homemade dog food for my chihuahua?

Question

My little guy is four months old and hates his pellets. I’ve tried every type the vet could throw at me! He doesn’t want to eat them wet or dry. He nibbles on the cat’s pellets throughout the day but I’m sure a meal in the morning and a meal at night is better for him right? Well I then thought it would be a good idea if I make him a home cooked meal. Does anyone know of any recipes that have all the nutritional needs for a CHIHUAHUA?

hello? i dont feed him my food! he doesnt even get bones of any kind!! he doesnt even beg!

Answer 1

When you think about it, what does your dog need from its food in order to be healthy?

Today our pets have a wide variety to meet their tastes and needs and we have our choice of what kind of food we can choose to feed them. Despite the variety, pet foods usually fall into three major categories. These categories are: Grocery store foods, these types of dog and pet foods are usually found in grocery stores and mass marketed retailers and can contain lower quality, less expensive ingredients. The second category is "premium dog foods," which can also be found in grocery's stores but are also found in pet stores and through your local veterinarian's office. These types of foods are usually made from some higher quality ingredients and are usually made evident by the expense of the food. Some of these pet foods though can contain lower quality ingredients that you aren't aware of. The third and final category is homemade dog food.More and more people are beginning to make their dog's food at home rather than buying commercial formulas. Homemade dog food doesn't contain any substances that could possibly be harmful to your dog's health such as artificial coloring and artificial flavors.

Another reason to make homemade dog food is the preservatives added to the commercial dog food. Homemade dog food has the benefit of optimum freshness without preservatives.

There are dogs that would greatly benefit from a homemade diet. Some dogs who suffer from allergies that cause severe itching may find relief once switched from commercial dog food to a homemade diet.

Processed dog food is a relatively new product and scientists don't fully understand the differences between commercial food and a diet of fresh food. There may be problems occurring in a dog's health because he is being given food that has had the nutrients cooked out of it and then sprayed back on.


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Answer 2

The last vet diet I heard about was a diet of boiled chicken & rice with chopped fresh carrots. A vet we once lived near
'perscribed' it to all dog owners he saw. Never allow your dog
to eat cat food. A cats' daily requierments are not the same
as a dogs. Yet dogs are attracted to cat food. My aunt all-
owed her toy poodle to eat her cats' food and it developed
cancer & died in middle age. It wasn't getting enough nu-
trition or the right kind.
We've had our Chi on Chicken Soup for the Soul, but are
now using, Pet Promise, recommended by doctor Andrew
Weil MD. I've done a web search, and found three good
recommendations from a breeder and two Chi owners.
Chis' tend to be finnickey eaters, but they love cooked chicken. But that alone isn't enough. Too much protein is
hard on a toys' kidneys also. Here are other brands you
might try of dry food. Canidae Chicken & rice, Solid Gold,
which has less fillers, & higher quality than Royal Canin.
It's also cheaper by $15.00 less per big bag of Royal Canin.
The referral says it's available @ Petco.

Answer 3

A predominantly meat-based diet with no mineral supplementation isn't a great diet, especially for a dog who has not finished growing. You're on the right track with what you're doing (meat, rice, vegies), but you've missed a few vitals. You should be including some fats in your recipe (e.g. vegetable or fish oil), and you also need a calcium supplement at the very least. You also have to bear in mind that it is important not only to get the right ingredients/nutrients, but to have them in the right quantities and balance. I recommend to anyone who wants to feed a homemade diet that they think about getting themselves a veterinary nutrition book (often very cheap on eBay or 2nd hand through amazon), as you need to have a good understanding of what you are doing. I notice that you don't allow email or IM- if you want to get in touch with me, I will look out a balanced homemade recipe for you (not sure where it is at present, as I've just moved house and have folders and files everywhere!)

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Answer 4

make some low sodium gravy and eat some if he wants a taste give him a lick hopefully he'll want more then take some and mix it with his food this way he'll think he's getting something special and not just dog food. Otherwise my chihuahua absolutely loves when his food is a little soggy try putting some water in his food. but then sense his food won't be hard enough to scrap his teeth, teeth-brushing will be twice the necessity. Also sense he is so picky leave some food around so that he can always pick when he feels like it so he gets enough to keep weight on. My dog likes to think he is a mighty hunter so I leave a few kibbles around the house in corners and just around he discovers them and thinks its like his treasure then he eats them. I praise him alot when I see him eating out of his dish too. Have you tried Science Diet little bites? That is my Chihuahuas preferred food. You just have to get creative you'll find something that works eventually. Good Luck.

Answer 5

well I have a chihuahua and she's a very picky eater. but the thing you should remember is that no animal will purposely starve themselves just because of the taste of the food. if you put down the food and she/he don't eat then in 20 min pick it up till next feeding time. then repeat this. it may seem harsh but it's not. it will make them think that this is the way it has to be and I had better not be picky or else I wont eat.

now as for feeding your chihuahua human food,
please don't if you feed them the wrong things like garlic of onions or grapes or something then it could kill them. human food is not good for them and will make them obease and that's especially bad because of how small their hearts are and how small they are. this will kill them faster then a 16 wheeler.

another thing that will kill your chihuahua is cat food it has too much fat in it that your chihuahua doen't need. cats and dogs have different vitaman, protin, and fat needs. your chihuahua will not get what he needs from cat food. so stick to dogfood.


my recommendations for food is
try to find a chicken and rice diet for them. chihuahuas always seem like they have a sensitive stomach and this is the best diet for them. plus it tastes good to them.

p.s. when picking a good food for your chihuahua read the ingredients.....if the first 3-4 ingredients read the word corn then don't get it because it's just a allergy waiting to happen.

Answer 6

Get the book Dr.Pitcairns Guide to Natural Pet Health. It has recipes for homemade food that are really good. You're lucky you have a little dog that doesn't eat much, because I put my dog on a natural meat diet and since she weighs 70 pounds, it's turning out to be really expensive.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

If your chiuahua is anything like mine it will eat ANYTHING that you will eat. The problem with feeding a dog people food is everytime you are eating the dog thinks it is time for him to eat and will sit at your feet and bark until you give him something.

Answer 9

hahah...our chihuahua eats cat food too and everything else-- except dog food (his fave is apples and chicken)....i dont worry about him , the vet says he is fine....