Generally, Chihuahuas don’t have picky eating habits, but when they are given extra food or treats on top of their regular food, they might start to get picky.
You run the risk of turning them into fussy eaters when you present them with a variety of food options.
However, that’s not the only explanation for them being picky eaters, so keep reading.
His Health Conditions Adversely Affect His Appetite
If your Chihuahua is becoming more fussy and not eating as much as he used to, it could be a sign that he has a health condition.
A dog’s appetite is normal to fluctuate, but if he seems less interested in food or loses weight, it might be best to take him to the vet to have him checked out.
In addition, you should have your dog’s gums and teeth checked by a vet since he may have dental problems such as gum infection and loose teeth.
The discomfort he will experience when chewing large pieces of meat or bones will affect his appetite.
Other health problems, such as kidney stones, loss of taste buds, and allergies to food, can cause your Chihuahua to be picky about his food.
Keeping an eye on your dog and catching symptoms of an illness before they worsen is important. This is especially true when it comes to vomiting.
You should bring your dog to a veterinarian if he is vomiting constantly. A stomach infection or disease can cause him to vomit and lose his appetite.
Depression Negatively Affects His Appetite
Does your dog seem depressed? Dogs who are depressed may seem a little “off” to you and may act strangely.
Your dog may act withdrawn and appear to have no interest in things that he used to love and show little interest in the foods that he used to like.
This makes you think that he is picky about foods, but in fact, he is not. Simply put, he loses his appetite due to the emotional disorder he is going through.
Activities and foods that he enjoys will seem to lose their appeal. This is a normal reaction for dogs who are experiencing depression.
Other signs of depression in dogs include:
- Restlessness or agitation
- Excessive grooming
- Lack of interest in food
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Loss of interest in activities that he used to enjoy
- Lack of interest in socializing with others
A dog who shows signs of depression is also likely to show signs of anxiety. This is because the two symptoms are related, both stemming from a feeling of despair.
Vocalization is more common in depressed dogs, especially at night. They may also become restless or anxious, pacing back and forth and start chewing on their toys.
Your Dog Is Spoiled for Choice When It Comes to Food
If you have the habit of feeding your dog various different types of dog food, that could be causing his fussiness.
He finds out that there are different tastes and options for him when it comes to food and will start getting picky about his food.
He will only want to eat food that he likes. You can expect this to happen if you give your dog a choice of food.
Nonetheless, it is also possible that he is fussy about his food because the food is causing him discomfort.
Considering that Chihuahuas have a small stomach, if you give him large chunks of meat, he will not be able to digest them, which causes him to become resentful of the new food and get picky.
This is why you should stick to smaller food portions and make sure that you are giving him regular meals.
It could also be the case that he is allergic to some foods, and that makes him wary of any new foods given to him.
If you are thinking of changing your dog’s diet, do it in a gradual way so that you can monitor his reaction to the new foods.
Stress Leads to Anxiety, Which Causes Appetite Loss
Regularity is important for dogs. By knowing what to expect next, they can relax.
Your dog will not be able to predict what will happen next if he does not have a daily routine. As a result, he may feel stressed and anxious.
Stress will lead to anxiety, which will cause him to lose his appetite.
Due to this reason, if you don’t have a regular feeding schedule for your dog, it will stress him out when he doesn’t know when his next meal will be served.
This uncertainty will cause your dog to lose his appetite and make you think that he is picky about the food.
Therefore, you must establish a consistent daily schedule for your dog. Your routine will include feeding him, playing with him, taking him for a walk, and putting him to sleep.
Make sure that your dog is fed at the same time every day and at the same place!
It’s also important to understand that dogs do not like sudden changes in their routines, whether it is a change in feeding time, location or meal.
Therefore, if you want to keep your dog happy and calm, adhere to a consistent schedule so that he does not get stressed.
He Is Telling You That the Food Isn’t Nutritious for Him
The reason your dog is picky about his food is that your meal is deficient in some nutrients that his body needs.
In other words, he’s trying to tell you that his body needs more nutrients, which aren’t part of his diet.
It’s likely that your dog will also eat soil, sand, or even gravel as he thinks that they’re loaded with minerals and vitamins.
You will find his skin growing dull and dry over time (due to poor diet), and eventually, he may start scrubbing relentlessly, promoting bacterial growth and a foul odor on his body.
I would recommend that you should do a review of his diet to ensure that he is getting what his body needs.
Dogs at various stages of their life will need different diet regimes to accommodate their body growth. It will certainly be the same for your dog as well.
You can fulfill your dog’s nutritional needs by feeding him high-quality dog food with good nutritional value.
A veterinarian who specializes in nutrition can help you get the most out of your dog’s diet.
He’s Picky About Food Because He’s Not Hungry
Are you feeding your Chihuahua too many treats? Dogs love their food, but if you’re giving him too many treats, he might no longer be interested in their food because he’ll feel full.
This can cause your dog to lose interest in his food and start getting fussy about his food.
Or it could be the case that you are overfeeding him. Does he have more than 3 meals per day and are you giving him a BIG serving of his food?
In some cases, dogs can develop a picky taste when they are overfed. You want to make sure that you are giving your dog enough to eat, but not too much.
Plan his diet regime based on his breed, age, weight and activity level.
Typically, Chihuahuas weighing between 4 and 10 pounds will consume between 1/2 and 1 1/3 cups of food per day.
If you are providing him with three meals, divide that amount into three portions.