Often referred to as the Napoleon of dogs, the Chihuahua’s reputation is as big as their personalities! They usually don’t get heavier than 6 pounds, but if you don’t train a Chihuahua early on, they’ll end up ruling the whole house!
There’s never a dull moment with a Chihuahua around, and they’ll make you laugh every day. They’re very loyal and protective, anyone dating a Chihuahua owner will know that. If the Chihuahua doesn’t like you — you’re out.
They’re also great apartment doggos, but if you go walking in chilly weather, be sure your Chihuahua puts on a sweater — they don’t do so well in the cold. Besides, how cute is a chihuahua in a sweater?!
Table of Contents
Best Dog Foods For Chihuahuas Are…
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Mini Meals |  Top Pick |
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| 2. Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition |  |
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| 3. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets |  |
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| 4. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed |  |
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| 5. Stella & Chewy's Lil' SuperBlends |  |
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| 6. Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe |  |
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| 7. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Small Breed |  |
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| 8. Solid Gold Wee Bit |  |
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| 9. Merrick Lil' Plates Grain-Free |  |
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1. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Mini Meals
Beyond the cause of feeding our pets the best nutrition for a happy and healthy life, Wellness pet foods created the Wellness Foundation.
The Wellness foundation was created with the mission of helping pets in need by supporting initiatives like the Best Friends Animal Society — dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters.
They also support the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), researching the positive bonds and relationships between humans and their companion animals, and the Great Dog Rescue New England (GDRNE) — a group that finds foster homes for abandoned dogs of all breeds.
Wellness also contributes to many other groups committed to pet wellness and the bonds between them and their humans.
Without artificial colors, preservatives, flavors, or meat by-products, Wellness CORE foods are known for their wholesome ingredients. This grain-free formula is packed with quality proteins sourced from real meat, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from real vegetables.
Chihuahuas have notoriously sensitive tummies and are, like all small breeds, picky eaters. This formula accommodates those needs and leaves him full and satisfied.
Specs
- Intended for adult dogs
- Formulated for small and mini-breed dogs
- Wet food texture
- Grain-free: Be sure to check with your vet to make sure a grain-free food is appropriate for your Chihuahua.
Pros
- Made with real meat sources, real vegetables, and essential vitamins and minerals added for the extra nutrition your little king or queen needs.
- It comes in individual-serve, easy-open pouches for easy mealtimes.
- Chicken and chicken liver flavor that Chihuahuas love.
Cons
- Variety packs not available.
- A grain-free food may not be right for all Chihuahuas.
2. Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition
Royal Canin Blends craft their foods with an individual recipe for each breed’s specific needs. Your Chihuahua will receive the exact levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and prebiotics for a happy little king or queen of her castle.
Not only does this food rate highly on the flavor-approval scale, it also has a combination of soluble and insoluble fibers to help with a Chihuahuas sensitive digestion. He’ll have no problem devouring dinner!
Its gravy is chock full of omega 3s, DHA, EPA, and biotin that supports skin health and will give him a sleek, shiny coat.
Containing the optimal levels of fat your Chihuahua needs, this food is great for energy support and overall health. Some Chihuahua owners reported this food mixes excellently with its dry counterpart — Royal Canin Chihuahua breed dry dog food to help crunch away plaque and clean teeth and gums.
Specs
- Formulated specifically for purebred Chihuahuas
- Intended for dogs eight months and older
- Wet pate consistency
- Packaged in pouches
Pros
- Provides complete, balanced nutrition formulated specifically for a purebred Chihuahuas wellness needs.
- Healthy digestion courtesy of soluble and insoluble fibers
- Added omega-3’s and other fatty acids keep skin healthy and promote a shiny coat.
Cons
- Some Chihuahuas didn’t like the taste
- Some owners said it was too pricey
3. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets
This grain-free formula is rich in high quality nutrition, and without wheat, soy, corn, legumes, lentils, and added peas or pea proteins.
Limited Ingredient Diet (or L.I.D.) wet and dry blends contain a single source of protein and limited sources of carbs. Top it off with a short and sweet list of ingredients packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and you’ve got a complete and balanced food your tiny pup will love.
You can feel good knowing that Natural Balance formulas are made in the US, with the most carefully sourced ingredients.
Interesting fact: Natural Balance was founded by dog lover and actor Dick Van Patten in 1989.
They operate with the philosophy that your dog deserves food made with only the most high-quality ingredients formulated by a team of veterinarian professionals to make sure your tiny baby gets the best nutrition available.
Specs
- Formulated for small-breed dogs
- Dry kibble formula
- Chicken and sweet potato formula
- Intended for adult dogs
- Grain-free formula, consult your vet to make sure this food is right for your little Napoleon.
Pros
- Crunchy kibble removes tartar and plaque, promoting healthy gums and teeth.
- Great for doggies with digestive sensitivities
- Real chicken is the #1 ingredient.
- Healthy carbs provided by sweet potato
Cons
- Some Chihuahuas didn’t like the flavor.
- Some owners reported their doggies ended up with skin irritation after eating this food.
- Some owners reported their Chihuahuas had digestive issues after eating this food.
4. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed
Blue Buffalo formulas begin with real sources of meat, including protein meals and egg for strong muscle, while phosphorus and calcium keep those tiny teeth and bones healthy till the last crunch.
Whole grains, nourishing veggies, and wholesome fruits contribute to your dog’s overall health, including a robust immune system.
They also add “LifeSource Bits” to their kibbled foods. LifeSource bits are a blend of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidant packed ingredients.
This particular formula contains deboned chicken and added proteins and carbs for high-energy smaller (but mighty) doggos.
Containing no meat by-products, corn, wheat, or soy — BLUE products are crafted by animal nutritionists to make sure your Chihuahua is getting the very best.
Specs
- Intended for adult dogs
- Chicken and brown rice recipe
- Formulated for small dogs
- Dry kibble consistency with LifeSource bits
Pros
- Kibble designed for smaller breeds help promote tartar and plaque removal with each crunch.
- Contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for overall health and a strong immune system.
- High quality proteins and carbs support lean muscle development and energy.
- Joint-healthy ingredients like glucosamine keep your little guy up and running
- Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids promote healthy skin and beautiful coat
Cons
- Some owners reported the food smelled “off” upon opening the bag.
- Some Chihuahuas didn’t like the flavor.
- Some owners said the price was too high for the quality of ingredients.
5. Stella & Chewy’s Lil’ SuperBlends
This food is a healthy addition to your picky pup’s regular kibble. Made with freeze-dried cage free chicken, bone, and organs, it ups the protein game to maintain lean muscle.
Added superfoods like strawberries, blueberries and bananas to provide extra antioxidants and probiotics to keep your pint-sized pal’s immune system healthy.
Stella & Chewy’s blends are crafted with the idea that our pets crave the same foods they would eat naturally in the wild — (a prey model diet), and that’s the best food for them.
Since this is a raw, freeze-dried food, the company follows strict guidelines on safety processes set by the FDA and USDA. Lab-tested, each batch is carefully created to deliver safe, whole nutrition for your pet.
To feed — use the pre-measured scoop to the appropriate amount (one scoop for little doggies) and mix in with your Chihuahua’s kibble of choice. Bite-sized to match your tiny dogs tiny teeth, this particular formula is made specifically for small breeds.
Specs
- Freeze-dried “food topper” can be fed with your dog’s regular kibble or wet food
- Chicken recipe
- Intended for adult dogs
- Intended for small-breed dogs
- Grain-free formula, check with your vet to make sure grain-free is suitable for your little emperor
Pros
- Contains no fillers, glutens, grains, or artificial ingredients.
- Some vets support a raw-diet formula, claiming it helps support a dog’s overall health.
- Adding a freeze-dried topper is an easy way to add extra nutrition to your dog’s meals.
- Contains probiotics to maintain a healthy digestion.
Cons
- Some Chihuahua owners reported the bits were too large for their tiny jaws. (The dogs’ not the owners’…)
- Some doggies didn’t like the flavor
- Owners reported it’s expensive to add to their regular kibble regimen.
6. Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe
This recipe is the best of both blended worlds — made with freeze-dried raw pieces and kibble, all perfectly bite-sized for your small-breed baby to make it easier for crunching and promote healthy teeth and gums.
Containing real, cage-free duck as it’s first ingredient, it’s high in protein and easy for the littles to digest. It’s optimally balanced blend of fat, protein, and calories keep your Chihuahua a lean, mean, bossy machine. Which is especially helpful, as Chihuahuas tend toward obesity.
Instinct is made in the US with quality ingredients — and no grains, wheat, soy, potato, corn, meal by-products, or artificial ingredients.
Specs
- Intended for small-breed dogs
- Formulated for adult dogs
- Kibble and freeze-dried proteins formula
- Duck flavor
- Grain-free, Consult your vet before feeding to make sure this food is a good fit for your little one
Pros
- Strong bones and teeth maintained by phosphorus and calcium
- Chondroitin and glucosamine promote healthy joints
- Packed with animal protein from real, cage-free duck
- Contains optimal balance of fat, protein and calories to keep your Chihuahua svelte
Cons
- Chihuahua owners reported the food smelled fishy. (Like fish instead of duck flavor, not like suspicious or anything…)
- Some owners reported the kibble was a little tough for their Chihuahua to eat comfortably.
- Some Chihuahuas reported they would prefer to keep the freeze-dried duck and get rid of the rest. Their owners did not comply.
7. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Small Breed
This crunchy, bite-sized recipe begins with quality protein sourced from farm-raised chicken to support muscle growth and energy.
Add in some natural fiber for healthy digestion, omega fatty acids for healthy skin, and leave OUT artificial colors, flavors or fillers, and you’ve got a nutritious food your fur baby will love.
Nutro formulas also contain no meal, corn, wheat and soy protein, making more room for all of the best things your pint sized companion needs for robust energy and health from the inside out.
This blend was carefully crafted with ideal levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for the special needs of small-breed dogs.
Specs
- Formulated for small-breed dogs
- Chicken, brown rice and sweet potato recipe
- Dry kibble formula
- Intended for adult dogs
Pros
- Contains high quality, farm-raised chicken for active small-breed pups
- Contains natural sources of fiber for healthy digestive support
- Made with non-GMO ingredients, and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids give your baby a sleek, glossy coat and great skin
Cons
- Some owners reported inconsistencies between products that led to gastrointestinal stress for their fur babies.
- Some Chihuahuas didn’t like the flavor.
- Some owners reported unusually fast weight-gain for their Chihuahuas after eating this formula.
8. Solid Gold Wee Bit — Best Dry Dog Food For Chihuahuas
When it comes to the best dry dog food for Chihuahuas, we voted on Solid Gold Wee Bit formula. It’s packed with healthy bison protein, wholesome sources of fat, and a ton of superfoods. Healthy whole grains help round out the recipe to help your little buddy optimally digest every delicious bite.
This food contains no wheat, corn or soy. These ingredients have a tendency to promote allergic reactions (especially in smaller dogs) and they also reportedly hinder healthy digestion of the nutrients they need.
This holistic brand of pet food has been around for over 40 years, and was developed with your dog’s gut health in mind — as well as overall health and happiness.
Specs
- Bison, brown rice, and pearl barley recipe
- Intended for adult dogs
- Formulated for adult dogs
- Dry kibble formula
Pros
- Contains superfoods like broccoli, carrots, cranberries, blueberries and pumpkin among others for antioxidant benefits
- Added probiotics and natural fibers aid in a healthy gut and digestion
- Made with lean bison for strong muscles and optimal energy
Cons
- Some picky Chihuahuas didn’t like the flavor.
- Some owners said the price was a little more than they wanted to pay.
9. Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free —Best Dog Food For Chihuahua Puppies
Designed specifically in small batches for small-breed puppies, this blend has everything your brand new baby needs for optimal health. Each Merrick formula is quality tested, and carefully sourced with wholesome ingredients.
For over 30 years the Merrick brand has devoted itself to creating whole-food formulas designed with your fur baby’s nutrition in mind.
Whole deboned chicken is #1 on the ingredients list, so you know they’ve put a focus on the quality of the proteins they use. Chicken meal adds an extra kick of protein for growing bodies.
Prebiotic fiber and probiotics make it easier for tiny bellies to digest, as does the tiny kibble size. DHA supports a rapidly growing brain and nervous system. Balanced levels of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids promote healthy skin and a gorgeous coat.
Specs
- Formulated for puppies up to 1 year
- Formulated specifically for small-breed puppies
- Chicken and sweet potato formula
- Dry kibble texture
- Grain-free formula, be sure to consult your vet before feeding grain-free to make sure it’s a good choice for you Chihuahua.
Pros
- Grain-free, gluten-free, no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Probiotic and prebiotic fiber is added for healthy digestion
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids support a healthy skin and coat
- Whole, deboned chicken is ingredient #1
- DHA-formulated specifically for your puppies growing nervous system and brain health
Cons
- Some fur babies had tummy troubles after eating this blend.
- Some pups didn’t enjoy the flavor.
Best Food For Chihuahuas — A Buying Guide
When selecting the best food for your Chihuahua, the basics are the best place to begin:
- Select a food with no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or fillers. Small-breed dogs are often prone to food allergies and stomach upset caused by ingredients like these, so read labels carefully.
- Little doggies need quality, well-sourced proteins. If real poultry, meat, or fish isn’t at the top of the list (or at least among the top three ingredients) look elsewhere.
- Foods with pre and probiotics are a good choice for small-breed dogs, as they tend to have sensitive stomachs. Natural fibers are a good thing to look for as well.
A Chihuahua’s Special Nutritional Needs
Since Chihuahuas are a quirky little breed, there are a few specific things to consider in addition to the usual things you’d look for when selecting a quality dog food.
- Select a blend appropriate for his age. Chihuahuas tend to need a little more help nutritionally as they get older because they don’t realize their aging bodies aren’t as big as their mouths! Also, because of some of their breed-related health concerns (see below), limiting their salt and sugar intake is a good idea.
- Chihuahuas can be prone to obesity, so be sure to count calories. A food with a protein/fat ratio optimized for weight-control is a good option. Also, only use treats as a training tool. Treats may be delicious according to your little wing-man, but they’re packed with calories he probably doesn’t need.
- I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Chihuahuas have a tendency to have a LOT of energy, which is awesome for that weight issue we were discussing above.
Health Concerns to Consider When Feeding Your Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are a pretty resilient breed, but they do have some genetic issues to be on the lookout for.
- Potential heart problems like mitral valve disease and patent ductus arteriosus are a concern, especially in older Chihuahuas. Foods containing heart-healthy omega fatty acids and fish oils are a good choice when feeding your Chihuahua.
Some symptoms include shortness of breath and coughing after exercise. It’s important not to over-exercise a Chihuahua, even if they’re healthy.
- Patellar luxation is somewhat common in Chihuahuas as well. Patellar Luxation is a dislocation of the kneecap, and again, Chihuahuas are more susceptible the older they get, particularly if they suffer from arthritis already. Foods rich in glucosamine and chondroitin are important to feed your tiny bestie to support healthy joints.
- Eye problems like cataracts and glaucoma are common in Chihuahuas as well. Pay close attention — if your little guy’s eyes become cloudy take him to the vet right away. If caught early, eye problems like these can be treated. If he or she seems to have a hard time getting around without running into things, get to the vet on the triple!
The National Breed Club has some recommended health tests for purebred Chihuahuas to screen for some of these issues:
- Cardiac exams
- Patella evaluation
- Ophthalmologist testing and evaluation
How Much to Feed Your Chihuahua
How much you feed your Chihuahua depends on how much they weigh and their age.
- Adult Chihuahuas 7 months to 1 year, or up to 7 pounds need 1- 1 ¼ cups of kibble per day, usually twice a day. If mixing with canned food, feed the same amount and go half and half kibble/can.
- Chihuahuas from 5-7 months can have the same amount twice a day, as long as they pace themselves. If your Chihuahua inhales all his food at once, try dividing his food over 3 times a day.
- 3-5 months need to eat ½ to 1 cup, how many times per day will vary by the individual.
- Consult your vet about transitioning from puppy food to adult food. You’ll need to introduce adult food slowly into her diet, and a veterinarian is the best person to recommend how to do it the right way for the needs of your specific pup.
Final Thoughts
The Chihuahua is so recognizable, it’s one of the most common dogs to appear in films and TV (and not just for Taco Bell commercials). If you need a lap-warmer, or someone to ward off bad-guys, their ride-or-die attitude is right in line.
They’re a fascinating breed with a rich history — it’s only appropriate that we feed them like the little rulers they are. We recommend Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Mini Meals for your Chihuahua’s complete nutritional needs.
With no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, and lots of lean proteins, vitamins, and minerals — this food has everything she needs and none of the things she doesn’t to stay healthy and happy.
