‘How much should a Chihuahua eat a day?’
This is among the many questions Chihuahua parents might face at some point or another and an important one at that.
Answers to ‘how often’ and ‘how much’ a Chihuahua should eat on a daily basis are crucial components of maintaining its health and well-being.
The Chihuahua dog breed is small in size – so it does not need too much food. However, it does need to eat small but frequent meals through the day to prevent hypoglycemia or blood-sugar drop.
Based on all these considerations, I will tell you exactly how much should a Chihuahua eat a day.
How Much Should a Chihuahua Eat a Day?
The Chihuahua is a toy breed which means it weighs about 6 to 7 lb.
To answer the question, how much should a Chihuahua eat a day, consider your pet’s weight. You can use the following guidelines to feed your pet:
- If your Chihuahua weighs about 4 lb – feed it 1/3rd cup of dog food per day
- If your Chihuahua weighs up to 7 lb – feed it ½ a cup of dog food per day.
Remember, over-feeding your Chihuahua can lead to many health issues, especially diabetes. So, prevent obesity and you just might increase your Chihuahua’s lifespan too.
How Much Should a Chihuahua Eat a Day Based on its Age?
The above feeding guidelines are for an adult Chihuahua having normal activity levels.
You will have to slightly vary this quantity and feeding schedule based on your Chi’s age.
A young Chihuahua puppy will have different calorie needs compared to a senior Chihuahua. Puppies require small but frequent meals to support their energy requirements and rapid metabolism.
On the other hand, an older Chihuahua that spends most of its time sleeping, will not need too much food. Similarly, an adult, healthy Chihuahua will mostly need a maintenance diet.
Chihuahua Puppy Feeding Schedule
A Chihuahua puppy will only need its dam’s (mother’s) milk up to 3 to 4 weeks of age. This is the time your Chihuahua pup needs to be with its littermates. After 4 weeks, your breeder might start giving it soaked kibble or wet food.
Once you bring your Chihuahua pup home (after is it is about 8 weeks old), follow the same feeding routine and schedule that your breeder has been following. You can also feed it the same dog food so that there your puppy has no issues adjusting to it.
After 10 weeks of age, your Chihuahua puppy should be eating high-quality dog food 3 to 4 times a day or as recommended by your breeder or vet.
Adult Chihuahua Feeding Schedule
A Chihuahua can be considered an adult once it has reached about 90% of its total body weight at adulthood.
This a small dog breed matures rapidly, so your Chihuahua puppy can be considered an adult at about 9 months of age. If you have a female Chi, she might even come in heat around this time.
If you have been feeding 3-4 meals to your Chihuahua puppy, you may want to start tapering it down to 2-3 small meals.
By adulthood, your Chi should eat just 1-2 meals per day as suggested by your vet.
Other Factors to Consider when Deciding How Much Should a Chihuahua Eat a Day
So far we have only considered general feeding guidelines based on a Chihuahua’s age.
However, there are three other important factors that play a role in a Chihuahua’s feeding schedule. These are:
1.Your pet’s activity levels
Just like a human athlete or sportsman will have to eat protein-rich meals several times a day, an active Chihuahua will need high-quality meals 2-3 times a day. On the other hand, a less active lap dog will need meals lower in fat content.
A Chihuahua puppy needs small-though-frequent meals for the same reason. While it develops and grows, it is expending energy running, playing, training, and exploring its world around.
Conversely, a senior Chihuahua will not need too much food but it would still need high-quality, immunity-boosting foods at least once a day.
An adult dog will mainly need maintenance food that will help maintain its body weight at optimum levels.
2. Its overall health
When deciding on how much should a Chihuahua eat a day, always discuss with your vet first, especially if your Chi has any health conditions.
For example, if your dog has diabetes, then it will need small-though-frequent meals to prevent dangerous blood-sugar level drops.
Similarly, your pet might need a renal diet if it has kidney disease. Some Chihuahuas also require special prescription diets if they have liver issues, thyroid imbalance, etc.
3. Whether it is spayed/neutered
If you have recently had your dog fixed, then its body goes through many hormonal changes. Some fixed dogs become sedentary after being neutered or spayed.
As a result, they need less food as they are prone to weight gain. Experts recommend reducing a dog’s food intake by nearly 30% after spaying or neutering. So please discuss with your vet and tweak your dog’s diet accordingly.
What is the Ideal Feeding Schedule for a Chihuahua?
Always consult your vet before deciding on a feeding schedule for your smaller dog. S/he can also guide you regarding the serving sizes by taking your dog’s weight and calorie-needs into account.
Adult Chihuahua
Most vets recommend feeding an adult Chihuahua two times a day. You can feed your Chi its breakfast around 8 am or at the same time that you have your breakfast. The next meal can be in the evening, around 5 pm.
Special considerations
If your pet has diabetes, then you can divide its total food intake per day into 3-4 smaller meals. Thus, if your vet/dog food brand recommends feeding ½ a cup of dog food, then divide this into 1/8th cup and feed 4 times a day.
Chihuahua Puppy
In case of a Chi pup, feed 3-4 meals or as recommended by the breeder or the vet. Very active Chihuahua puppies may require 4 meals a day. You can feed the first meal of the day around 8 am, followed by lunch-time meal at 12 noon and a final meal around 5 pm.
For busy pet parents
If your schedule requires leaving your Chi home alone for over 8 hours, then you can consider feeding your adult dog once a day.
For puppies, you could leave puppy food outside for it. However, that can lead to free feeding which is responsible for obesity in dogs.
If needed, hire a pet-sitter to feed your Chihuahua pup at the scheduled time. Alternatively, invest in automatic dog feeders which dispense meals at pre-programmed times. Many feeders have the facility to keep wet food fresh for a few hours.
How Many Calories Does a Chihuahua Need Every Day?
Most dogs have to eat between 20-30 calories per pound of their body weight.
This means that if your adult Chihuahua weighs 6 lb., then it needs to consume between 120 and 180 calories per day. (This is for dogs that are normally active and overall healthy).
Remember to reduce your pet’s calorie-intake if it is recently neutered or spayed. Also, if your older Chihuahua does not go out often, then too you may want to reduce its calorie-intake by at least 20%.
If needed, transition to senior dog food so that your senior dog can maintain its weight in its golden years.
Check out our comprehensive guide on How Many Calories Should a Chihuahua Eat Every Day for calculating your pet’s exact calorie-needs.
How To Know if You’re Overfeeding or Underfeeding Your Chihuahua?
Here are the signs that indicate you may be over-feeding your Chihuahua:
Signs you may be over-feeding your Chi
1. It looks overweight
An over-fed Chi won’t have healthy weight. It will quickly pack on the pounds and you won’t be able to see or feel your dog’s ribs. Its abdomen could be distended.
2. Bowel issues and flatulence
When you over-feed your pet, it could experience stool changes. Sometimes, its stools may be soft and at times, they may be dry and hard. Your pet could also suffer from gas and flatulence.
3. Joint issues
Your small dog with extra-weight could start suffering from joint aches and pains. Even a few pounds of extra body fat can result in sluggish movements. Obesity can also lead to many other health problems.
4. Lethargy
Excess body weight in a dog can also become a vicious cycle. When you over-feed your Chi, it becomes lethargic and moves less which leads to obesity which, in turn, leads to sluggish and slow movements. This can spiral out of control.
Now let us look at some signs you may be under-feeding your pet:
Signs you may be under-feeding your Chi
1. Malnourished dog
One of the main signs of under-feeding is a mal-nourished dog. Your Chi might have a dull, lackluster coat. Its ribs may be visible. It could suffer from skin issues.
2. It might have health problems and deficiencies
One of the major signs that your dog needs more food is that it will beg for food. Conversely, it may have deficiencies which could result in a lack of appetite. This can lead to a sick dog with many health problems, dental issues, etc.
3. Low energy levels
An underfed Chi, like an over-fed one, could also be lethargic. It could suffer from anemia and might spend all its time sleeping, begging for food, etc. It might also vomit bile.
Why is my Chihuahua Hungry all The Time?
If your Chihuahua is hungry all the time, it could be due to the following reasons:
1. Health issues
Diabetes, Inflammatory bowel disorder, and certain cancers can lead to increased appetite in dogs. Hormonal issues and thyroid-related disorders could also lead to an extremely hungry dog.
2. Deficiencies
Low-quality dog food that does not fulfill all of your Chi’s requirements can also cause extreme hunger pangs. Some older dogs also get extremely hungry because their intestine is not able to absorb the nutrients in food.
3. Intestinal parasites
Sometimes, overeating could also be due to worms or internal parasites like roundworm, tapeworm, etc. Regular de-worming can prevent this.
FAQs on How Much Should a Chihuahua Eat a Day?
1. Is it cruel to feed a Chi once a day?
No. It isn’t cruel, especially if you are doing it for maintaining your Chi’s optimum weight. If your vet recommends that you feed your dog once a day, then it is for your pet’s well-being.
2. Should I walk my Chi before or after feeding?
Never walk your pet immediately after feeding and do not feed your pet right after walking. Make sure to leave at least 30 minutes between the two activities. Exercising your Chi immediately after feeding it could cause a condition called bloat in dogs.
3. Do Chihuahuas over-eat?
Yes, it is possible that a Chi won’t stop eating even once it is full. That is why you must monitor its daily food intake and use the exact measurements when scooping out its food in the bowl. Never free-feed your dog as that could lead to obesity.
4. How long can a Chihuahua go without eating?
Dogs can stay hungry longer than we humans think they can. So you need not worry if your Chi skips a meal or two. However, if your dog is prone to hypoglycemia, then it could be a cause of concern if it does not eat. Do call your vet if that is the case and also if your pet does not eat for more than 2 days.
5. What human food can a Chi eat safely?
A Chihuahua can safely eat xylitol-free peanut butter, chicken, sweet potato, carrots, pumpkins, brown rice, and apples without the seeds. You can make homemade dog food with meat, rice, and vegetables.
Conclusion – How Much Should a Chihuahua Eat a Day?
An adult Chihuahua with normal activity levels needs between 1/3rd and ½ cup of pet food every day.
Chihuahua puppies need more number of healthy meals for optimum growth and development. You might want to feed your little dog 3-4 small meals. Once your Chi is an adult, feed it 1-2 meals each day.
Please discuss your Chihuahua’s feeding schedule and calorie needs with your vet to make sure it receives optimum nutrition.
