with so much processed food on the market, do you ever wonder what foods are healthy for your chihuahua to snack on? its ok to allow your chihuahua to indulge on occasion, but just be sure to choose healthy treats.
if you are selecting from store-manufactured dog food, make sure you check the package label for the nutritional analysis, ingredient list and recommended serving. some manufactured treats are actually formulated to provide complete nutrition, but this doesn’t mean it should be the staple of your chihuahua’s diet.
as with people, it is best to avoid treats with too much sugar, salt or fat. crunchy treats tend to have less sugar than semi-moist ones, so they are better for your chihuahua’s teeth and waistline. in addition, they provide satisfying chewing exercise which also promotes dental health.
low-cost alternatives to commercial snacks include:
vegetables: cooked, raw or frozen – carrots, broccoli stems, green beans, fresh peppers, peas, lettuce stems
fruits: apples, pears, bananas (only small amounts to avoid digestive upset)
breads: crackers and dry cereal (only occasionally and reduced fat or no-fat)
cheese: high in fat so offer only reduced fat on occasion
meat: small chunks of cooked lean meats – chicken, turkey, pork, steak, liver
teaka the famous chihuahua favorite snacks: fresh red pepper slices, romaine lettuce stems and broccoli
* it is important to note that not every food that is safe for humans is also safe for your chihuahua. do NOT feed your chihuahua chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins or macadamia nuts - all have been associated with toxic reactions ranging from vomiting, diarrhea and death
source: karla s. rugh, d.v.m., ph.d – chihuahuas, vol 3, 2nd edition
picture source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdmsf/1477490312/
9 responses so far ↓
1 Bonnita // Feb 7, 2012 at 7:10 pm
We Just got a Chihuahua. I understand how Some are built more stocky and others very boney and yet both are healthy. When the one we got was a pup, he looked like he would be stocky so I agreed to take him. Since then, he has become really skinny and is getting that hump in his back as he ‘tiptoes’ around. I’d like to fatten him up a bit, but safely. Any suggestions?
2 susannah // Apr 6, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Our 8 month old Chihuahua, Anna-Bell loves peas, broccoli, red cabbage, lettuce, carrots and weetabix cereal. Her favorite dinner is sliced chicken diced very small, mixed with weetabix and peas. She always clears the plate. we also feed her kibble-the royal canin chihuahua and bakers puppy chicken and vegetables and moist meaty chunks varieties. we recently tried her on real poached salmon and she devoured it. she is thriving. we got her aged 6 months at 3lbs 5oz and she is now 5lbs 10 oz and as skinny as you can be. we hope she will fill out a little bit after her spay (next week ) she is still wearing size small clothes!
3 Jessica // Apr 6, 2011 at 1:58 pm
my little girl(5months) Leyna does the same thing with her big brothers bog boy dog food, she will carry it to another room or play with it before eating it. i haven’t ever realized the raw veggies were ok, i will have to try those, but i knew her dog food( halo) has cooked veggies in it.. Thanks for the list!
4 T // Jan 29, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Romy, my little girl Chi, Bella does the same thing with her food. Picks a few pieces up with her mouth, carries them to the next room and eats them there. Hilarious! I use cat treats as treats for Bella, but she eats “small bite” dog food. Her favorite treats are anything dairy and crackers. I didn’t know raw veggies were ok, we will try that out.
5 Romy M // Aug 24, 2009 at 10:22 pm
My boy chihuahua, Weezy, will not eat any green vegetables or dogfood but anything alse usually is devoured. Meow Mix is his day to day food. He carries 5 or 6 of the peices to a different room & eats them there . My friends chihuahua’s will only eat catfood also. Is this the norm? facebook.com/romylishous/
6 famous chihuahua editor // Jul 15, 2009 at 6:12 pm
absolutely
7 jilli // Jul 14, 2009 at 3:31 pm
does this also work 4 big dogs
8 famous chihuahua editor // Jul 9, 2009 at 3:04 am
pork is as harmless to dogs as chicken, beef or any other meat, just take all necessary precautions in preparing it. like any meat, make sure its thoroughly cooked.
9 vi // Jul 9, 2009 at 1:35 am
I was told by 2 different vets to never give dogs pork since they can’t digest it.
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