Should You Prepare Homemade Meals For Your Chihuahua?

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In the pet food aisle, dog owners are faced with an overwhelming array of commercial food choices, compounded by frequent recalls that can leave pet parents feeling uneasy.

The alternative? Homemade dog food. But the question remains: can homemade meals meet all your Chihuahua’s nutritional requirements?

This article delves into the benefits and considerations of both feeding methods to help you make an informed decision for your furry companion.

Understanding Veterinarian Recommendations

For years, the majority of veterinarians recommended commercial diets for dogs, praising their convenience and nutritional balance. However, the tide is turning, with more vets now acknowledging the potential benefits of carefully planned homemade diets.

If you’re leaning towards preparing your Chihuahua’s meals at home, it’s crucial to consult with a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist. This ensures your pup’s diet is balanced and tailored to their specific health needs.

Can I Make Healthy Home Made Dog Food At Home?

Yes, you can! But, it is important that you do not attempt to do this on your own without the guidance of a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist.

Dogs have different nutritional requirements from humans, meaning a meal that’s healthy for you might not be suitable for your pet. Some human foods can actually hurt or kill your dog.

A veterinarian can help you design a diet that includes all the necessary nutrients, and in some cases, recommend supplements to fill any gaps.

You need the guidance of a veterinarian to ensure that your dog is eating foods that are safe for them and that the diet is well-balanced with all the nutrients they need. While you may believe that you are giving him a healthy meal, your veterinarian may want your dog to take a daily vitamin to ensure his nutritional needs are fully met.

I’ve experienced the benefits of homemade dog food firsthand with my four dogs, combining commercial food with homemade meals for a balanced diet. For those interested, I’ve shared my homemade dog food recipe online.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Commercial Diets?

Commercial diets have remained a popular choice for pets for a long time because of these pros:

• Commercial diets are easy to store and have lengthy expiration dates.
• They are easy to prepare.
• Some commercial diets are very inexpensive and many manufacturers offer coupons regularly.
• Veterinarians often recommend them and state that the crunchy kibble is beneficial for the oral health of dogs.

However, commercial diets have some drawbacks too:

• The lengthy expiration dates are achieved with preservatives and other undesirable ingredients.
• Recalls often occur, and sometimes result in the death of beloved pets.
• The source of the ingredients is often questionable.
• The standards for commercial pet food quality and safety are not as stringent as the requirements for human-grade food.
• Eating the same dry kibble daily can be boring for your dog.
• Ingredients used for dog food are often the by-products of meat used for human food production.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Home Made Diets?

Homemade diets offer benefits that commercial diets simply cannot:

• Dogs love homemade diets! They are always excited to eat real meat, fruits, and vegetables.
• Owners know exactly what is in their dog’s food.
• Owners can be confident in the quality of their dog’s food.
• Dogs who are finicky eaters or who have allergies can be catered to.
• Preparing meals for your dog is an act of love and a fun bonding experience.

While the benefits of homemade diets cannot be denied, they are not perfect. The cons of homemade diets are:

• You cannot save some of your dinner for your dog if the ingredients are not dog-safe, which means you must prepare special meals just for your dog.
• The preparations are not convenient for busy schedules or people who do not enjoy cooking (although I don’t like to cook, it only takes about 20 minutes to prepare dog food for 4 small dogs for a week).
• You may need to provide your dog with a vitamin to ensure that she receives proper and complete nutrition.
• Dog’s tummies may take weeks to acclimate to the change in their diet, and they may suffer from digestive upset during the transition period if not done properly.

Tips for Transitioning to a Homemade Diet

If you’re considering homemade meals for your Chihuahua, here are some guidelines to ensure a smooth transition:

Slow Feed

Naturally, your Chihuahua will be very excited about the change in their diet.

Commercial kibble forces dogs to have to chew their food because of texture, size, and shape. When your dog eats a homemade meal, they may eat quickly because it requires less crunching and chewing.

If your Chihuahua is a voracious eater, purchase a slow feeder dog bowl to help slow them down and prevent them from choking. This is also good mental stimulation, as they has to think about the best way to get the food out of the grooves of the bowl.

Don’t be afraid to freeze

Due to their small stature, a batch of homemade dog food would cover many more meals for a Chihuahua than a larger breed. Therefore, keeping a batch in the fridge may result in the food going bad before your Chihuahua is able to eat all of it.

If you prepare a meal in advance and freeze the remaining portions, you may take some out and thaw it out for your Chihuahua to eat when needed. This makes less daily work for you and saves money by preserving food for your Chihuahua to eat.

Check your sources

Although the internet is a wealth of knowledge, do not begin your homemade diet journey by preparing meals for your dog you discovered online before discussing the recipe with your veterinarian.

Many well-meaning pet parents publish recipes, but the ingredients may not be vet-approved.

When you search for recipes to discuss with your veterinarian, always look for recipes published by trusted sources, such as veterinary websites or published in books. Here are some sources to get you started:

• BalanceIT.com allows pet parents to find recipes based upon their dog’s favorite ingredients. The website was created by a certified veterinary nutritionist.
• Feed Your Best Friend Better
• The Healthy Homemade Pet Cook Book
• The Whole Pet Diet

Transition slowly. If your dog has only eaten commercial diets for their whole life, switching to homemade food quickly is not a good idea.

To prevent digestive upset, a very slow transition from commercial to homemade must be implemented. Commercial diets often recommend switching over a period of 5-7 days.

When switching to homemade, adding a beneficial bacteria supplement such as fortiflora may assist your dog’s digestive system adjust to the new normal.

Make A Dental Date

Many veterinarians state that crunchy commercial kibble may contribute to dental health. Since Chihuahuas are prone to dental disease, be sure to discuss other ways to maintain your Chihuahua’s oral health with your veterinarian and schedule professional dental cleanings regularly.

Keep it Cooked

Raw diets are becoming increasingly popular but they may not be the best option. If you are new to the homemade diet game, keep it cooked.

Many people believe that dogs were designed to eat raw meat, so there is no food safety risk to them.

However, the risks of raw diets often outweigh the potential benefits. After your dog eats raw meat, if they lick your fingers and face, you are cross-contaminated with raw meat germs, which could make you sick.

Households with young children are at a much higher risk, as children often like to assist with a dog’s meal preparation and may touch the bowl that contain raw meat, then return to playing with their toys.

Meal Subscription Services: A Convenient Alternative

Some owners opt to have human-grade food meals prepared for their dogs delivered to their homes to take the hassle out of preparing more meals.

Before you write off this idea, thinking that only the rich and famous can afford this, your Chihuahua would like you to visit these websites and browse their meal plans:

• Ollie offers five yummy vet crafted recipes made with no by products or artificial flavors. You can get 50% off your first box going through my link.
• PetPlate is formulated by a veterinary nutritionist. You can get 30% by getting it through my link.
• A Pup Above is gently cooked, with added bone broth for extra nutrition.

• The Farmer’s Dog makes veterinarian approved meals in USDA standard kitchens and delivers the deliciousness to your door.
• Nom Nom Now offers meals (get $60 off 3 orders by going through my link) for all life stages of dogs (and cats too) that exceed AFFCO standards.

We have used Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog, A Pup Above, and Pet Plate with good results. The dogs loved it (even my picky Ziggy and Bear) and the cost wasn’t that bad considering the small amount of food chihuahuas need to eat. And we alternate between the homemade food I make and the food from these services to make it last longer and be more affordable.

Final Thoughts

Nutrition is an important part of your dog’s overall health and may contribute to a longer life with fewer illnesses. As one of the longest-living breeds of dogs, good nutrition is especially important for the tiny and mighty Chihuahua.

Ultimately, the decision between commercial and homemade diets boils down to your lifestyle, your dog’s health needs, and your ability to commit to meal preparation.

Consulting with veterinary professionals can help you navigate these choices, ensuring your Chihuahua receives the best possible nutrition for a long, healthy life. Remember, nutrition is not just about feeding; it’s about nurturing your dog’s overall well-being.

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