My Chihuahua Pug mix is overweight. What's his ideal healthy weight?

Without seeing Buddy in person (who is very handsome by the way!), I can't say if he's overweight or not because he's a mix breed dog. They can really vary in weight depending on their build and genetics. Check out this link on checking the body condition score in dogs, and that will give you an idea if he's overweight or not. You can also discuss with his vet if they feel he's overweight. I hope this helps! https://www.wsava.org/WSAVA/media/Arpita-and-Emma-editorial/Body-Condition-Score-Dog.pdf

I do not think he is over weight. I would recommend monitoring his food intake closely. He can be fed 2 times a day with very limited treats. Usually the problem is over feeding and decreased activity. If you feed an appropriate amount and keep up exercise Murffy will be in good health.

This really depends on the size and build of the dog - with mixed-breed dogs like this, genetics can be very unpredictable! :) Instead of focusing so much on how many pounds he weighs, I would recommend looking at his body condition. Ideally, you should be able to feel his ribs fairly easily when you run your hands down his sides, and he should have a visible waistline or "abdominal tuck" just behind the rib cage. If you can't feel his ribs or he doesn't have a waistline, he probably needs to lose some weight. If his ribs and hip bones are visibly sticking out, he's probably a bit too thin and should gain a bit.

Average female chihuahuas weigh around 6-8 pounds, but this range can vary widely. At a normal, healthy weight, you should be able to easily feel (but not see) Maggy's ribs and a "waistline". Your vet will be able to tell you if Maggy is at a healthy body weight, but 30 pounds seems quite high for an average chihuahua.

Chihuahuas weight varies greatly during puppyhood and there is no specific weight chart that we use in practice. Instead we use a more accurate assessment of your puppy's weight, which is his/her body condition score (BCS) where 3/5 or 5/9 is considered an ideal weight. Your vet should be able to tell what the body condition score is easily by simply examining your pet. Also in puppies, unless you see vomiting or diarrhea symptoms, and they are getting feed the proper amount 3x a day, then chances are your pet is of proper weight. Also feel free to share a photo of your pet via consultation request, and we can tell you without a doubt whether your pup is proper weight or not.

Good for you for trying to help Dyego lose weight! This will definitely help him to stay healthy as he gets older. Ideally, I would recommend a prescription weight loss diet from your veterinarian, such as Purina OM or Royal Canin Calorie Control. These diets are very effective, and have a chart to show how much you should feed each day based on your dog's target weight. These can also be ordered online from Chewy.com or other online pet retailers if you prefer - just let your vet know so that they can approve the prescription :)

Feeding homemade diets can be perfectly fine as long as the diet is very carefully balanced with appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements. Dogs can develop a variety of conditions related to different nutritional deficiencies. If you are considering a home cooked diet for Cowboy, look into balanceit.com. This website has a number of different recipes created by boarded veterinary nutritionists and they also sell the necessary supplements for each recipe. They are based out of the UC-Davis Veterinary School, so it is a reputable source. :-) Keep walking Cowboy and monitor his portions closely. It may take time, but he should be down to a healthy well-muscled body condition before you know it!