Why is my Chihuahua Chubby? Reducing Chihuahua Obesity

How do I keep my Chihuahua from getting fat?

Chihuahuas have a reputation for getting fat! But that doesn’t have to be the case. If your little sweetie pie is a bit . . chubby . . well, let’s consider a few factors.

EXERCISE

One of the wonderful things about Chihuahuas is that they do NOT need a lot of exercise. Most Chihuahuas can have play time indoors, or, if you have the room, may get some yard time as well. They do not need daily walks that larger breeds require. In a way, Chihuahuas are low maintenance when it comes to exercising. For more information on Chihuahua care see the AKC link here: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/chihuahua/

DIET

Free Feeding your Chihuahua is usually the best approach

I free feed my Chihuahuas. Free feeding is having a bowl of food available for them at all times, but only kibble. Chihuahuas, as I’ve mentioned before, are susceptible of low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia. So it’s imperative to have food available at all times. However, keep in mind, that not all kibble is created equal. It must be nutritional and healthy, a food that Chihuahuas will thrive on. I only feed my Chihuahua “Life’s Abundance” kibble. Here’s a link to “Life’s Abundance” https://lifesabundance.com/
“Life’s Abundance” auto ships straight to your door so you know it’s fresh. The food you buy at stores may have sat there for weeks, getting old. And Life’s Abundance has the right balance of vitamins and nutritional value that your Chihuahua will need.

Life’s Abundance is my personal choice for healthy kibble for my Chihuahuas

TREATS

This is a tough one! Those beautiful, eager-to-please eyes looking up to you while you eat dinner! How can you resist? It’s hard, I know. So just keep in mind that you can provide only healthy treats for your dogs. Again, Life’s Abundance offers treats. But if it’s truly table scraps, try to limit your sweetie pie to simple cooked meats like chicken or steak. And make sure they are small. Remember, Chihuahuas are only 3 –  6 pounds, so they need just a nibble, and that’s it.

AGE

Yes, an older Chihuahua will slow down as will her metabolism, so aging can be a contributing factor in your sweetie pie getting a bit chubby. It doesn’t have to be, mind you. Just keep in mind the diet and exercise as mentioned above. It really is a as simple as net calories, just like with humans. How many calories go in? And how many calories are used up each day?

GETTING HIM/HER FIXED

Recent studies have shown that neutering or spaying your dog will tend to result in weight gain. It may not be fully understood why, but the studies and surveys are clear. I’m sure it has to do with the changes in hormones from getting them fixed, unfortunately. This is part of the calculation you must make when you decide to get your Chihuahua fixed or not. Here’s a great article on the current evidence: “The Quietly Changing Consensus on Neutering Dogs” by Sarah Zhang.

In the end, your sweetie pie does not have to get fat! Help him or her to avoid the chubby Chihuahua syndrome, and let’s lead the way for a healthy lifestyle for our lovable little fur babies!

IMPORTANT TO START YOUNG

Just like with humans, it’s important to start young with lifelong habits, that way you won’t establish bad habits that you’ll later have to break. Here’s a chart to estimate your puppy’s weight and their adult weight. Chihuahua Weight Chart