The 11 Best Dog Foods For Chihuahuas

Buyer's Guide: How to Select the Best Chihuahua Food

Because Chihuahuas are such little dogs, it might be difficult to obtain food for them. Most brands are just not intended for dogs of this size.

You should also assess if the meal fits their nutritional requirements. Chihuahuas, fortunately, do not have many health difficulties, which increases the choice of meals available to them.

In this part, we will look at the most significant characteristics and variables to consider while selecting excellent dog food for your Chihuahua.

Do Chihuahuas Require Special Diets?

Typically, these dogs do not require specialized food. Chihuahuas may be little, but their nutritional requirements are the same as those of any other dog. As a result, the kibble size is your primary consideration while selecting the proper food.

Chihuahuas have tiny jaws and are among the tiniest canines. A lot of kibbles are simply too huge. It is essential to select a formula that is particularly created for very little canines. Not all small breed diets, however, are intended for dogs as little as Chihuahuas.

Instead, you’ll need food made specifically for toy or “extra tiny” breeds. This food is frequently developed particularly for little dogs such as Chihuahuas.

After you’ve found a tiny enough food for your Chihuahua, the following step is to choose a high-quality food.

Meat Grade

All dog meals should ideally have some form of animal protein as the first ingredient. If one does not, it is an indication that the meal is of poor quality.

However, not just any animal protein will suffice. You must verify that the food you choose is of good quality and appropriate for your Chihuahua. There are several sorts of meat.

Most dog diets contain whole meat, which is probably what you’re used to seeing. Meat that is simply branded “chicken” is complete meat. These proteins and minerals are abundant in these meats. They do, however, have a high water content. As a result, they are fairly hefty, and hence appear higher on the ingredient list.

The water content of meat meals has been eliminated. As a result, they are more concentrated than whole meats, yet containing the same fundamental “stuff.”

Meat dishes are excellent ingredients since they are concentrated and light in weight. As a result, if they show high on the ingredient list of a dog food, it indicates that the product contains a significant amount of animal flesh.

By-products are well-known components in the dog food industry. You’ve probably been instructed to avoid them. However, the truth is a little more convoluted. By-products can occasionally include high-quality items such as organ meats. However, they can also include low-quality items such as feathers and hair, which have little nutritional value.

You won’t always be able to tell which is which. However, if the firm uses human-grade by-products, they are more likely to be of higher quality.

What Does It All Mean About Additives?

You’ll see commercials for dog food that say things like, “Glucosamine from natural sources!” “, as well as “Omega fatty acids for salmon oil! ” Deciphering all of this is a problem in and of itself.

Fortunately, Chihuahuas do not require any of these additions, although we do urge that you become acquainted with them:

• Both glucosamine and chondroitin are supplements used to enhance joint health. They aren’t as vital for Chihuahuas because their joints aren’t as prone to wear and strain.
• Probiotics: Probiotics function in dogs the same way they do in humans. A dog’s gut is loaded with beneficial microorganisms that aid in food digestion. Probiotics are a type of beneficial bacteria. When a dog eats probiotics, his microbiome is likely to be of greater quality than it would be otherwise.
• Antioxidants: Dogs, like all other animals, experience oxidative stress on a daily basis. This can lead to illnesses and diseases over time. The majority of age-related disorders are caused by oxidative stress. Antioxidants can restore this damage and prevent it from happening again. They are frequently found in fruits.
• Omega fatty acid: Omega fatty acids are a kind of fat that is commonly found in fatty fish. These fatty acids are frequently provided to non-fish dog meals through the use of salmon or flaxseed oil. These fatty acids are essential for a variety of functions, ranging from the joints and skin to the brain.

Conclusion

Finding the tiniest food possible is the most important aspect of feeding a Chihuahua. Many meals are available for little breeds, however even these aren’t often small enough for Chihuahuas. As a result, you must frequently choose a meal developed for toy or especially tiny breeds, albeit they are not usually clearly labeled. Chihuahuas, like any other dog, benefit from a high-quality diet, therefore what is in the food is also crucial.

Our best recommendation is Ollie Dog Food, which provides delicious fresh food delivered straight to your home. Select from delicious meals such as Beef with Sweet Potato, Lamb with Cranberries, and Chicken with Carrots!

If you’re looking for a low-cost choice, we offer Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food. This formula contains probiotics and is strong in protein.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes our evaluations and guide assist you in finding the best dog foods for chihuahuas.

Reviews

Best Value: Purina Pro Plan Dry Dog Food Small Breed Chicken & Rice Formula

• Type of food: dry
• Chicken, rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, whole grain corn are the first ingredients.

Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is a good option for individuals on a tight budget. This formula is of reasonable quality and reasonably priced. As a result, it is unquestionably the finest dog food for Chihuahuas for the money.

Its major source of protein and meat is chicken. It does, however, contain a few lower-quality protein choices, such as maize gluten meal and chicken by-product meal.

This product contains probiotics, which can help your Chihuahua’s intestinal health.

The kibble is meant to be tiny, allowing your dog to easily consume it. Because of the abundance of protein-rich components, this recipe is rather high in protein, albeit not of the best grade.

Pros

• High protein content
• Miniature kibble
• Probiotics were provided.
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Ingredients of poor quality

 

Premium Choice: PURE CANIDAE Adult Petite Small Breed Dog Food

Type of food: dry

Chicken, chicken meal, peas, lentils, tapioca, and chicken fat are the first ingredients.

With only a few ingredients, CANIDAE PURE Petite Adult Small Breed Dog Food is one of the top Chihuahua dog meals available. However, it is quite pricey in comparison to other meals.

However, because Chihuahuas don’t eat much, it’s generally simpler to provide them high-quality meals.

This recipe begins with a whole chicken and is grain-free. It contains a lot of omega fatty acids, which might help your pet’s skin and coat. It is also coated in freeze-dried chicken, which significantly increases the flavor.

Because it is particularly created for toy breeds, the kibble size is tiny.

Pros

• Kibble size is little.
• Grain-free
• The first component is chicken.
• Coated in raw freeze-dried

Cons

• Expensive

 

Mighty Mini Solid Gold Gut Health

• Type of food: dry
• Chicken, chicken meal, chickpeas, peas, and pea protein are the first ingredients.

Solid Gold Mighty Mini Gut Health is a fantastic choice for most Chihuahuas. The first component is chicken, followed by chicken meal. As long as your dog isn’t sensitive to chicken, this protein source is an excellent choice.

This formula’s kibble size is tiny enough that Chihuahuas may consume it without difficulty.

Probiotics are also included, which benefit your dog’s general health. Probiotics may be especially beneficial if your Chihuahua has stomach issues. Because it just has one protein source, it may be more suited for dogs that have digestive issues.

This formula is also entirely grain and gluten free.

It also contains a variety of beneficial vegetables, including as pumpkin and cranberries. These provide fiber, antioxidants, and other vitamins and minerals that your little dog requires.

Pros

• Probiotics
• Gluten-free and grain-free
• Kibble size is little.
• Contains high-quality vegetables and fruits
• The sole source of meat is chicken.

Cons

• Peas are abundant.

 

Beef Cesar Classic Loaf with Sauce Recipe

• Type of food: dry
• Beef, chicken liver, beef lung, chicken broth, and water are the first ingredients.

When it comes to little dogs like Chihuahuas, wet food is often the best option. You won’t have to worry about kibble size this way. We offer Cesar Classic Loaf with Sauce Beef Recipe in this scenario. With beef and chicken liver as the first two components, this meal is abundant in protein.

It also employs broth in addition to normal water, which significantly increases the protein content. This formula is grain-free and largely made up of animal ingredients.

This mix may also help keep your dog hydrated due to its high moisture content. It also makes this meal more appealing to many dogs.

The biggest disadvantage of this meal is that it cannot be kept out for long before spoiling, which can be problematic for tiny breeds prone to hypoglycemia, such as Chihuahuas. As a result, it is ideal if you are at home when you feed them the meal.

Pros

• Animal components are abundant.
• broth was added
• Tasty
• Organ meats are included.

Cons

• Cannot be fed freely

 

Small Breed Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula

• Type of food: dry
• Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oats, barley, and fish meal are the first ingredients.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Tiny Breed is a well-liked small dog food. The formula contains high-quality chicken and chicken meals, which supply the majority of the protein in this diet. It contains grains, but they are high-quality and whole grains, so they do give some nourishment.

This mix also contains antioxidants and chelated minerals. These provide your Chihuahua a health boost and guarantee that your canine is getting all of the minerals that they require.

This formula contains omega fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6. Glucosamine is also included, albeit it may be ineffective for a tiny breed like the Chihuahua.

This kibble is tiny enough for the jaws of a Chihuahua.

However, this recipe is more costly than the majority of others. It also contains significant quantities of peas, however they are not at the top of the list. Instead of listing all of the peas together, the corporation divides them into various sections before adding them, making them seem low on the ingredient list.

Pros

• The omega-3 fatty acids
• Miniature kibble
• Proteins of high quality

Cons

• Expensive
• Peas are abundant.

 

Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog Food

• Type of food: dry
• Chicken, chicken meal, chickpeas, tapioca, and chicken fat are the first ingredients.

The Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Grain-Free contains freeze-dried raw chunks. Recipe is an excellent choice for many dogs. However, it is relatively costly, owing mostly to these raw materials.

There is presently no study demonstrating that raw portions of food benefit a dog’s health, so you must determine whether you are ready to pay more for something that may not truly mean anything.

Of course, this cuisine is beneficial in other ways. It contains high-quality components such as entire chicken and diverse animal sources. It is also high in protein and contains no grains. Overall, it’s decent cuisine; it’s just a little pricey for what you receive.

This meal contains live probiotics, which are beneficial for the digestive tract of your Chihuahua. It is also manufactured in the United States of America.

Pros

• Throughout, there are high-quality animal sources.
• Grain-free
• Probiotics are included.

Cons

• Expensive
• Some Chinese ingredients

 

Nutro Natural Choice Dry Dog Food for Small Breeds

• Type of food: dry
• Chicken, chicken meal, full grain barley, split peas, and brewers rice are the first ingredients.

Nutro Natural Choice Small Breed is approximately average when compared to most other recipes. Because it is intended for little breeds, the kibble size is modest. It begins with chicken and chicken meal, both of which are high in protein. It contains whole grains, which are also high in nutrients.

This recipe is absolutely free of GMO substances. It contains no chicken by-product meal, maize, wheat, or soy. It also contains natural supplies of glucosamine and chondroitin, both of which can help maintain healthy joints.

However, split peas are prominent on the ingredient list of this recipe, and they have been related to certain cardiac issues in dogs. It’s also low in protein, however your Chihuahua may not require a high-protein diet.

Pros

• Non-GMO
• Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
• As the initial component, chicken is used.

Cons

• Protein deficient
• The fourth component is split peas.

 

Small Breed Complete Health Dog Food by Wellness

• Type of food: dry
• Deboned turkey, chicken meal, salmon meal, oats are the first ingredients, brown rice, ground

Some Chihuahuas will benefit from the Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Dog Food. There are no GMOs, byproducts, or chemical preservatives in it. Instead, this formula contains a wide range of proteins, including deboned turkey and chicken meal.

This mix also contains probiotics, glucosamine, and taurine, among other ingredients. All of these components contribute to your pet’s general wellness. While this recipe is not grain-free, it does contain only high-quality grains such as brown rice, which give some nourishment to your tiny dog.

However, there have been instances of dogs developing loose stools after using this product. This formula may cause stomach issues due to its high protein content. However, probiotics in this formula may help prevent this.

Pros

• There are several additions.
• There are several animal sources.
• Grain of high quality

Cons

• Expensive
• Digestion problems may occur.

 

Size Health Nutrition Small Dog Food by Royal Canin

• Type of food: dry
• Corn, chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, brown rice, corn gluten meal are the first ingredients.

Royal Canin is frequently marketed as a premium dog food, however its mix begins with maize. (The first guideline of dog food shopping is to choose a formula with meat as the first component.) Meat is technically the second ingredient, but it’s chicken by-product meal, one of the lower-quality possibilities available.

Other components in this dog chow are of poor quality as well. For example, maize gluten meal is incorporated, which boosts the food’s protein count with low-quality plant protein.

This recipe is also more expensive than most other alternatives, implying that you are paying for inferior ingredients than those available in inexpensive dog food.

L-carnitine is added to aid with fat metabolism. However, unless your Chihuahua is overweight, this may not be very useful. Omega fatty acids are included, as they are in most dog meals.

Pros

• L-carnitine has been introduced for overweight pets.
• The omega-3 fatty acids

Cons

• Ingredients of poor quality
• Expensive
• Byproducts as the primary source of meat