How much to feed my overweight chihuahua? Dry, wet, or homemade food?

The general rule is to feed 1 cup of dry food per 30lbs body weight. Using this formula, Toki should get 1/4 cup of food twice daily. Alternatively, you could feed one Cesar's portion twice daily and discontinue the dry food. Allowing him to graze in the evening may lead to overeating and weight gain. You can adjust the amount of food based on his body weight and his BCS (body condition score). Your veterinarian can show you how to assess a BCS. Ideally, Toki should have an hourglass figure when looked at from above. From the side, he should have a pronounced abdominal tuck. He should not be rectangular. You should be able to easily feel his ribs under a thin layer of fat as well.

The recommended amount is usually written on your bag and can of dog food, because every food has a different kcal amount. However for such a small dog my guess would be around 1/2 cup or can daily, give or take. And it is perfectly fine to feed him dry and wet canned food daily. Best wishes and take care.

Yes, from the photos she is definitely overweight. I agree, she should weigh about 7 pounds. That means she should eat about 165 calories per day. Whenever you are feeding for weight loss you need to feed them based on their ideal weight and not their current weight. So, if you are feeding t/d she can only eat 1/2 cup per day and that will leave some calories left over for treats. I suggest you use low calorie treats like carrots or green beans. Here is an article about weight loss in pets. Hope this helps. Best wishes. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/creating-a-weight-reduction-plan-for-dogs )

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can switch her to a diet called Science Diet metabolic weight management diet which is great for weight loss and just follow the feeding suggestions in the bag based on her weight. You can walk her 3-4 times a day for 20-30 minutes as long as it is not too warm outside. I have had good success using that diet for weight loss in my patients. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello. This is a great question! She should be eating about 500 -550 calories PER DAY which includes all food and treats. She can eat any food as long as she stays inside that calorie window. If you feed her a lower calorie diet then she will get to eat more food and be less hungry. Purina ProPlan Weight Management Dry Food is 337 calories per cup so if you feed her this food she can eat 1.5 cups per day with a little left over for a treat or two. http://www.petsmart.com/dog/food/dry-food/purina-pro-plan-weight-management-formula-adult-dog-food-5148013.html?gclid=CKrvp4aRkdQCFZBgfgodPccMzA If you don't like this food you can use any diet. Just check the bag, it will tell you how many calories per cup. Take the 525 (using the middle of her calorie range) and divide it by the number of calories in each cup of food and that will tell you how many cups of that food she can have PER DAY. Example as above 525 / 337 = 1.55 cups I hope this helps. Best wishes. Dr. Amber

You can keep him on his regular diet, just feed less of it and increase his activity. The general guideline is 1 cup of dry food per 30lbs of body weight. You can divide it into 2 or 3 meals. Limit treats and do not offer any table food. If he continues to gain, consider an exam with your veterinarian. Blood work may diagnose endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism which can cause weight gain.

The amount of food Cholo requires will vary depending on his activity level as well as the type/brand of food being fed. In general, puppies (dogs under 1 year old) require more calories to facilitate growth. Look on the bag of food. Most have feeding guidelines that are a good starting point. This amount can be adjusted depending on weight, body condition, appetite and activity. If he is getting "chubby", decrease the amount. If he is cleaning his bowl and still seems hungry and is not overweight, increase the amount. Regarding water, a bowl of fresh water should always be available. Dogs typically drink about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. This translates to about 3 ounces daily for Cholo right now. Once again, activity will affect the amount of water being consumed. Weather will also play a large role. If its hot, he's going to drink more.