A new Chihuahua owner called me to ask ‘what human foods can Chihuahuas eat safely?’
I was glad she asked me that question because, as a new dog owner, I had made several mistakes including feeding certain human foods that Chihuahuas aren’t supposed to eat. (Don’t worry; I fed them in small quantities, so my pet was alright!).
Many human foods are bad or toxic to Chihuahuas. Some of them are laden with ingredients that could harm your pet’s sensitive digestion. Worse still, some human foods can even kill a tiny dog.
That is why every Chihuahua parent must ask the question: what human foods can Chihuahuas eat safely?
That is exactly what we will discuss today.
What Human Foods Can Chihuahuas Eat? 20 Human Foods that are Safe for Chihuahuas
All dogs, including Chihuahuas are carnivores. As long as your pet has healthy kidneys, its diet should primarily consist of protein – lean meat.
Your vet will guide you as to how your pet should get its protein needs. You can then decide whether to feed commercial dog food or homemade dog food.
Remember that Chihuahuas are sensitive dogs and could have food allergy. That is why it is important to choose a food with ingredients it can tolerate and eat safely.
If you run out of dog food, you can use these 20 human foods to feed your Chihuahua:
1. Rice
Chihuahuas can safely eat brown or white rice. Many commercial dog foods also contain rice.
Is rice safe for your Chi to eat daily? The answer is Yes but only as long as you balance all other nutrients like proteins, vitamins, and minerals – then you can feed your Chi rice daily.
For a Chihuahua weighing less than 5 lb., feed about ½ cup of rice pet a day divided into several small portions. Mix the rice with vegetables like carrots, broccoli, spinach, pumpkin, and boiled lean meat.
2. Cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is one of those low –fat, high-protein human foods that you can safely feed your Chi in moderation. Compared to other high-fat cheeses, cottage cheese is also lower in sodium and fat and typically won’t cause diarrhea or other symptoms in most Chis.
Feed no more than 10% of its total dietary intake.
3. Chicken
Chicken is a lean meat that is also one of the safest proteins for sensitive Chihuahuas. However, a small percentage of Chihuahuas are allergic to chicken. If that is the case, please refrain from feeding.
Other Chihuahuas can eat chicken daily. Feed about ½ a cup of boiled, shredded chicken breast mixed with rice or vegetables. For older dogs or ones with dog’s teeth issues, feed a stew made with shredded chicken bits, vegetables, and rice. Remove and discard the cooked bones
4. Eggs
You can also feed your Chihuahua eggs in case you run out of dry dog food. Never feed raw egg as it could contain salmonella which can be very dangerous for Chihuahuas.
Always cook the eggs properly. You can feed boiled or scrambled eggs.
How many eggs are okay for Chis to eat daily? Chihuahuas are a small dog breed, so feed no more than half to 3/4th of a small cooked egg per day.
5. Salmon
Many high-quality commercial dry food and wet food for dogs contains salmon. This can provide your dog with omega fatty acids to keep its coat silky and shiny.
Feed cooked salmon (steamed or sauteed in a tiny bit of oil or butter) to your small pet. You can safely feed 10 g of salmon per 500 g of its body weight to prevent weight gain.
If your pet has a food allergy to salmon, discontinue feeding. Never feed raw fish to Chihuahuas as they could contain salmonella and other harmful bacteria.
6. Cooked Meat
Most Chihuahuas can safely eat cooked meats like chicken, fish, beef, pork, turkey, etc.
However, Chihuahuas are sensitive dogs and many of them suffer from food allergy. If your Chi is sensitive, find out which meat it can safely eat. You could try novel protein sources like rabbit, venison, duck, anchovies, etc.
Meats provide your dog with the protein it needs for muscle maintenance. Never feed raw meat to your Chihuahua as it could cause salmonella poisoning.
7. Sweet potato
This is another great human food for adult Chihuahua especially if it has constipation. The fiber contained is sweet potato will keep your dog regular.
Never feed raw sweet potato as it can cause intestinal blockage in your small pet. Always feed it cooked, pureed sweet potato. Start with a small amount (no more than half a tablespoon) for your toy dog breed.
8. Peanut butter
Unsweetened and xylitol-free peanut butter is safe for your Chihuahua, albeit in moderation. Peanut butter has a sticky consistency and could cause choking in a Chihuahua puppy.
So, feed this human food only in small quantities (about a teaspoon). Note that peanut butter is quite fattening and could cause weight gain in tiny dog like Chihuahua.
9. Green beans
Yes, a part of your dog’s diet, you can feed cooked green beans to your Chihuahua.
You can feed them raw, canned, sautéed, or steamed. Make sure to feed no more than 10% of your dog’s diet consisting of protein and other balanced nutrients.
10. Ripe bananas
Ripe bananas are the best fruit to feed your Chihuahua. Avoid feeding raw green bananas as they could cause an upset stomach and most dogs do not like the taste.
Feed about half to one small ripe banana daily to your Chihuahua as a part of dog treats.
11. Certain berries
Chihuahuas can safely have certain berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries as a part of dog treats. They can provide your pet with Vitamin C. Never feed citrus fruit to your Chi – especially limes and lemons – as they can cause upset stomach and serious vomiting in dogs.
Avoid berries with pits as they can be a choking hazard.
12. Bread
Most Chihuahuas can safely eat bread – whole wheat, brown, or white bread as long as they are not allergic to grains.
Feed a tiny bit of bread to your Chihuahua, not too much as it could cause bloating and upset stomach. Never feed bread dough or yeast dough as it can expand inside your tiny dog’s stomach causing severe abdominal pain, gas, and bloating.
13. Pasta
If you’ve run out of pet food, you could feed a bit of cooked pasta to your Chi. Avoid adding tomato sauce as tomatoes are toxic to dogs.
Instead cook the pasta in a bit of olive oil and add some boiled chicken, vegetables, and a tiny bit of cheese on top. Feed pasta in moderation to your pet!
14. Oatmeal
Your Chihuahua can have a small quantity of cooked oatmeal. Cook wholegrain oats in water – do not add sugar or artificial sweetener as these ingredients are not safe for your small dog.
Instead, add some boiled chicken, vegetables, etc. Remember that oatmeal is high in carbohydrates and calories and your dog still needs its protein. So practice moderation while feeding oatmeal to your tiny dog.
15. Lentils and pulses
Some Chihuahuas can safely eat lentils in moderate quantities. However, a few dogs are known to experience gastrointestinal symptoms like gas and diarrhea since lentils are high in fiber.
If you feed lentils to your Chi, cook them thoroughly. Feed a tiny amount – no more than a couple of teaspoons to your small dog.
16. Canned beans
In small amounts, canned beans are safe for your Chihuahua. You can go in for cooked canned beans like garbanzo, red beans, kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans.
Never feed raw beans as they contain a toxin that could, in excess, cause kidney failure in dogs. You can mix a small quantity of cooked, canned beans with your pet’s rice and meat.
17. Tofu
Dogs can eat tofu in moderation as it is nothing but soy curd and an excellent source of protein for dogs. You can mix raw, steamed, sautéed, or grilled tofu pieces with your Chihuahua’s pet food or rice.
Start small to ensure your pet is not allergic to this ingredient.
18. Plain yogurt
If your Chihuahua isn’t lactose intolerant, then it can safely eat yogurt. Yogurt is rich in probiotic or ‘friendly’ bacteria which are good for your dog’s gut, immunity, and digestive health.
In fact, plain, unsweetened yogurt is the best food to feed a sick Chihuahua having diarrhea or vomiting. Mix the yogurt with rice or feed a couple of teaspoons directly to your pet.
19. Quinoa
Chihuahuas can eat cooked quinoa in small quantities. Always cook the quinoa well and never feed raw quinoa as it could cause upset stomach in your small dog.
If you haven’t fed your pet quinoa before, start small. Feed about one teaspoon of cooked quinoa mixed with some chicken broth and boiled vegetables.
20. Millets
Millets are a safe human food for Chihuahuas. You can choose from pearl, foxtail, barnyard, or sorghum millets. These ancient grains contain fiber, calcium, iron, and B-vitamins. To feed millets, you can grind them into fine flour. Use this flour to make flat breads or pancakes and serve them with chicken and boiled vegetables to your Chihuahua.
What Human Foods are Toxic or Worst for Chihuahuas? 5 Bad Foods for Chihuahuas
The following foods are considered the worst for Chihuahuas because they can cause symptoms of food poisoning like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and, in extreme cases, even kidney failure.
1. Chocolate
Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine which is toxic to dogs. Even a small quantity of theobromine can cause fatal symptoms in dogs.
2. Onions and garlic
Thiosulphates and disulfides in onions and garlic family can cause toxicity in dogs. It can lead to hemolytic anemia in pets.
3. Macadamia nut
Macadamia nut is toxic to dogs because it can cause symptoms like ataxia, vomiting, weakness, and extreme lethargy in dogs.
4. Alcohol
Never allow your pet to even lick beverages like alcohols like wines, beer, or whiskey as, even in small quantities; they could be downright toxic to your small dog.
5. Cooked bones
Cooked bones could shatter inside your dog’s intestine causing perforations. They are also a choking hazard.
Which Beverages Can Chihuahuas Drink?
The best beverage for your Chihuahua to drink is water. Always provide fresh and clean water to your pet.
In addition to water, the following drinks are safe, in moderation, for your small Chihuahua:
1. Goat or cow milk
A couple of tablespoons of cow’s or goat’s milk are safe for most Chihuahuas as long as they are not lactose intolerant.
2. Gatorade/electrolyte
If a sick Chihuahua has lost lot of fluids, a bit of Gatorade or electrolyte solution can help replenish them. Let your dog have some electrolyte if it is up to it.
3. Dog beers
Dog beers like Dawg Grog are specially made, alcohol-free, un-carbonated beverages for dogs. They typically contain brewer’s malt. Feed these in moderation to your pet as an occasional summer treat.
4. Homemade apple juice
The reason why we mention homemade here is because commercial apple juice is packed with sugar and preservatives which can be tough on your Chihuahua’s sensitive stomach. Homemade apple juice is safe for your Chi as an occasional treat.
FAQs on What Human Foods Can Chihuahuas Eat?
1. What human food can my Chihuahua eat for dinner?
You can feed your Chihuahua a small quantity of bread, rice, pasta, or oatmeal mixed with some cooked meat and vegetables. You can also feed it boiled or raw carrots, spinach, bananas, low-fat cheeses, cooked eggs, and cooked lean meat, as well as the other safe human foods mentioned above.
2. What is the healthiest food to feed your Chihuahua?
You can go in for top-rated, high-quality Chihuahua food as recommended by your vet.
Conclusion – What Human Foods Can Chihuahuas Eat?
The answer to the question: what human foods can Chihuahuas eat is- cooked rice, certain vegetables, lean meat, and fruit like banana, berries, and apples.
You can also feed millets, pasta, oats, in moderation to your small dog. When starting a new food, always start slow and feed only tiny bits to ensure your pet can tolerate it.
Never feed chocolate, onions, macadamia nut, and alcoholic beverages to your pet.
