Feeding a Chihuahua puppy can be a bit complicated since their nutritional needs will change as they grow up. It’s important to follow the proper timing, portion sizes, and ingredients so your puppy can grow up healthy. Puppies younger than 16 weeks should eat four times per day. After that, you should feed them three times per day until they are six months old. Then, you can go down to two meals per day for the rest of their lives.
1 week to 4 weeks
You’ll want to feed them with a puppy milk replacer. You can purchase this at most pet stores, or you can ask your breeder for some advice on what type of food to give them.
The best thing about this age group is that they are very easy to train because their brains are still developing and they’re open to new experiences and different things in the world around them. So don’t be surprised if your Chihuahua puppy starts learning tricks after just a few days!
4 weeks to 6 weeks
At this stage, you should be feeding your puppy three times a day. You’ll also want to start increasing the amount of food they get each meal.
At 4 weeks, puppies should be getting 3 times as much food as they weigh. So if your puppy weighs about 2 ounces, which is about 1/4th pound, you will feed him 1/8th pound of his daily diet (1/4th divided by 4). This would equal approximately 3 tablespoons or 6 teaspoons worth of food per mealtime.
At 6 weeks old and beyond, your puppy should consume twice as much food than at 4 weeks old; so if you gave your pup 3 tablespoons at 4 weeks old then give them 6 tablespoons at 6 wks old and beyond!
6 weeks and older
When you get your Chihuahua puppy, start them on a high-quality puppy food. Chihuahuas are small and need to be fed three times per day, regardless of their age. This will ensure they are getting enough nutrients to grow and develop properly.
If you’re concerned that your Chihuahua is not eating enough or too much, check the following:
- How often are they eating? Are they consuming the right amount of food based on their weight? (See our guide above.)
- Is she eating in an otherwise normal manner? If so, try increasing her meals by 25% if she’s underweight or decreasing her meals by 25% if she’s overweight. Do this gradually over time so as not to shock her body with sudden changes in intake.
1 year and older
The food you give your Chihuahua puppy at one year and older is the same as that of other dogs:
- Feed your Chihuahua once a day in the morning.
- Your Chihuahua needs about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food per 10 pounds of body weight.
- Give him kibble with about 22 percent protein and 16 percent fat (according to most sources).
Chihuahua puppies need to follow a specific feeding schedule.
Your Chihuahua puppy needs to follow a specific feeding schedule. You should feed your pup three times a day, and each time you feed them they should receive the same amount of food. This will help the digestive system adapt to your pup’s diet and avoid any health issues later on in life.
When starting out, it’s best to begin with small meals divided into three separate servings throughout the day (morning, noon, and evening), as this is easiest on their stomachs while also preventing overeating problems down the line. As they grow older, you can increase their portions as needed but always make sure that both sides of something like chicken or beef are evenly distributed between meals so as not to upset their stomachs–you don’t want anything getting stuck!
The feeding schedule you set for your chihuahua puppy is important, both to its overall health and development. Make sure that you follow these rules when it comes to feeding your new pet:
- Do not overfeed him
- Feed lots of protein and keep carbohydrates to a minimum
- Provide plenty of fresh water at all times
- Watch out for signs of malnutrition in the form of weight loss or diarrhea
If you have any questions about the above guidelines or feel like something is wrong with your puppy’s diet, please contact us immediately. We’re here for you! And if there are other resources related to feeding schedules that we didn’t mention here, let us know so we can include them as well!