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.