Chihuahuas are one of the most popular breeds in the world. They’re small, cuddly, and intelligent, with a knack for following their owner around like an obedient dog. But just because they’re called “low maintenance” doesn’t mean they don’t require any attention at all! Part of being a responsible pet owner is knowing how much to feed your Chihuahua. So, How Often To Feed Your Chihuahua?
The amount that you feed them depends on many factors, including age, weight, activity level, and if it’s wet or dry food. The puppies require more food than adults at a growing age. You can learn more about the schedules for the food supply later in this article.
If you have more questions about how often to feed your Chihuahua, then consult our guide below!
Let us move on to the important aspects you must consider while buying the best dog food for your Chihuahua.
Factors Affecting How Often You Feed A Chihuahua
Certain factors can affect how often you should feed your Chihuahua. They are explained as follows:
Age
Adult Chihuahuas prefer dry kibble and will most likely turn away from wet food unless it’s mixed with other things like tuna juice. For adults, we recommend feeding between two cups per pound each day. It can vary anywhere between three cups for a six-pound Chi.
Once you have successfully transitioned from wet food to dry kibble for 12 months straight, your dog is ready to eat an adult ration full-time! However, remember that some dogs may be ready for adult food after six months. Instead, this is typically the case with small-breed dogs.
The easiest way to determine how much food your puppy needs each day is by using the pound-for-pound guideline!
A healthy six-month-old chihuahua should eat thirty percent of its daily caloric intake. However— if they are very active throughout the day, you may need to increase this number to percent or higher depending on their activity level and age.
Weight
The weight of the Chihuahua determines how often you should feed them. Of them are lesser in weight than their determined age. So then, you should definitely consult your vet and feed them more often.
Activity Levels
When it comes to puppies, six months old and younger, their stomachs are smaller than most adults. This means you must feed them very small amounts throughout the day rather than two larger meals.
We recommend feeding around 100 calories each week until your pup is eight weeks old. At this point, you can start introducing dry kibble into their diet alongside pureed food if necessary!
Feeding Schedules For Your Chihuahua
You can check the following feeding schedule to know how often and how much you should feed your Chihuahua.
- Puppies (under three months): Swap foods regularly and feed freely. So they can grow and stay strong
- 3 to 6 months old: 3 to 4 meals a day.
- Six months to 1 year: 2 to 3 meals a day. Morning, noon, or late afternoon and night.
- From 1 year: preferably two meals a day. Morning and night.
Table Chart For The Number Of Calories To Feed Your Chihuahua
The weight determines how many calories you should feed the Chihuahua in a day. The following table clears up any confusion if you have one. Make sure you do not feed them more than what is required.
| Estimated Adult Weight in-lb. | Total Calories through Dry Food per day | Total Calories through Wet food per day |
| 6 | 244 | 232 |
| 7 | 274 | 260 |
| 8 | 303 | 288 |
| 9 | 331 | 314 |
| 10 | 358 | 340 |
How Often To Feed Your Chihuahua?
| Age | How Often to feed |
| 4 to 6 weeks old | Once a day, combine a few teaspoons of kibble with equal water/broth and dam’s milk. |
| 6 -8 weeks | 4-5 times per day, a couple of tablespoons of kibble with equal parts water/broth and dam’s milk |
| 8-12 weeks | Four times a day, feed your Chihuahua with 1/8th cup of kibble |
Senior Activity Level And Meal Plan
As your Chihuahua ages, their activity levels drop; it is important to remember this when determining how much food you should be feeding them!
Generally speaking, senior dogs only require around twenty-five percent of adult dogs’ calories. However, if your Chi has any health conditions, we recommend checking with a vet before deciding on an amount, as some medical issues can change these numbers entirely.
For example: If our ten-pound Chihuahua is becoming less active. But it doesn’t have any underlying health problems. We would feed them fifteen to twenty percent of their daily caloric needs.
How Often To Feed Your Adult Chihuahua?
As mentioned before, adult dogs should eat around two times per day or up to four cups for every pound of their body weight, depending on how active they are!
This means we recommend feeding your Chi twice daily if necessary. And it is very important not to skip any meals as this can cause stomach upset and digestive issues.
How Often To Feed Your Puppy Chihuahua?
The best way to determine when your puppy needs more food is by paying attention to its physical appearance, just like human babies.
Puppies should have a very low body fat percentage and typically drop weight, if anything else! If you notice that their ribs are starting to become visible or you can see all of the lines in his spine, then it’s time for another meal. No matter how young he/she may be.
However, please don’t go overboard feeding them too much because this could cause serious health problems later in life!
We recommend transitioning from wet to dry kibble at around eight weeks old, which means once they reach 12 months old, they’re ready for adult dog food full-time.
This process will depend on the rate at which your pup grows and how active they are throughout the day. You can slowly integrate adult food into their diet after eight weeks, but this is not set in stone!
If you notice that your puppy isn’t doing well with certain types of kibble or becomes picky once it reaches adulthood, then simply continue feeding them what works— no matter if there has been a recent change in size!
Wet Vs. Dry Kibble
Once you have successfully transitioned from wet food to dry kibble for 12 months straight, your dog is ready to eat an adult ration full-time!
However, remember that some dogs may be ready for adult food after six months of age; this is typically the case with small-breed dogs.
When it comes to puppies, six months old and younger, their stomachs are smaller than most adults; you must feed them very small amounts throughout the day rather than two larger meals.
We recommend feeding around 100 calories each week until your pup is eight weeks old. After that, you can start introducing dry kibble into their diet alongside pureed food if necessary!
Conclusion
When it comes to puppies, six months old and younger, their stomachs are smaller than most adults; you must feed them very small amounts throughout the day rather than two larger meals. We recommend feeding around 100 calories each week until your pup is eight weeks old. After that, you can start introducing dry kibble into their diet alongside pureed food if necessary!
