Chihuahua obesity is a very common problem amongst the chihuahua dog breed. Chihuahuas are the smallest breed of dogs that exist; therefore they need the smallest amount of food of any other dog breed. Most owners find their tiny little Chihuahuas so irresistible that they tend to squeeze in one too many treats for their little pal. Although your dog will enjoy all the treats he or she can get and will continue to beg for more with that cute little face, it is important that you put a limit to treats and feeding.  Maintaining a healthy weight is essential when providing good care for  chihuahuas.

Risks Associated with Chihuahua Obesity

Chihuahua obesity is a very dangerous health problem and guarantees a much shorter and unhealthy life. Some pet owners even find for a chubby dog to be cute, but it is far from cute when you consider all of the health risks your dog will become much more susceptible to when he or she is overweight.

Chihuahua obesity puts chihuahua lives at risk by an increased chance of developing diabetes, heart disease or respiratory problems. Chihuahua obesity also tends to cause problems with the joints of their little legs which are only meant to typically carry 4-8 pounds of body weight.

An obese Chihuahua has a much lesser quality of life. While most healthy Chihuahuas want to run and play, an overweight Chihuahua will find it difficult to walk short distances, experience shortness of breath and even be lazier then the average healthy Chihuahua simply because it has no energy.

Chihuahua Obesity Prevention

There are a few ways to prevent your Chihuahua from becoming obese or to bring your obese Chihuahua down to a healthier weight. You can start by taking your Chihuahua on a 10-30 minute walk each day. Not only is a walk good for your dog, it is also good for you. The next thing you can do is to not over feed your Chihuahua. Your Chihuahua only needs about 1/2 cup of dry dog food each day. You can feed ¼ cup in the morning and another ¼ cup in the evening. Only leave out the food for 15-20 minutes during each feeding and do not feed again until the next feeding time. Also, keep treats to a minimum. If you are using treats to train your Chihuahua, cut the treats in half or in quarters so that one treat will seem like much more.  Chihuahua obesity will never be a problem if you can follow these simple tips. 

Choosing the right chihuahua food is very important, since, it’s one of the most drastic way of affecting your pet’s health. Whether you decide to make your dog homemade dog food or if you intend to buy them food straight from a can or bag, the choice is completely your own.

Homemade Chihuahua Food

First of all, there are benefits to homemade chihuahua food as well as store bought chihuahua food. I don’t know which one is the clear victor in superiority. What I do know, is a set of pros and cons for each.

Homemade dog food is good because it takes away all of the preservatives and other unnatural ingredients found in store bought food. By making your dog food, you are able to control what exactly is going into it. For example if your dog is getting a little chunky, maybe you’ll want to add a little more protein and a little left bread products. Also, by making homemade dog food, you give your dog variety which he will be very thankful for. Take care though in making your dog food if you make drastic changes to your pup’s diet. Drastic diet changes can cause upset stomach and lead to vomiting or a case of the runs. Dogs are meant for subtle change only. Gradually change their food if you want to vary up the menu.

Store Bought Chihuahua Food

Store bought foods on the other hand are good because they are backed by an organization which typically that takes pride in the fact that they’ve optimized their product to include all of the ingredients necessary for a healthy canine life. Also they are effective in tailoring their food to the exact needs based on the type of dog. If you want a food that is inexpensive and has a high probability of being good for your dog, a good store bought food is acceptable. Just make sure you’ve verified that it’s been approved by the AAFCO (an organization that determines if a food meets proper requirements).

If you buy store bought food, choosing between wet and dry becomes your next challenge. Choose dry food for a cheaper menu option. Although not as tasty as wet food, dry food will save a lot of cost and will be a fine choice for your chihuahua. Choose wet if you’d like to appeal to your pet’s taste buds. Being more moist and full of flavor, there is no doubt that dogs love wet food over dry food by far. You will pay extra for wet food however. As a result, if you want the best of both worlds, simply mix a small portion of wet food into the dry food.   Chances are your chihuahua will love it’s chihuahua food.