FOOD FOR YOUR CHEEKY CHIHUAHUA*

Every dog has a different sweet spot due to things like age, genetics, lifestyle, digestibility and quality of their food, and any health issues. There are formulas that we and your vet use to estimate where to start, taking these things into consideration. After that, the ultimate answer comes from this question: Is your dog maintaining a healthy, lean body weight? If the answer is YES, you are feeding the perfect amount! If the answer is NO (they are getting a little too skinny or too chubby), then we need to make some gradual adjustments.
**Keep in mind that for tiny dogs, gradual adjustments can mean very small changes (a couple pieces of kibble), so it's not a bad idea to get a kitchen scale that can measure in grams to make these small changes

For most adults, splitting their daily recommended kibble amount into two meals is perfect. Some Chihuahuas prefer to have three meals a day (their stomachs are tiny)!

To transition your Chihuahua over to BARK Food, we generally recommend transitioning food over the course of one week, gradually phasing out the old food and introducing the new. For the first two days offer a meal that is 25% new food and 75% old food. After that, move to 50% and 50% for two days, then 75% new food and 25% old food for two more days. After that your dog should be ready to eat only their new food! During this transition you will monitor for any vomiting, diarrhea, or appetite change that would indicate your dog is having trouble with the new food. For more on transitioning dog foods see our guide here.

All dogs can get all dog diseases. That said, Chihuahuas are known to be prone to becoming overweight or obese. Obesity can not only shorten their lifespan, it may also make other diseases worse. Other conditions they're predisposed to include periodontal disease, heart disease, orthopedic problems with their hips and knees, cataracts, corneal ulcers, bladder stones, cryptorchidism (failure of one or both testicles to descend—this can lead to cancer if not addressed), neurological issues (usually something they are born with), pregnancy issues, and tracheal collapse.

The short answer is: maybe.

Dental disease can be a big problem for your dog, especially if it's advanced. Sometimes, bad teeth need soft food, because hard food can be painful or impossible to eat. Tiny dogs like Chihuahuas are particularly prone to dental problems and disease because their mouths are too small for all their teeth, which can cause other complications over time.

Ideally, dental disease is addressed by your vet, who can get those dead/dying/broken teeth out of there! They aren't doing a darn thing except causing the world's longest headache and body-wide inflammation. However, if your vet hasn't or cannot address the issue, consider soft food.

You will continue to receive the same great food for your dog! If you signed up before August 1st, 2022, please visit woof.barkeats.com to access your account.