Chihuahuas are officially the smallest breed of dog. Because of this, the responsible chihuahua owner needs to take certain physical factors into consideration when feeding--and these factors can be much different than those that impact the owners of larger breeds such as Labrador retrievers or boxers. In order to keep your tiny canine healthy and on the road to a long, high-quality life, start with good feeding habits. Your chi will love you for it--for a long, long time.
Instructions
1. Mini-size the dog food. Most high-quality dog kibble comes in a variety of sizes. Because your chihuahua has a small mouth--and small teeth--choose the smallest size kibble available for ease in chewing.
2. Pick the right size bowl. Your chihuahua's dog food bowl should be shallow enough that she can reach over it and comfortably eat her food. If your chi is particularly tiny, consider feeding her on a small, unbreakable plate or saucer rather than a bowl.
3. Maintain a strict schedule. Small dogs have corresponding small bladders and digestive tracts. If you want to have some say in when your chihuahua needs to eliminate, make sure you feed him at approximately the same time every day.
4. Keep portions proportionate. It's easy to overfeed a chihuahua. Check with your veterinarian to find out what a good, healthy weight is for your dog, and feed him just enough to maintain that weight.
5. Give table scraps sparingly. Better yet, don't give them to your chihuahua at all. Your little dog will best be served by filling her tiny stomach with good, nutritious dog food and snacks.
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