Category: <span>Feeding</span>

How to heal and manage your chihuahua’s IBS

October 12, 2019September 29, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Get your chihuahua’s IBS under control

Getting your chihuahua’s IBS under control can take some time. Symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) can be like the symptoms of IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease). Both cause diarrhoea or constipation, abdominal bloating & pain and possible vomiting.

The difference is IBS tends to be intermittent and will flare up then go away and IBD is a chronic condition and will be something that you are managing daily. IBD is the next stage of IBS.

The diagnosis of IBS should be made after a series of other conditions have been tested for and ruled out. You vet is likely to check for:

Worms
Tumours
Bacterial infections
Colitis

The GI tract is a major part of your dog’s immune system so it’s important to get your chihuahua’s IBS under control as poor digestion and GI inflammation can lead to other secondary infections. They are also going to be suffering from nutritional deficiencies as much of what they eat isn’t going to be absorbed in the normal way.

It’s very frustrating and heart wrenching to watch your dog struggling with IBS, knowing they feel wretched and under the weather. Trying to find something to feed them that isn’t going to end in a bout of stinging diarrhoea.

Bland diet

The first thing your vet may suggest is getting your chihuahua’s IBS under control by feeding a bland diet. When Mika suffers a bout, we go with boiled, minced pork and pumpkin. Make sure this is pure pumpkin and not the sweetened pie filler. In the UK the only place I have found tinned pumpkin all year round is Waitrose. If you can’t serve pumpkin, then try sweet potatoes instead. Not all dogs can tolerate pumpkin and, in some cases, it can have the opposite effect.

Some people suggest chicken and rice, but white chicken meat can be the cause of inflammation as it is high in Omega 6. If you are feeding a lot of chicken balance it with some white fish. Rice is indigestible for dogs and can add to leaky gut issues.

Probiotic can help your dog’s IBS

Add a good probiotic to the diet. The GI tract is lined with good bacteria that aids digestion and keeps the tract healthy. When your dog’s gut has become inflamed the good bacteria can be missing leaving the gut undernourished and unprotected from invading toxins.

According to ‘Probiotics for dogs’ 80% of your dog’s immune function relies on a healthy gut.

A probiotic will help the gut replace the flora and re-balance the micro biome. You can buy probiotics for dogs online or your vets as a past or powder.

Adding a good probiotic daily will help reduce flare-ups. Don’t feed human probiotics to your dog.

Novel Protein

A novel protein is a meat that your dog hasn’t eaten before, therefore is unlikely to cause intolerances and cause a flare up of your dog’s IBS.

We have introduced pork into Mika’s diet and tend to stay away from chicken and keep beef to minimum.

You don’t often see pork as a dog food, not because there’s any reason they can’t eat pork, it’s just more expensive than chicken or beef.

Other novel proteins could be rabbit, ostrich or you could go for fish. But if you are feeding salmon, never feed it raw to your dog.

Home cooking

Chances are if your dog has IBS or IBD then you may end up home cooking. If this is the path you choose it is essential that the diet is balanced. A balanced diet will contain a range of proteins from different meat and include muscle meat (heart), organ meat, (liver and kidney, only 10% of daily intake should be liver) fish (oily and white) and eggs, some cooked vegetables and will certainly need additional calcium, fish oil and brewer’s yeast added in daily to their food. Research it thoroughly from good source.

Never assume that if something is good for a person it will be equally good for your dog. This is not the case as dogs process foods very differently to humans. ‘It works for us so it must work for my dog’ is the error made by people who are feeding vegetarian diets to dogs. If you are feeding a vegetarian diet to your dog, then stop it and feed them a species appropriate diet. Dogs are carnivores and need to eat meat to stay healthy. Soy is not a replacement protein for meat and is not good for dogs at all.

CBD oil

There seems to be a lot of buzz around the use of dog cbd products. We have used it successfully with our dogs from time to time. Some research does suggest that CBD oil is proving useful when treating IBS and IBD. It is supposed to be able to help pets who suffer from separation anxiety as well. You can read more about CBD oil for dogs here. Just remember if you are considering giving your dog CBD products then it is vital that you do plenty of research first. Not all natural remedies are suitable for all dogs so it is important to proceed with caution. Plus, there are so many different types of dog CBD products out there nowadays that it is important to compare as many options as possible. Ultimately, if, after speaking to a vet you decide to try giving your dog some CBD then it is important that you monitor your pet to make sure they do not experience any side effects.

Fibre

Introduce a fibre into is diet. We have had a lot of success with Psyllium husk powder. You can get it from the Grape Tree in the UK and anywhere online. It has the added advantage of bulking up stools as well so can help with anal glands. Dogs who have a history of soft stools and diarrhoea may well end up with anal gland issues as well.

You can also try adding ground dark leafy vegetables, but make sure they are cooked. Veggies shouldn’t be more than 20% of your dog’s daily intake. We only add 10% as more will upset Mika’s stomach. You may have to experiment with this to get it right for your chihuahua.

You can also add ACV (apple cider vinegar) daily to their food but introduce it gradually. You can read more about feeding ACV in this article.

Eliminate stress

There are lots of reasons why your chihuahua may be experiencing stress. It’s not always obvious as the signs of it are not at all times visible to us. However, if there is a sudden change in its behavior, there could be a possibility it is stressed. In that case, you can help ease their problem a little by giving them CBD For Dog Anxiety or a similar pet-friendly solution.

While it could be a good option to provide instant relief, it is important to figure out the root cause of what is causing them stress. It can be caused by lack of exercise, boredom, separation anxiety, too much noise, poor training choices like pet correctors, E-collars, shouting, tin rattling and other adverses training methods. I can understand why people use them as chihuahuas can be frustratingly barky. But these training methods will most definitely be causing your dog stress. You can find out more about how to train your chihuahua not to bark so much here.

You may also find a bout of IBS flares up during firework season, house moves and any major disruptions.

Raw diet

You must acknowledge the contribution that feeding a raw diet has made to dog health. Consider shop brought raw food like any dog food you might buy and check the ingredients. A poorly balanced raw diet is just as bad as a poorly balanced tinned food.

Managing your chihuahua’s IBS will be a matter of trial and error. Finding a meal system that works for them and keeps them healthy. Be mindful that during a flare up your dog will already not be absorbing all the nutrients from his daily food intake. Don’t compound this by feeding a badly balanced diet.

Allergies

Apple cider vinegar for dogs. Is it really that…

August 15, 2019May 31, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Apple Cider Vinegar for dogs

Apple cider vinegar for dogs has become very trendy and it seems to be an all-round good guy with lots of health benefits for everyone, including our chihuahuas. I’ve had reason to investigate it a bit more because Minnie has started her seasonal itchy skin issues and if it is allowed to escalate, she will start to chew and pull out her fur. I was looking for alternatives to chemicals and long-term medication.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is just apples and water. I’ve read different accounts of its nutritional value. Some saying it is rich in vitamins & minerals with others saying there are only trace amounts to be found. Everyone agrees it is rich in potassium.

The apples and water have been allowed to ferment until it turns into acetic acid which is the main component of vinegar. It is this acetic acid that gives the ACV it’s health benefits.

Like everything there are different qualities of ACV and you need to look for raw, unpasteurised vinegar that contain the ‘mother culture’.

The ‘mother culture’ floats around giving it a cloudy appearance. It is this mother culture that contains good bacteria, enzymes, pectin, proteins and minerals. If the liquid is clear, then it has likely been pasteurised and won’t contain this important addition.

Is Apple Cider Vinegar for dogs really helpful?

There does seem to be some actual research suggesting that, yes, apple cider vinegar can help dogs with a variety of health issues.

It can help regulate insulin
Be used to alleviate joint pain
Help with digestive issues by encouraging good gut bacteria
Relieve itchy skin complaints by taking it internally and using topically in a 50/50 solution as a rinse or spray.
Alleviate gunky ears and stinky ‘corn chip’ paws by killing the yeast that causes this.
Help clean teeth by stopping plaque forming
Repels ticks and fleas by making blood more acidic and using it as a topical spray

There are some wild and outrageous claims online about how ACV can cure cancer. I would take this with a massive pinch of salt and in the interest of balance there are some who don’t agree that ACV should be given to dogs at all, suggesting it can throw out a dog’s PH levels so it’s always important to do some proper research.

How much AVC should you give a chihuahua?

Like anything it’s important not to overdose and get over excited using ACV. Overdose can lead to vomiting and long-term overuse can damage teeth and bones. A small dog dose is about one teaspoon daily, if your chihuahua is tiny then I would halve it. Watch for any adverse reactions and if your chihuahua vomits stop using it.

Has it worked for Minnie?

Minnie has flea allergy dermatitis, a flea only needs to wink at her, and it will send her into crisis. Then a vicious cycle of chewing begins until she has painful hotspots and bald patches.

I had applied a wash of neem oil to help sooth her skin and kill any fleas that might be present. We are huge neem oil fans, but it has downsides in that it stinks and makes her fur look awful. Plus having to keep applying it is a drag.

So, I put a teaspoon in her dinner not really expecting much but that night there was visibly less chewing, and scratching and we all got some sleep.

In the interest of a fair test, I didn’t put any more neem oil on her and continued with the ACV. I’ve got to say so far, I’m very impressed. At time of writing we are four days in, and she has stopped mauling herself.

I could be imagining it, but her tear staining seems less noticeable as well.

This does make me wonder if some of her skin issues could be yeast based. But hey she’s stopped eating herself and that is a real result.

Dry food

How to store dry dog food and why you…

May 16, 2019November 19, 2021
by Louise Kirby

How you store dry dog food could make your chi chi ill!

Dry dog food (kibble) is still a highly popular way of feeding a dog. Owners like the convenience of scooping out a handful and dropping it in a bowl. It’s also super convenient if you free feed your dog (let them graze and eat when they like) while you’re at work or out for the day.

When you have a small dog like a chihuahua, a bag of dry dog food can last a long time. And most owners keep it in the kitchen cupboard and just open a bag of food and scoop it out until it’s gone.

Why we shouldn’t be doing this!

When you buy a bag of dry dog food or kibble it will be contained within a heavyweight paper bag or a box. However, the moment you open the bag, oxygen, moisture, mites and mould spores start to degrade the quality of the food. This can ruin the food quickly as well as reduce its shelf life. One way to avoid that could be by using reusable packaging for other products like cosmetics, dry food, etc.

According to Steve Brown author of ‘Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet’, several unhealthy things start to happen to the food once oxygen and moisture enters the equation.

Oxidation of fats

With continual exposure to air the fragile fats (Omega 3s) will start to turn rancid. This doesn’t just make the food ‘not as good for your dog’, it actually becomes bad. Continual consumption of rancid fats has been shown to contribute to many chronic canine health problems.

Micronutrients degrade

By the time you get to the bottom of the bag, the vitamin content of the food will have degraded considerably. Stored at room temperature Vitamins A, C, and B6 will have lost much of their effectiveness.

Mould and mycotoxins

When the bag of dry dog food is left open to the air, especially if it’s stored in a humid kitchen, it can grow mould. The waste products of this mould (mycotoxins) are extremely bad for your dog and have been linked to long-term health issues and cancer. These mycotoxins can kill a dog by suppressing the immune system and damaging organs.

Bugs and mites

A whole host of unpleasant mites and bugs thrive on dry dog food. The carcasses of the storage mites can cause allergic reactions in sensitive dogs. If you can’t control the pests, you may need the services of an exterminator from a Roanoke pest control company to get rid of the infestation and thereby protect your dogs.

Shelf life

The shelf life dates on the packet will refer to the bag unopened. Once it’s been opened it should be stored correctly and consumed within 7 days.

How to keep dry dog food at its best

Never buy a bag of food that has been torn.
Don’t decant the food into another container it aerates the kibble.
Keep it in its original bag and then make sure the top is rolled down tight.
Store in an airtight container.
Keep big bags in the freezer
Buy smaller bags if you can, especially for a small dog that is going to take ages to use it up.

Don’t feed it to your dog and throw it away if:

It looks moist
It has changed colour
It smells rancid like paint
It’s been open more than a week

It’s also a good idea not to force your dog to eat it. If she turns her nose up it could be because she can smell it’s off.

There are other health issues associated with feeding dry dog food like itchy skin, loose stools, gloopy ears & eyes and weight gain

anal glands

Everything you need to know about dog poo

October 7, 2018January 11, 2021
by Louise Kirby

Let’s talk about dog poo

If you have a dog or two you spend a lot of time talking about dog poo. If you have chihuahuas you spend a lot of time picking up poo. Maybe you even have to hire a dog poop pickup service to deal with the demand every day.

How your dog’s poo looks is a good barometer of their health. So, taking time out to have a look at dog poo may sound disgusting, but it’s an important part of keeping your chihuahua healthy and picking up any niggling health issues.

Generally, your dog will poo just after eating a meal, the stool should be firm and chocolate brown in colour. It is going to be a bit smelly but not so overpowering that it makes you gag.

This nice poo has taken some achieving. Mika has had long term food intolerance that have caused soft stools and anal gland issues.

All dogs get bouts of diarrhoea, often because they have eaten something that has upset their gut. The odd bout is to be expected and most often won’t need vet intervention. Read how to deal with diarrhoea.

How much your chihuahua poos is going to be related directly to how much food they have digested and how much has passed through as waste. People who feed raw are very proud of how small their dog poos are. This is because there is very little waste from raw food. While feeding raw is considered by many to be a superior food, there can be a downside to super tiny poop.

Anal Glands

Anal glands are two small sacs of fluid that sit inside your dog’s anus, when he defecates, the stool should express the sacs and release the fluid. This gives your dog’s poo it’s signature scent. However, if the poo is too small or too soft to do the job then issues with anal glands can develop. Read: Why anal glands are a pain in the arse.

Worms

Doing a visual check on your dog’s poo is also a good way to see if your dog has picked up worms. If you can see any tiny white dots or anything wiggling around, then you probably need to worm your dog. However, don’t rely on this visual to be an indicator of worms. Run regular faecal tests.

Sloppy

Permanently soft poo is an indicator that something is wrong in the gut. Your chihuahua may have a food intolerance or allergy to something he is eating. Resolving this is important as food intolerance can lead to leaky gut syndrome, cause other itchy skin conditions, problems with ears and add to tear staining. But, one of the main issues with soft stools, is again anal glands. Soft dog poo will not express the sacs which can then fill up and get infected.

Sloppy poo could also be a sign that you are overfeeding your dog, re-look at the amount you are feeding and start weighing it out rather than just chucking it in the bowl.

[shopr collection=”book”]

Dry

Dog poo should not be over hard and difficult to pass. Constipation is an indicator that your dog is eating too much insoluble fibre and you need to adjust his diet. Don’t give your chihuahua large lumps of raw veggies to chew on. People often do because they want to help clean their chihuahuas teeth. But dogs can’t digest raw veggies. To feed raw veggies to your dog, you must start the digestive process and pulverise or grate them to break down the cellulose. He may also have a bowel obstruction, so if constipation goes on for more than a couple of days then speak to your vet.

Yellow

Yellow poo can mean the food has passed too quickly through the gut to pick up any bile. (It’s the bile that makes it go brown). It can also be an indicator of other health problems such as pancreatitis or liver disease.

Change your dog’s diet to something better quality and if his poo does not turn brown then speak to the vet.

Orange or Grey poo

Can be a sign of liver or gall bladder issues, speak to your vet.

Black tarry sticky poo

Black sticky poo can be the sign that blood is present. This could be from bouts of colitis or an upper GI bleed. If your dog is passing these kinds of poos, then speak to your vet.

Mucus

You can expect to see some mucus on a stool from time to time, but if this is a regular occurrence or the mucus is red this could mean your chihuahuas gut is inflamed and severely irritated. Put your dog onto a bland diet of chicken or turkey and pumpkin and if it does not settle then speak to your vet. If your chihuahua has had a nasty bout of diarrhoea, then try making a healing bone broth.

Your dog’s poo will tell you pretty much everything you need to know about your chihuahua’s health. It’s not glamorous but it is important to understand what you are looking at before you flush it down the loo.

anal glands

Free feeding Vs meal feeding your chihuahua

September 16, 2018March 23, 2023
by Louise Kirby

How you feed your dog is something that dog owners are passionate about. What, when and how much are some of the main questions that come into the blog. One hot debate is free feeding or set meal times.

Free feeding Vs meal feeding

Here is a quick rundown of the concepts.

Free Feeding is when you leave food down all day and your chi can help himself. Meal feeding is a set meal time at regular times of day. Adult dogs need two meals a day and puppies will need 3. Puppies also need food that is higher in calories until they are at least a year. (This differs for different dogs, so check with your vet)

Free Feeding Pros

Useful if you’re out at work all day.
Your dog can snack when they are peckish.

Cons of free feeding

You can only feed dry foods that won’t spoil (or will it)
You don’t know how much your dog has eaten
Food may get eaten by cats
It can be harder to toilet train a puppy (eating will make them want to poop)
Greedy dogs like mine, will overeat and get fat
‘Pet Guide’ suggests that free fed dogs are less food motivated and this can make them harder to train.I
If your dog has access to food whenever they want, it can make it harder to train not to pick up food off the ground or scavenge as they are more used to being able to eat when they like.

Meal feeding pros

It is easier to monitor and control how much your chihuahua eats
You can feed fresh or wet foods
Dogs that resource guard can be fed separately
You can spot if your dog is off food and possibly unwell
It is easier to tailor meals to your dog’s nutritional needs

Meal feeding cons

It requires you to stick to schedule and can tie you down (you must get back for the dogs or arrange someone to go in and feed them)
It is easier to overfeed, chihuahuas are easy to overfeed as they are so small. Just slightly too much can pile on the weight.
Your chi inhales the food because he feels pressured to eat. (Competition eating)

Tailored meals

Meal feeding is the way forward for us, we home cook a lot of the time and like to tailor our food. We have a mixed bunch of chihuahuas and they all have different nutritional needs.

Minnie is a young and unspayed (at time of writing) and needs more calories than a spayed female. But she is also greedy and on a weight reduction programme.

Arlo, the puppy (18 weeks at time of writing) needs more calories and gets three meals a day.

Mika is an older neutered male. He needs less food than a complete dog. He is also prone to anal gland issues. Meal feeding gives us the opportunity to add a bulking agent to his food. This helps by creating larger, firmer stools that will express the glands as he poops.

Add in my own supplements

With meal feeding and using wet food, it’s easier to add in supplements. I have a couple that I use all the time. Calm-K9 as it contains L-tryptophan which has a calming action and helps reduce random barking. It also supports the gut and firms up stools which helps with anal gland issues. Read more about anal glands here. Not having to go to the vet every month is saving me a fortune.

10%OFFSUPERSAVER

I put this in to help with teeth cleaning. I add it in daily to their food for the day. Seaweed makes plaque fall off teeth and helps aid cleaner teeth. Read more about how to clean your chihuahua’s teeth without brushing.

Picky eaters

We have a lot of chihuahua owners who worry that their chis are not eating enough, often they are eating more than you think, but free feeding makes it harder to monitor. Here is some more on dealing with a picky eater.

Also, if you have a tiny chihuahua prone to hypoglycaemia making sure they have eaten regularly is vital. These chis often require smaller more regular meals during the day.

In the end, you must do what works for your family and your dogs. There is no definite right and wrong.

But there is a movement away from dry dog foods that are high in carbs and contain fillers. If you are free feeding dry food make sure you research and get the best one for your chihuahua. Read why you must stop feeding carbs to your dog.

About the author

Louise Kirby

My name is Louise Kirby and I’m a freelance writer and certified Pro Dog Trainer. I adore and train all breeds but have a special interest in chihuahuas and their rehabilitation. Chihuahuas are awesome little dogs, spunky, full of joy, loyal and tenacious. But some present with behaviours that make them a challenge to manage. I’m on a mission to restore the relationship between owners and their dogs. To help you get back the dog you always dreamed of. That’s why dog training is a happiness project!

Get help with chihuahua behaviour

Join the happiness project now!

Your chihuahua transformation starts with a free discovery chat to see how I can best help you. Please get in touch I look forward to hearing from you. Together we can get back the dog you always wanted.

Links

The links on this page are affiliate links and I am proud to be a A-OK9 partner. I get paid a small commission for any items you buy. That said, you will find these products in my dog food cupboard and I use them everyday.

Feeding

My chihuahua has diarrhea, what to do next?

May 14, 2018September 26, 2018
by Louise Kirby

My chihuahua has diarrhea, what to do next?

When your chihuahua has diarrhea it can be very distressing for everyone. Diarrhea can range from loose stools for a couple of days to full on explosions of watery faeces. It can be very worrying for you, the guardian, and very distressing for your chihuahua.

Diarrhea is caused by the gut becoming inflamed and over sensitive. It then starts over contracting, pushing the food through too fast.

Things that can trigger a bout of diarrhea

Changes in diet

The most common reasons your chihuahua has diarrhea is a change of diet.

If you are making serious amendments to your chihuahua’s food regime then introduce the changes slowly. If you are changing from kibble to raw then you need to give your dogs gut time to grow the required flora to digest it. You could support the change by adding probiotics to the food and follow the advice given by the manufactures.

Spoilt food

Even though dog’s stomachs are more able to cope with bacteria than a human, they can still get sick when they eat spoilt food. Make sure food is always fresh. Even dry food can go off and get spoilt and mouldy. Store it in an airtight container, keep raw and fresh food in the fridge.

Poisonous food

If your chihuahua is anything like Minnie, then anything is fair game to be eaten. Don’t assume your chihuahua is a delicate little flower, they still have the same disgusting habits of bigger dogs. A variety of everyday foods are poisonous to dogs. Are you putting bread out for the birds? Mouldy bread is highly toxic and can kill your chi.

If you suspect your dog has ingested poisonous food, then take him to the vet straight away. Here is a list of poisonous foods.

[shopr collection=”book”]

Bacterial & Viral infection

If your dog has a bacterial or viral infection the diarrhea: may be accompanied with vomiting, pale gums, no appetite, be very lethargic and possibly have blood in his stool. These infections can be caused by salmonella or parvovirus among others.

Parvovirus is life threatening so seek medical attention urgently especially if your chi is a new puppy. Puppies can pick up these infections from poor breeding conditions and is a sure sign your chi is a mill or farm puppy.

Side effect of medication or flea treatments

Some medications may cause mild diarrhea this should ease off when the medication is finished. Antibiotics can upset the flora balance in your dog’s gut and kill off good bacteria that your dog needs.

Flea treatments and worming tablets can also cause an upset tummy. Stop using them if they make your chihuahua sick and find more natural alternatives. Read are spot on flea treatments bad for your dog

Allergies

Allergies to food, like grains and rice that are found in dry food can cause food intolerances, which trigger IBS and similar symptoms. Also, if you are cooking your own food, too many veggies can make your dog have loose stools. Stick with the 10% rule.

Too much fat

Food loaded with fat will go straight through, Lamb is typical. When I cook Team Chi’s dinner I stick to lean white meats, turkey is a staple for us, pork, chicken and fish. Occasionally rabbit. I have learnt the hard way that lamb is a no no especially for Mika.

If you are giving your dog raw bones to chew on (and you should as they help keep teeth clean) scoop out some of the marrow. Although your chi will love it, marrow is very rich and very fatty. You could get it back from either end. Too much fat can also cause pancreatitis, so keep your food lean.

Parasites

Monitor your chi regularly for worms by doing a worm count test. If it comes back positive, then administer a chemical dewormer. Once he is clear move onto a regular herbal routine like Verm X to keep him clear.

Kidney disease

Persistent diarrhea can be a sign of kidney disease, if the diarrhea is accompanied by bad breath, vomiting and loss of appetite take your chi to the vet.

How serious is it and when to go to the vet?

Any bouts of bad diarrhea that lasts more than a day, needs investigation. A tiny chihuahua can get very quickly dehydrated and may need to be put on fluids. If there is blood in the poop don’t hesitate.

If your chi just has loose stools you can analyse what they have eaten. Have you changed their food or introduced new ones, or has your chi just been a bit piggy and over indulged?

How to treat it

The way to treat an inflamed gut is to ‘fast it’ and let it heal. Start with 6 hours of no food. (Not puppies). But if your chi is hypoglycaemic you must take advice on this. It’s a tricky one, so speak to the vet.

Don’t restrict fluids as you don’t want your chihuahua to become dehydrated.

When you re-introduce food, keep it bland. We often get told to feed chicken and rice. Dogs don’t need rice and grains in their diet, if you are ok with chicken mix it with some pumpkin.

Here is a recipe for a super healing broth that can help build up a recovering chihuahua. I make a batch and then freeze it.

Slippery elm is known for its gut soothing properties, you only need a tiny amount for your chihuahua follow the instructions.

Probiotics can help replace the lost good bacteria that keeps your chihuahuas gut balanced.

Fermented veggies and kefir

This is becoming increasingly popular, especially for keeping your dog’s gut balanced. Try and find a none dairy kefir as most dogs are lactose intolerant.

Remember that any bout of diarrhea is going to make your dog sore. If his back end is dirty and his fur matted this is going to make him very uncomfortable and depressed. Keep him clean but without harsh scrubbing. A sitting bath of Epsom salts will be soothing, or you could dab him instead. You could also put a dab of Vaseline on his anus to try and protect the skin.

Please note we have used the American spelling of diarrhea for search engine reasons.

Allergies

Help my chihuahua has dry itchy skin!

April 22, 2018November 11, 2022
by Louise Kirby

My chihuahua has dry itchy skin, what’s causing it?

If your chihuahua has dry itchy skin, it’s probably driving him crazy. Making him scratch and nibble at different areas and rubbing himself along the furniture to try and get some relief. (This can also be an indicator that a he has compacted anal glands so never ignore this type of behaviour.) He may find it hard to settle at night and possibly display some behaviour changes.

If the itching and scratching gets out of control your chihuahua may scratch so much he causes skin damage and hot spots. Hot spots are raised red patches of skin that ooze and are intensely irritating and if left untreated can get infected.

You can also see the dry skin by parting the fur. Like dandruff in people, you will see little flakes of skin sitting at the base of the hair. (If the flakes look like they are moving around, you’re not seeing things, you have a different problem. See below:

What causes dry itchy skin?

There are several reasons that your chihuahua has dry itchy skin.

#1 Grooming

It is essential to have a good grooming routine and to get your chihuahua used to being brushed as a puppy. Brushing helps distribute the oils over your chi’s skin and fur. Your chihuahua should enjoy being brushed (Minnie loves it and will roll over the second you get the brush out). As well as maintaining a good healthy coat, it is a lovely bonding exercise.

Shampoo, make sure you use dog appropriate shampoo. Human shampoo can be too acidic and contain too much fragrance. Use a shampoo that contains humectants or moisturizers. Natural humectants are aloe and honey. If your chihuahua is prone to dry skin avoid the blow dryer. Pat him dry after a bath and let him shake and run about to get dry. Be prepared for the zoomies after a bath, It’s how dogs deal with the stress of the situation. Don’t over bath your chi chi either as it can wash out the oils in his fur.

#2 Fleas, Mites & Mange

Fleas: When a flea bites your dog, he is going to bite at it to get some relief. Nibbling towards the tail area can be an indication of fleas. A bath in neem oil shampoo will kill all fleas and mites without dousing your chihuahua in harmful chemicals. But if the greater good is served by using a spot on product then I would use it. Itching will be driving your chi nuts and also contribute to reactive behaviour. It is possible that your chihuahua has flea allergy dermatitis, this is likely to need medication from the vet.

Mites: Mites can be misery for your dog. This is where you may see the ‘dandruff’ (Cheyletiella mites) walking around on its own, or tiny red patches of dots (harvest mites). Cheyletiella mites or ‘walking dandruff’ is highly contagious so jump on this PDQ.

Mange: This will present as scaly patches of dark skin and dandruff. This is also caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) they burrow into the skin and cause appalling itching. Your chihuahua will scratch frantically and could damage himself. It is also highly contagious.

Fleas, mites and mange can be treated with neem oil and neem oil shampoo. Read: neem oil and why you can’t live without it.

#3 Allergies

Dogs like people can have allergies to pollen, grass, and VOC’s from household cleaners. Read: Household products that can cause allergies in dogs. The symptoms will be irritable skin, runny nose, eyes and itchy paws. You need to eliminate the allergies from your chihuahua’s environment. For that, consider keeping your indoor areas clean to reduce the chance of allergies in your furry friend. For starters, get your carpets and rugs cleaned thoroughly. Contact a professional from Brown Family Chem-Dry and get the task done as soon as possible. Also, test your indoor air quality so that both you and your chihuahua do not develop respiratory allergies.

Keep in mind that if you still find the symptoms of allergies in your pet, after doing all this, then you need to consult a vet near you quickly. He can suggest you what to do about the problem. For instance, he an suggest you to administer a small dose of antihistamine to dampen down the symptoms. Read: Human medicines I can give my dog. I use a 1/4 a tablet twice a day. But check the does with your vet.

#4 Diet

Poor diet, loaded with carbohydrate and grains can play havoc with your chihuahuas skin. Dogs have no need of either of these ingredients in their diet, but low-quality kibble will be full of both. Owners have been inadvertently feeding this to their dogs for years because they trust the big brands to deliver the best nutrition. Even grain-free will be loaded with carbs because they are needed in the cooking process.

Yeast Infection: Carbohydrate will turn to sugars that your dog can’t process and as well as making your chihuahua fat, could cause a yeast infection. Read: Has your chihuahua got a yeast infection?

Leaky Gut: Grains and rice can cause an allergic reaction and contribute to ‘leaky gut syndrome’, leaky gut is a major contributor to food allergies. Read: Why you must stop feeding carbohydrates to your chihuahua.

The best bet is to switch your dog’s food to a good quality wet food or fresh home cooked. Like humans, dogs need a variety of good quality protein and fats to keep them healthy. Remember expensive doesn’t always mean quality. You are looking for a good quality protein food. Mix the proteins up, fish, meat, offal and eggs. Add a little bit of sardine to their nosh once or twice a week as it’s better to get the oils from source. You could also feed them a lightly fried egg twice a week. Keep the yolk runny so you don’t destroy the long-chain-fatty-acids. Add a probiotic to their food to address any gut flora imbalances, what’s going on in your dog’s gut has a massive impact on health and behaviour.

#4 Thyroid disease

Thyroid disease or hypothyroidism can cause a dry brittle coat, thick scaly scabs and dark patches of skin. You would need to discuss treatment with your vet.

How to help with dry itchy skin

Colloidal Oatmeal Bath

So if your poor chihuahua has dry itchy skin, you can make up this soothing bath. Colloidal oatmeal bath sounds complicated than it is. Colloidal means very small particles that are suspended evenly in a medium, in this case water. You can make this yourself if you can grind oats down to a fine powder.

Buy some organic oatmeal (not instant) and grind it down to a very fine powder.
Add 2-3 cups to lukewarm water and swish it around until it has dissolved.
Get your chihuahua to soak in the bath for about 10 minutes. Gently tip some over his back.
If your chihuahua is very sticky afterwards, then rinse him lightly with warm water.
Pat dry with a towel and let your chi air dry.

Be careful as the bath will be very slippery.

Do this 2-3 times a week until you see an improvement in his condition.

The oatmeal should be very soothing and draw out the irritation in his skin.

If you have any remedies for dealing with dry itchy skin we would love to hear from you. Please post in the comments below.

Louise Kirby

Feeding

Does it matter if my dog eats cat food?

April 12, 2018July 5, 2018
by Louise Kirby

Does it matter if my dog eats cat food?

If your chihuahua is anything like Minnie, then they might well like to tuck into a bowl of cat food. Similarly, if you leave kibble down for your dog during the day, you might find that your cat likes to help themselves too! Does it matter if my dog eats cat food?

Dogs in general seem to love cat food, some like it even more once it’s been digested and pooped out the other end. Read Help my chihuahua eats poop

Both carnivores

Dog and cats are both carnivores, which means they are meat eaters by nature and have the teeth, and digestive system enzymes that can deal with meat and break it down.

Based on this can there be much difference in their food?

Cats do have a very distinct difference from dogs in their nutritional profile. Cats are obligate carnivores. For cats, this means that they absolutely must have meat and animal protein in their diet. They are unable to make much nutritional use from carbohydrate and plant matter and get their energy from protein. They may include other food stuffs, but without a very high level of meat protein they will quickly become undernourished and ill.

A dog on the other hand, can eat and survive on plant material if it must. They are facultative carnivores, primary meat eaters, but can eat veg and fruit as well. (But that does not mean they should be fed a vegetarian diet.) Read Can my dog be a vegetarian?

[shopr collection=”book”]

So, what does this mean at kitchen floor level?

Cat food is a very high in protein and if eaten by your dog over long periods of time, can make your dog fat, cause diarrhoea and put his liver under pressure to deal with the additional high levels of protein.

Dog food does not meet your cats needs at all. Much of dog food contains fruits and veggies that are beneficial to your chi but not good for the cat. Fed over time, your cat could become malnourished and ill.

If you find your chihuahua gobbling up the remains of the cat’s dinner every day, then you need to make plans to stop this happening.

Cat food is high in calories and, fed in addition to your dog’s daily food allowance, it is a ticket for chubby town.

If your cat is tucking into kibble left down for your dog, sort this out as well. Having regular meal times will be beneficial to both parties. Put your dog’s dinner down, give him ten minuets or so to eat it, then lift it and save it for the next meal. (Regular meal times is good for behaviour as well as nutrition.) Read: Why you in charge = happier chi where we talk about food and meal times.

Take away

Everyone runs out of pet food occasionally, and in a tight spot a healthy dog or cat is not going to be caused any long-term harm if they are fed each other’s food. But, it is not a good long-term strategy for either species.

Allergies

Why you must stop feeding grain & carbohydrate to…

April 10, 2018June 28, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Grain & carbohydrate is making your chihuahua fat!

One of the main culprits for causing your chihuahua to get fat is grain & carbohydrate in their diet. Both these ingredients are present in kibble (dry dog food). For years the pet food industry has been adding these cheap filler ingredients to dry dog food to make them cheaper to produce.

It would be an error to think that the large brands at the top are better quality, some of these brands have a terrible line up of fillers and cheap ingredients. There are some good quality dry foods available, but you need to read the ingredients very carefully.

Grain free is better?

Well, it’s not worse, but before you rush out and buy expensive designer bags of grain free dry dog food understand that any kibble requires starch for the cooking process. Starch is a carbohydrate that will turn to unwanted sugar your chihuahua can’t process. This starch will appear on the packet as tapioca and pea starch, among others. Dogs don’t need either grain, rice or carbs (starch) in their diet, as well as making your dog fat it also causes an issue called ‘Leaky Gut Syndrome’.

What is leaky gut?

There is a membrane, that acts like a sieve, in your dog’s gut (and yours) that allows tiny parts of appropriate nutrients to pass through into the bloodstream. This membrane (mucosa) also acts as a barrier to stop toxins and particles that are not required from getting through.

Feeding your dog inappropriate food puts this membrane under stress and it becomes inflamed and the holes become enlarged. The gut then ‘leaks’ larger particles and undigested food into the bloodstream.

Your dog’s immune system will see these particles as invaders which will in turn trigger an immune response and an allergy is born!

Obviously, you can’t see leaky gut syndrome, but chances are that you will be seeing the result in the form of:

itchy skin
yeast infections
ear infections
gloopy eyes
obesity
swollen joints

So, if your chihuahua is suffering from continual scratching, paw licking or ear infections the chances are the grain and carbohydrate in his diet is causing an allergy or yeast infection.

If your chihuahua is not showing any visible signs of intolerance to grain or starch, don’t relaxed and assume everything is OK. Feeding grain and carbs will be putting your dog’s liver and organs under strain laying the foundations for future serious illness.

Your dog is a carnivore not omnivore

Pet food manufacturers like to tell you that dogs are omnivores but the fact is your cute little chihuahua is a carnivore not an omnivore or herbivore. If you are not sure what the difference is:

Carnivores eat meat and have sharp pointy teeth for tearing and eating flesh, no flat molars for grinding plant matter.

Herbivores are set up with the correct teeth for grinding plant matter and saliva that helps digestion by breaking down the cellulose.

Omnivore can eat both and has both sharp teeth for tearing, flat molars for grinding and the saliva that will help digest meat protein and plant matter.

Dogs do eat veggies & fruit

It is true that dogs eat vegetable and plant matter, in the wild this would be the partly digested in the stomach of their kill. They are also scavengers and would eat plants and fruit in times of food shortages. They can survive on plant matter only, but don’t thrive.

Veggies and fruit do play a part in the nutritional balance of your dog’s diet and can help holistically with worms and parasite control. But dogs are unable to digest lumps of raw vegetables and it will sit in their gut and cause wind and stomach ache. This is because they don’t have the molars to grind them up or the enzymes in their saliva to break down the cellulose. Also, large lumps of tough fibrous plant matter like broccoli stalks can cause a blockage. So, serve them cooked and pulverised and in the correct proportions to their protein intake. (10%)

Never rely on plant matter to provide your dog with the correct calcium levels or plant oils for omega 3, dogs are unable to convert them into a usable form. This is why you should never feed your dog a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Basic takeaway about grain & carbohydrate

Grain & carbohydrate (starch) found in poor commercial dog food is making your dog fat, itchy and is laying the foundations for serious illness in the future. It also contributes to bad teeth and gum disease.

It may feel more expensive to feed your chihuahua home cooked or good quality wet and home cooking is more time consuming and you have to make sure it contains all the nutrients that your dog needs, but you should think about the offset of future vet bills and the trauma of your chihuahua being ill.

About the author

Feeding

Please help, my chihuahua is a picky eater!

February 12, 2018February 13, 2023
by Louise Kirby

This is a common cry for help that comes into the blog on a regular basis. If you are pulling your hair out because your chihuahua is a picky eater then here is a ten step plan to help you get dinner time back under control.

Change in behaviour?

First: is this a change in behaviour? If your chihuahua used to love his food, then suddenly has stopped eating and is refusing everything, a trip to the vet is in order. He may be ill and need attention. Look for signs that your dog is in pain.

The most obvious reason your chi chi is a picky eater is that he doesn’t like the food you’re giving him. But, chances are, if you are reading this then you have already tried about 6 different brands of wet and dry food and are tearing your hair out worrying that your dog is not getting the nourishment he needs.

First, you need to relax a bit, even if your chihuahua is a picky eater, no healthy animal is going to willingly starve themselves to death. If your chihuahua is bouncing around barking at everything then he is in no immediate danger. But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to change the feeding regime, so you have a better idea of what your dog is actually eating.

How big is your chihuahua?

How big your chi is will guide how much he needs to eat. If neutered or spayed (dogs that have been de-sexed will need fewer calories), how active your dog is and any medication he may be on. Your vet should be happy to provide this information.

Over feeding and the health of your chihuahua

Most dog owners inadvertently overfeed their dogs. It is difficult not to as the instructions on dog food packets are often vague and, at the time of writing manufacturers are not required to put the calorie content of their food on the packet. If you dog does soft poops at night then it is a sure sign that he is being overfed. Also if poops are greasy looking then there is too much fat in their diet. find out more about perfect poop here.

Changed perceptions

I think also, there is a danger that dog owners have changed their perception of what is an acceptable body aesthetic for their dog, fearing criticism if their dog appears to be too thin, when in most cases some rib definition is desirable. I am always getting criticised over Arlo and how thin he is. But he’s a string bean, that’s who he is. Trying to stuff more food down him just upsets his stomach.

How much is too much?

A very tiny chihuahua, who has been spayed, may only need 150 calories a day, if you split this up over three meals then each meal is only 50 calories. This is nothing to the average human eye, a small treat or table scrap could contain all the calories your dog needs for that meal. But I would stay away from calories and work with the amount of grams for his size. It’s easier to work with.

What to do if your chihuahua is a picky eater

#1: Find out how many grams of food you dog need for his body weight. You can do calories, but this can be harder to calculate.

#2: Change to a dog food that you can weigh and commit to weighing their food out for each meal. This is essential. Buy a scales if you need to.

#3: Don’t be too predictable and mix up the feeding routine. Try kong feeding or take his food out with you when you go for a walk and feed as rewards for games and recall training. It doesn’t matter how they get their grub after all and research does show that dogs like to work for their food. Ditch the bowel is the new feeding revolution. You heard it here first! I’ll be writing more about this soon.

#4: Stop feeding treats and feed their dinner as rewards. See 3. To your dog, food is food. A single dog treat contains lots of calories. Plus they are super expensive and don’t contain a balanced meal.

#5: Goes without saying, stop any table scraps you are giving your chihuahua.

#6: if you are out for a walk introduce a meal when you get home. It will appeal to your chihuahua’s instinct that he has been out on a hunt and is eating his catch. If they still don’t eat then see 3 & 4

#7: Stop fussing: If you keep introducing different foods every time your chihuahua turns his nose up then you are making life hard for yourself and turning your chihuahua into a diva.

#8: More stop fussing: Standing over your dog or following him around with the food bowl will not encourage him to eat it just cause stress. Never watch your dog eat.

#9: Relax: If your chihuahua picks up tension around feeding time he is going to wonder what is going on and start to feel worried as well.

#10: Stop worrying: The takeaway from this is to stop worrying, the chances are your chihuahua is eating more than you think. You just need to pinpoint where his food is coming from and get it under control.

Please not these guidelines are for healthy dogs, if you are trying to rehabilitate a rescue or nurse a dog back to health then please work with your vet or local dog nutritionist for tailored advice.

Further reading: Reasons to stop feeding kibble

9 Healthy reasons why home cooking is good for your dog