{"id":1411,"date":"2024-03-11T15:49:48","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T15:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/?p=1411"},"modified":"2024-04-08T11:17:58","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T11:17:58","slug":"best-natural-diets-chihuahuas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/best-natural-diets-chihuahuas\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Natural (and Delicious) Homemade Diets For Chihuahuas Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Chihuahuas are wonderful dogs, but they are notoriously finicky eaters. Homemade diets are a much more natural alternative to commercial dog foods that can contain unnecessary or unhealthy ingredients. Start a balanced homemade diet today to keep your canine healthy and playful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/64f0ddf55288478f88fd0078_ezgif-3-141d5a8123-267x400.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Best diet for chihuahua contains natural ingredients and a good balance of protein + vegetables<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking about switching your chihuahua to a natural or homemade diet, then this article should provide you with all the information you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best Natural Diet for Chihuahua<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The best food diet for a chihuahua should typically contain these features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong id=\"\">Natural<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong id=\"\">No artificial colors<\/strong>, flavors, or preservatives. Non-GMO fruits and vegetables is also preferred.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong id=\"\">Protein<\/strong> from a good source, such as wild-caught salmon or chicken from the USA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong id=\"\">No fillers like corn or soy<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supplements like glucosamine, omega fatty acids, probiotics\/prebiotics, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A good <strong id=\"\">balance of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>What to feed a chihuahua is completely up to you. If you opt for commercial dog food, make sure it follows the guidelines above to ensure your chihuahua\u2019s nutritional needs are being met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chihuahuas are at a high risk of developing dental issues, so make sure you keep an eye on your dog\u2019s teeth if you feed them wet food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dry dog food is better for dental health overall as it helps scrape off plaque and tartar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of chihuahuas do very well on homemade food as it is the best natural diet for a chihuahua. You can control the ingredients your chihuahua consumes, which means you can ensure your dog does not eat any unnecessary fillers, artificial flavors\/colors\/preservatives, inferior protein sources, or foods they are allergic to. Check out my guide to natural food and ingredients for your lovely and healthy chihuahua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much To Feed A Chihuahua<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How much you feed a chihuahua depends on their age, activity levels, weight, and health. Elderly chihuahuas have different dietary needs than adults or puppies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is recommended that you feed an adult chihuahua twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. However, some owners find that three meals a day is ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Most adult chihuahuas should eat around \u00c2\u00bd cup to 1 and 1\/3 cup of food each day. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This is based on the average weight of an adult chihuahua, which is between 4 lbs and 10 lbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/64f0de28a4a3141a9ca01894_ezgif-3-594ff4d8c6.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Feeding a Chihuahua depends on age, activity, weight, health.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ingredients: Best Natural Diet &amp; Nutrition for Chihuahua<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The best natural diet for chihuahuas should contain the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong id=\"\">Meat<\/strong><br>Meat or other animal products should be included in a natural diet (around half). However, you should opt for lean meats if your chihuahua is not very active, such as chicken and turkey. Make sure you take the skin off poultry and remove excess fat.<br>Dark meat is more ideal if your chihuahua does not need a diet that\u2019s low in fat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong id=\"\">Boneless Meat<\/strong><br>Hearts are a great option. It\u2019s a good idea to use poultry and red meat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong id=\"\">Fish<\/strong><br>Fish is a great source of vitamin D. If you do not include fish in your chihuahua\u2019s diet, then you will need to supplement it. If you are cooking fish yourself, take out the bones. Never feed Pacific salmon, trout, or similar types to these species.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong id=\"\">Organs<\/strong><br>Organ meats need to make up around 5% of your chihuahua\u2019s diet. Beef liver and chicken liver are good choices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong id=\"\">Eggs<\/strong><br>Eggs are a good source of calcium and protein. You can leave the shells on as they are packed with even more calcium.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong id=\"\">Dairy<\/strong><br>If your chihuahua is not intolerant to dairy products, then plain yoghurt is a good addition to their diet. If you chihuahua cannot consume cow dairy products, then you could try goat dairy products.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong id=\"\">Fruits And Vegetables<\/strong><br>Fruits and vegetables provide your chihuahua with a lot of nutrients, as well a fiber, which is ideal for their digestive system and overall health.<br>Leafy green vegetables are more preferred. Good examples include kale and spinach. Additionally, starchy vegetables (and legumes), such as pumpkin and sweet potato are good for digestive health and underweight chihuahuas. Make sure you cook them well. If your chihuahua is a bit overnight, then don\u2019t feed them huge amounts of starchy vegetables or legumes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Homemade Food For Chihuahua With Food Allergies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding a good-quality dog for a chihuahua with food allergies can be difficult. Commercial dog foods can contain ingredients that your chihuahua is allergic to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best dog foods that I personally use, though, is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Royal-Canin-Hypoallergenic-Hydrolyzed-Protein\/dp\/B00II72VQI\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;me=&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;linkId=313cd3c62d7a992a2be371ae74135fb9&amp;language=en_US&amp;tag=doglovely0a-20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Royal Canin Canine Hypoallergenic Hydrolyzed Protein Dry \u2013 Small Breed<\/a> as it really works even when my dog is on a diet or has any food disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeding your chihuahua a natural diet can help eliminate certain triggers that make your dog unwell. Most dogs with food allergies are intolerant to chicken, wheat, beef, and dairy products. If you are not certain what ingredients your chihuahua is allergic to, then all of these foods are best avoided until you figure out what is making your dog unwell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you are making a natural homemade diet for a chihuahua with food allergies, choose a protein that your dog might not have eaten before, such as rabbit, lamb, or salmon. You should then mix that protein with leafy green vegetables like broccoli, kale, and spinach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/64f0de614c6d5b49cd990dce_ezgif-3-81c9c39029-394x400.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0074JN35Y\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;linkId=dabf6aaa129fe72232899ef3214ba782&amp;language=en_US&amp;tag=doglovely0a-20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong id=\"\">Buy on Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Homemade Chihuahua Food Recipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/64f0dd7e582abd6253bd99d5_ezgif-3-0de3c31e22.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A homemade diet for chihuahuas is beneficial for quality, allergies, fillers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A balanced homemade diet for a chihuahua can be extremely beneficial as you can use high-quality ingredients and meat, reduce allergy triggers, as well as regulate the amount of fillers and grains your chihuahua consumes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A balanced homemade diet will also contain no artificial colors, preventatives, flavors, or nasty chemicals, as you will be able to pick what goes into the food!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your chihuahua will enjoy the taste of a balanced homemade diet, and you might save a few pennies in the process! Here are a couple of homemade recipe ideas you could try for your chihuahua!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Balanced Homemade Diet For Chihuahuas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong id=\"\">Ingredients<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>1 apple (chopped)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00bd cup peas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00bd cup corn<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>\u00bd cup carrots (chopped)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>>1 cup dry brown rice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 egg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 lbs. boneless\/skinless chicken<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong id=\"\">Method <\/strong><br>Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Boil\/poach the chicken until it can be shredded with a fork and then shred it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Steam the peas, carrots, and corn. Cook the rice based on the manufacturer\u2019s instructions. Next scramble the egg. You can leave the shells on as they are full of calcium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, mix the sliced apple, cooked egg, and shredded chicken in a bowl. Mix the cooked vegetables and rice in a separate bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a greased pan, place \u00bd of the chicken mixture into it, then layer 2\/3 of the vegetable mixture, \u00bd of the chicken mixture, and 1\/3 of the vegetable mixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can then bake the mixture in the oven for around 30 minutes.<br>When this homemade dog for chihuahuas is cooked, leave it to cool before serving it to your dog. Around \u00bc cup of this homemade dog food for every 10 lbs. of body weight is a good portion size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should feed this homemade dog for chihuahuas twice a day. It can be stored for up to 5 days in a fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer (in a well-sealed container).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Turkey and Flax Seeds Homemade Recipe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This doggy meatloaf recipe from The Dog Bakery is a great homemade meal to serve your chihuahua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong id=\"\">Ingredients list:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>2 eggs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2lbs of ground beef or turkey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3 quarter cups of grated veggies (your choice!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 \u00bd cups of old-fashioned oat meal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ground flax seeds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00bd cup of cottage cheese<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong id=\"\" style=\"font-size: revert; color: var(--epcl-black); font-family: var(--epcl-font-family);\">Method<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: var(--epcl-black); font-family: var(--epcl-font-family);\">: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients together and place into a loaf pan. Put pan into the oven for 1 hour.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eggs and Fish Recipe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This simple recipe makes a healthy homemade dog food for your chihuahua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong id=\"\">Ingredients<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>1 hard-boiled egg<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 tbsp fish oil<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 cup ground meat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>\u00c2\u00bc cup liver (chicken or beef)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00c2\u00bc cup vegetables (like zucchini, spinach, carrots)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00c2\u00bd cup cooked rice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong id=\"\">Method<\/strong>: Cook the ground meat thoroughly, then mix in the boiled egg, vegetables, and liver. Cook until the vegetables are no longer raw. Add in the fish oil and cooked rice, then serve!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chihuahua Stew Recipe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chihuahua Stew recipe from Chihuahua Rescue Victoria is another great homemade food for your chihuahua. You can use any vegetables you prefer in the recipe, but refrain from using onion, potato, and garlic. If your chihuahua is intolerant to grains, then replace the pasta and rice in the ingredients with (2 x 500-gram bags) buckwheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong id=\"\">Ingredients <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>1\/2kg chopped beef<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1\/2 minced beef<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 cups of pasta (any type) and water to cover it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>2 cups of chopped pumpkin or sweet potato (could also use both)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 cup of rice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 x 125gram tin of sardines in oil<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>3 carrots (chopped)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00bc small pineapple (chopped)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 stick of celery (chopped)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>1 egg (not mandatory)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00bc cup green beans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00bc cup broccoli<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong id=\"\">Method<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Chop up the celery, carrots, green beans, broccoli, and pineapple. You don\u2019t have to be too precise or cut them too small.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place the celery, carrots, green beans, broccoli, and pineapple into a blender with the sardines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Blend them together for a small amount of time until they are roughly chopped. Don\u2019t overdo this as you don\u2019t want a fine paste.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chop the pumpkin and sweet potato. Blend them together for a short amount of time. Again, you don\u2019t want a fine paste.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place the beef, pasta, pumpkin, and sweet potato in a large pot with enough water to cover them. Cook them until the water begins to boil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>If you are using egg, use a fork to break up the yolk and whites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once the mixture has begun to boil, you can add in the rice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you are using egg, you can add it in now.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Keep the mixture on a low boil until it has thickened and the rice is nearly cooked.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Next, turn off the heat and add in the sardines and raw vegetables and pineapple you chopped and blended earlier.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Let the mixture cool down before you place it in the fridge or freezer (or feed to your chihuahua).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This stew can be kept for up to three days in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer. A good portion size is \u00bc of stew for chihuahuas on the smaller size and up to a cup for larger chihuahuas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Habits are important when it comes to taking care of your lovely chihuahua pup. Leaving a video below for your reference, I particularly liked it as you can check out some top tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Chihuahua 101 - Feeding, Grooming, Training &amp; Health Care of Chihuahua\" width=\"726\" height=\"408\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fTcObEZmtSg?feature=oembed\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeding your chihuahua a homemade diet is a great option if they suffer from food allergies or if you\u2019re not keen on commercial dog food and the ingredients used in them. Making your own dog food is one of the best ways to ensure your chihuahua does not consume unnecessary or unhealthy ingredients as you control exactly what goes into your chihuahua\u2019s food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Homemade diets are a much more natural alternative to commercial dog foods that can contain unnecessary or unhealthy ingredients.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"DogLovely Team","author_link":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/author\/doglovely\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1411"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2691,"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions\/2691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1411"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doglovely.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=1411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}