Despite their miniature size, Chihuahuas are very fond of eating tightly and often, and all because of their fast metabolism. And here their owners are faced with the problem of how to feed their pets, so as not to harm them, but, on the contrary, bring only benefit. We will talk about which food to choose and how to give it to your dog correctly in this article.
Feeding Features
Chihuahuas belong to those dog breeds that need to be fed specialized feed. Natural nutrition for them is almost unacceptable for the reason that not everyone, even the most responsible owner of the animal can cook it correctly.
It is important and necessary to properly feed these animals, only in this way you can be sure that the life of your beloved pet will not be reduced, and all the necessary substances will enter his body. For this, you can use both dry and wet food.
It is important to select only such a product that is intended for dogs of this particular breed.
In it, the pieces of food have an ideal size, and the composition is suitable for these small, nimble and active pets.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that in the selected products the fat content was not less than 6%, and protein - not less than 20%. According to veterinarians, only such food can fully satisfy all the needs of the animal. Serving size and calorie content directly depend on the age of the chihuahua. So, for dogs under seven years of age, this figure is calculated based on 85 kilocalories per 1 kg of weight per day. The daily rate for pets older than 7 years is calculated as follows: 68 kilocalories per 1 kg of weight.
Puppies are fed up to 4 times a day, adult dogs - twice. The first feeding should be at 7-9 o’clock in the morning, the second - at 19-21 o’clock.
You should never feed your pet immediately before going to bed.
Structure
Dog food of this breed, as well as for everyone else, should include in its composition such substances as:
- trace elements;
- vitamins;
- proteins;
- fats
- carbohydrates.
That is why the following ingredients are necessarily part of the chihuahua feed:
- meat or poultry: usually use beef, veal, turkey or rabbit;
- vegetables: zucchini, eggplant, carrots, cabbage, etc .;
- vitamin and mineral complexes: use ready-made special mixtures in strictly defined proportions;
- as carbohydrates use rice or corn flour, as well as some types of cereals.
In some types of feed, natural flavors and preservatives may also be present. All are fully approved by veterinarians.
Kinds
Today, several varieties of food for pets of this breed are on sale. Each option has its own characteristics.
Dry food
Often it is chosen due to the fact that it helps to remove tartar in a dog in a timely manner and prevents the manifestation of severe inflammation. In addition, the special additives that make up such a diet help not only increase immunity and improve bowel function, but also significantly reduce the unpleasant odor of the stool. It is important to choose a dry food that is specifically designed for the Chihuahua, since the granules in it have the most optimal size.
It is important to remember that before the change of milk fangs, puppies are pre-soaked in dry water soaked in warm water.
Wet food is very popular.
Its consistency is as close as possible to the natural nutrition of dogs. It contains all the necessary trace elements and proteins. Soft food is also chosen because it helps to normalize the water balance in the animal’s body and prevents its dehydration.
But as a prophylaxis of tartar, it cannot be used. It is important to understand that far from all types of wet ready meals are suitable for daily feeding of a Chihuahua.
Which type of feed to choose - each owner decides for himself. But before buying it is still better to consult a veterinarian.
Rating of the best manufacturers
In order to facilitate the choice and not be mistaken, we offer you a list of manufacturers of various types of dog food. The quality of their products is confirmed not only by experts, but also by reviews of ordinary customers.
- Royal Canin Mini Adult - the best dry dog food for small breeds, intended for animals aged 10 months to 7 years. It has a completely natural and safe composition. The size of its particles is optimal for a Chihuahua, so pets do not have any problems during its absorption. The composition of this feed is completely balanced, it includes cereals, meat and vitamin complexes. Food belongs to the premium segment.
- Acana The products of this manufacturer are in no way inferior to the one described above. The food is saturated with fish oil, useful fatty acids and balanced in the ratio of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Helps fight tartar, improves digestion in animals and the appearance of their coat. The lineup contains dog food of all ages. This product belongs to the class of holistic.
- Bosch Mini Adult Lamb & Rice - This is already super-premium food from Germany. It has an ideal ratio of fats and proteins, vitamin supplements and minerals. This food has been specially developed for dwarf dog breeds, including Chihuahua. A big plus is that the assortment contains food intended for different age categories of pets.
- Grandorf natural & healthy - The best wet dog food. The composition does not contain any natural or artificial colors, flavors.Such a wet diet not only never causes allergies, but also favorably affects the intestinal microflora, and also helps to strengthen bone tissue and thicken cartilage.
There is only one drawback of such food - it is practically not on the shelves, therefore it is better to purchase feed directly from the manufacturer.
- Hill's Prescription Diet L / D Canine Hepatic Health Canned - Another wet food of excellent quality with a therapeutic effect. Such nutrition not only helps to avoid the appearance of allergies, but also does not allow the development of urolithiasis. This food is recommended by veterinarians for dogs after various operations. But it is also ideal for healthy pets.
- Belcando - it is a feed that does not contain crops, therefore, does not cause allergies. A balanced composition, a pleasant aroma, the absence of harmful additives and, as a result, a healthy and active pet. This is exactly what those Chihuahua owners who choose the products of this brand get.
Some of the above types of feed have a high cost. However, it fully pays off with economical power consumption and its high quality. This applies to both dry and wet nutrition.
Selection rules
Before you purchase any of the above feeds, you need to study some of the recommendations of specialists. They will help to make a truly correct and safe choice for your pet.
- For castrated chihuahuas, only specialized food should be purchased. Meals intended for ordinary dogs are not suitable for such animals.
- Feed the pet should only wet or only dry food of the same brand.
In exceptional cases, they can be combined, but only after consultation with a specialist.
- For chihuahuas at a very young age, as well as dogs over 9 years old, it is better to choose a hypoallergenic food. The digestive system of such dogs is too vulnerable and you should not once again experience the endurance of the body.
- You can not independently change the feed to any other. Replacement of the food is possible only on the recommendation of a specialist. He will help you choose the best replacement option.
According to the breeders, it is preferable to choose a specific food and its type after contacting a veterinarian. And you should know in advance from the previous owner how he fed his puppy, it is possible that a replacement of food will not be needed.
An overview of dog food can be found in the next video.