Home Cooking for Your Chihuahua

1. Allergy-causing ingredients. Many dog foods contain additives that are common triggers for allergic reactions including skin problems and/or intestinal distress. The top culprits include soy, artificial flavoring (like MSG), artificial coloring (like 4-MIE, Red #40, Blue #2, Yellow #5 which is widely known to be linked to asthma, itching, and hives, and Yellow #6), and chemical preservatives which are a cheap but toxic method to preserve mass-produced food. 

2. Ingredients linked to behavioral and health issues. Food coloring dyes, which typically has a base made from petroleum, are very controversial and linked to behavioral issues including hyperactivity. Some that are deemed ‘safe’ in the US are banned in Europe. Based on animal studies, there may be a link between Blue #2 and Red #3 and some cancers. In addition, some synthetic preservatives are linked to heart damage and some cancers. 

3. Questionable meats. It’s easy to assume that meat in dog food is somewhat equivalent to the meat that humans eat, or at least cheaper cuts of it. But, in fact, one reason to switch a Chihuahua over to homemade meals is to avoid meat deemed ‘unfit for human consumption’. Any meat listed as a by-product will be animal parts that you and I don’t eat: lungs, spinal tissue, genitals, undeveloped eggs, spleen, etc. You won’t see this with high-quality brands but it’s a common practice with medium to low-tier brands. 

4. Fillers and high gluten. Corn is a common ‘filler food’ that has very little nutritional value, but is added in to plump-up the volume of kibble and high levels of wheat can be a trigger for allergies or intolerance. 

5. Less-than-appealing taste and/or texture. No matter how healthy or top-quality a commercial brand is, it’s impossible to get around the fact that it’s mass-produced and this often means bland food since bountiful flavor can rarely be produced without freshly cooked food. 

2. No chemical preservatives. Food is prepared once or twice a week, so there is no need for preservatives. 

3. Quality meat, vegetables, and fruits. Meats are fresh, produce can be fresh or frozen. And, it’s recommended to choose organic, if possible. 

4. Ability to adjust ingredients as needed. For example, more fish for a Chihuahua with poor skin or coat health, more pumpkin or yogurt for gut health, or more berries to strengthen the immune system. 

5. Full control regarding grains. You can prepare meals with some grains that do have gluten (i.e. pasta in a dinner or flour for baked snacks; some dogs do just fine with gluten), grains that have no gluten at all (rice, quinoa, oatmeal), or zero grains. 

6. Possible cost-savings. It really depends on which cuts of meat and type of fish you choose as well as fresh vs frozen fruits and veggies; but overall if you cook at home for your Chihuahua in bulk you can offer truly nutritious meals for less than a top-quality kibble. 

7. Amazing flavor. There’s just no comparison between mass-produced kibble or canned meals and freshly prepared homemade recipes. A Chihuahua will choose the home-cooked meals every time. With the right recipes, meats will be juicy, vegetables will be crisp, fruit will be ripe and sweet, and added extras like honey/pumpkin sauce will make meals irresistibly appealing. 

To offer balanced meals, you’ll want to have protein (chicken, turkey, veal, beef, and/or fish (salmon, haddock, swai, cod, etc.) that is typically cooked with healthy fats like extra-virgin olive oil or flaxseed oil, lots of vegetables (sugar snap peas, green beans, spinach, bell pepper, and zucchini to name a few), fruit (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, mango, and apple to name a few), optionally some healthy grains like quinoa or brown rice, and extras like whole white yogurt, pumpkin, and other foods that can bring it all together. 

To prepare super-delicious and nutritious meals at home, the key is to know which foods to use together in which amounts and the cooking techniques to creates dishes that’ll be gobbled up. 

This is where a recipe book comes into play.

If you’d like to make homemade meals for your Chihuahua, we are proud to offer an outstanding cookbook with full-color step-by-step photos for cooking instructions and final plating for both meals and snacks. 

Or, create a spill-proof sturdy recipe book by printing it out and slipping the pages into sheet protectors and a 3-ring binder. 

And, we’re happy to announce that this book is just $6.88. Click/tap on the button below and let's get started in the kitchen!