When a Chihuahua Won't Eat

One of the reasons why a newborn may have difficulty eating is if the dog was taken from its mother too early. This is what is called Early Weaning Syndrome and can severely affect a puppy that is trying to grow. 

A Chihuahua puppy may also not eat, or not eat enough because of a medical issue. Before you take matters into your own hands, the puppy needs a full and complete veterinary checkup. There are many medical reasons why the dog may not be eating, including stomach and intestinal problems.

Once it has been determined that a Chihuahua does not have any medical reasons for not eating, the answer will most likely be that he or she was weaned too soon. You will need to start from the beginning and essentially play the part of the mother. For very small, undersized Chihuahua - often referred to as Miniatures or Toys-  a dropper will work best. For those a bit larger, a bottle may be best.

The goal will be to feed the puppy a milk replacer. As the body takes in nutrients, becomes stronger and gains weight, he can then be weaned onto solid food.

You will want to choose a formula that is vitamin and mineral enriched, easily digestible and highly palatable. Most come in a powder form that is then mixed with water as needed. 

Do not use unfiltered tap water, since it can - legally - contain many chemicals including pesticides, factory run-off, lead, copper and even low levels of arsenic. Obtaining a filter for the kitchen tap or buying gallons of spring water are two choices.

Puppies will be hungry quite often and a replacer should be offered every few hours. The pup can be swathed in a blanket so that he feels safe and secure. It is recommended to weigh the pup once a day. There should be a gradual weight gain. 

After one week, soft mushy foods can be introduced. For a very young Chihuahua that won't eat, meat based baby foods, cottage cheese, and yogurt are tempting treats. As the pup's body becomes accustomed to food, you can transition to regular meals. 4 meals per day, plus snacks are recommended for undersized Chihuahuas.

Best Food for Chihuahuas - What you feed your dog will have a direct impact on his health.

A Chihuahua will eat much better and have a better appetite for home cooked foods, as the ingredients will be appealing "real" food ingredients and prepared to be delicious. Most of the ingredients for excellent recipes are foods that you already have at home and you can save a lot of money. Larger portions can be made, to freeze servings so that you do not need to cook each day. Read more about home cooked recipes for a Chihuahua dog.

A healthy, growing puppy should be taking in 40 to 55 calories per pound of body weight. Small puppies often do not eat much at any one time. Meals and snacks spread throughout the day is the best method of feeding. In this way, the body can be constantly fueled. Offering a spoonful of cottage cheese, peanut butter and/or plain white vanilla yogurt several times per day is a great method for supplementing the diet.

Any injury or any disturbance in the body can cause weakness, dizziness and/or lack of appetite, and for this reason we strongly encourage an owner to have their dog checked out with the veterinarian as opposed to simply trying to make the dog eat when he or she keeping away from their food.

Once a dog has been cleared of all possible medical issues, there are some things you can do to encourage a Chihuahua to eat. Do keep in mind that this tiny breed does not need a lot of food. In maintenance mode, adults only need 35 to 45 calories per pound of body weight.

In this case, a slow, gradual changeover is necessary when the Chihuahua won't eat. One would begin by mixing 3/4 of the old food with 1/4 of new..Then after 1 week, the mixture would be 1/2 to 1/2.... Another week will bring you to only 1/4 old and 3/4 new...Finally bringing you to a full change to the new feedings.

Females in heat may sometimes eat less. This can be due to a combination of cramping and mood swings. Females often eat more during pregnancy and after delivery however, some eat less. We do, however, recommend having a pregnant dam checked by the veterinarian if she is not eating or is eating less. 

If you suspect that hormonal changes that occur during the heat cycle are to blame, do keep track of this. Eating less during a few weeks, twice per year is usually nothing to be overly concerned about, as long as the dog's appetite comes back as she comes out of season.