to your dog and throw it away after your dog is done eating.

One serving will give your dog all the protein, carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals it needs for healthy body function.

Depending on the size of your Chihuahua, you will need to feed it two or three servings. Chihuahua’s are usually between three and six pounds.

Hill’s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Adult, Small Paws for Small Breeds

This is a single-serving wet dog food that will give your dog all the nutrition it needs. There are a variety of flavors to choose from as well.

• Comes in a single serving tray.
• Made with ingredients that are easy for your small dog breed to eat.
• Balanced complete nutrition for your Chihuahua.
• Formulated ingredients help contribute to heart health.
• Four different flavors to choose from.
• Perfect for toy and small dog breeds.
• Each container contains 84 calories.

This is perfect for your adult Chihuahua. It is made with purposeful ingredients that will bring your dog the ideal amount of vitamins and minerals. Beef is the main ingredient in this dog food to give your dog a high-quality protein source.

The Hill Science company is made right here in the United States. Their food is formulated with the help of veterinarians.

The serving size per container is based on your dog’s weight. If your dog weighs 5-6 pounds, it will need two containers of this food daily. Keep that in mind, as one will not be enough for your dog if it is bigger.

Best Dry Dog Food for a Chihuahua Puppy

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy

So you just bought an adorable Chihuahua pup and are trying to figure out which food to spoil them with? You’ve come to the right place! This is the life protection formula for small-breed puppies. The formula was created with the highest quality ingredients to give your dog the perfect balance of protein, carbs, fruits, and vegetables.

• It has the same outstanding features as the adult version but in puppy form.
• Blue Buffalo always uses real meat as the first ingredient to give your dog a high-quality protein source.
• The puppy formula supports healthy puppy growth and contains DHA and ARA to support your dog’s brain function.
• The food contains the proper amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
• Free from additives, fillers, and artificial nonsense.

They made this puppy food formula with natural premium ingredients. There are also added vitamins and minerals to make your puppy Chihuahua very healthy. This food also contains DHA and ARA, which help support your puppy’s brain function.

This food is free of additives, fillers, artificial flavors, and colors. Perfect for your growing small-breed puppy. The kibble pieces are now even smaller in the puppy food to ensure your puppy can safely eat without choking or hurting its teeth.

This is our top pick for the best dry dog food for a Chihuahua puppy!

Best Wet Dog Food for a Chihuahua Puppy

Royal Canin Small Breed Puppy Wet Dog Food

So your chihuahua puppy is too good for dry food? We have yo you covered! If you want to feed your puppy high-quality wet food, consider the Royal Canin wet puppy food.

• Perfectly formulated for small breed puppies up to 22 pounds and ten months of age.
• It gives your puppy optimal energy to do all those cute things.
• Comes in a three-ounce serving size package.
• Made with a great blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
• It can be fed with dry kibble or as a standalone meal.

This food comes in single-serving trays that contain three ounces of wet food. These trays come in a pack of 12. The Royal Canin can be used on puppies up to ten months of age and up to twenty-two pounds.

The food will help to develop your growing puppies’ digestive tract. The food has very digestible protein in it to make the food pass easily and won’t be as harsh on your dog’s stomach.

The food gives your puppy all the vital vitamins and minerals needed to grow into a healthy adult dog. Each container will give your dog 99 calories. Depending on how much your Chihuahua weighs will determine if your dog needs one or two per day.

Overall, this is an excellent option for wet food for your Chihuahua puppy.

Best Dog Food for Senior Chihuahuas

Nutro Natural Choice Small Breed Senior Dry Dog Food

Give that wise Chihuahua some wise dog food. Older dogs require different nutrients than adult dogs. Senior food can boost your Chihuahua’s immunity and give needed calcium and nutrients for bone and gut health.

• Perfect for dogs eight years and older.
• Chicken is the number one ingredient in this senior small-breed dog food.
• No meat by-products, wheat, soy, or corn, are used in this dog food.
• The kibble is smaller for your small breed dogs and softer on the teeth.
• Perfect for your aging Chihuahua and boost its immunity with antioxidants.

Nutro is a respected brand; they strive to create high-quality food for dogs. Their senior food is really great. The first ingredient is chicken, not a chicken meal or by-product. The food contains no corn, wheat, soy, or animal by-products.

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Other ingredients include barley, brewers rice, split peas, oatmeal, and many other great ingredients for senior dogs. You can choose to feed your dog the kibble as is, or you can always add broth to it to make it softer.

This is our top pick for the best dog food for a senior Chihuahua.

FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions about feeding your Chihuahua.

Do Chihuahuas Need a Special Diet?

Yes, depending on your Chihuahua’s age will reflect what type of diet it needs to be on. If your Chihuahua is under nine months of age, it will need to be on a small breed puppy food.

After nine months of age, your Chihuahua is considered an adult dog. It will need to now switch over from its puppy food to a small breed of adult dog food. If your dog continues to eat the puppy food, it will start to become obese; this is due to the amount of fat found in food formulated for puppies.

When your Chihuahua reaches the age of 10 or 11, it will now be considered a senior dog. Again, senior dogs will need different levels of protein, fats, and carbs in their food.

You will need to switch from adult food to senior small-breed dog food. This is once again very important because older dogs usually need more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in their old age.

What is the Best Dog Food to Feed a Chihuahua?

While all the products above are great, we have a favorite. If you are searching for adult dog food for your Chihuahua, then I suggest Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult Small Paws. This is specifically designed for small breeds with stomach issues and sensitivities to certain foods.

The kibble is the perfect size for your little Chihuahua’s mouth. The food contains essential fatty acids, omegas, and Vitamin E to give your dog a healthy coat and skin. The food will give your dog many vitamins and nutrients your dog needs to thrive.

When Can I Switch Chihuahua Puppy to Adult Chihuahua Food?

Your Chihuahua puppy will need to eat its puppy food until it reaches at least nine months of age. Then you can switch to wet or dry small breed dog food from our approved list above.

If you are nervous about switching your dog to an adult dog food, then you can always consult your veterinarian to make sure it is the right time.

Conclusion

Choosing an appropriate meal for your Chihuahua is vital since they have unique nutrient requirements. With the best dog food for Chihuahuas above, you can accomplish that task.

Have you used any of the products or brands we mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below.