Feeding Your Chihuahua
September 26th, 2008
Deciding what to feed your Chihuahua is a major component of your Chihuahua’s care. Regular exercise, periodic health check-ups, and vaccinations are also very important, but Chihuahua nutrition has a powerful influence on the dog’s health, including the condition of the gums and teeth, the condition of the coat and skin, and the digestion.
As a small dog owner, you have a greater responsibility for your pet’s diet than large dog owners. Large dogs weighing more than 20 pounds can eat greater volumes of food every day because their caloric needs are greater. Owners have more chances to provide nutrients for their dogs, and it’s not a big deal if the dog eats a few table scraps every day.
On the other hand, a typical Chihuahua six to nine inches tall should weigh only four to eight pounds and should eat just one to one-and-one-half cups of food every day. Chihuahua owners must care about every bite they feed their pets and avoid feeding their dogs’ table scraps or other versions of canine junk food.
In addition to knowing what to feed your Chihuahua, you also need to know what not to feed it. Some foods, like chocolate, raw onions, and garlic, are perfectly fine for the human diet but can be deadly to your Chihuahua’s nutrition. Because the Chihuahua is so small, eating even small amounts of these foods can mean your Chihuahua needs medical care to counteract the effects of the toxicity. The symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs are vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive thirst. However, do not wait for your dog to experience symptoms, because they can take several hours to show up and by then it can be too late. Take your dog to the vet as soon as you suspect it has eaten any chocolate at all.
Similarly, onions and garlic can also harm your Chihuahua. Again, your pet may vomit and have diarrhea a few hours after eating the forbidden food. In two or three days, the dog will lose interest in food and grow weak. See your vet as soon as possible for the proper Chihuahua care if you suspect that your Chihuahua has eaten onions or garlic.
Some Chihuahua owners elect to cook and prepare all of their dog’s food on their own instead of feeding the dog commercial dog food. Proper food is such an important part of Chihuahua nutrition that these owners feel like it’s worth the effort to know what is in their dog’s food. Some owners eat only organic food themselves, and they want to their dogs to enjoy the same organic experience.
Dog food is simple to make. The best dog foods include a meat protein, a starch, and a vegetable. By combining these three elements, any owner can make home-cooked meals for their Chihuahua. All ingredients should be cooked before feeding them to your dog. Lean beef, pork, fowl, or lamb should be grilled, saut?ed, or roasted and rice, potatoes, or noodles can be boiled or steamed. When it comes to vegetables, Chihuahuas prefer sweet choices like carrots and peas. Cooked food should be cooled completely before feeding it to your dog.
Chihuahuas don’t eat very much food in a day, so it is important to feed them delicious, nutritious food, packed with vitamins and vital nutrients. The best Chihuhua care might include making dog food at home. You can make your own Chihuahua dog food recipes by combining cooked proteins, starches and vegetables. Your dog will beg for more!
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