Category: <span>Recipes</span>

You want to home cook for your chihuahua!

September 30, 2021November 10, 2021
by Louise Kirby

If you want to home cook for your chihuahua, you are going to need to be brave. Without a doubt, you will get criticism from your vet and from people who prefer processed dog food.

Home cooking can be a viable alternative to buying processed food and surly, using fresh ingredients has got to be better than food that’s got preservatives added, right?

The reason vets and canine health professionals are so against home cooking is that many diets are not balanced and not well put together. Some diets are so poor that owners are depriving their dogs of the essential vitamins and minerals they need to keep them healthy. There are a lot of people who just feed their dog chicken meat and a few veggies, and while there is nothing wrong with either ingredient, this is not a good long-term diet.

Another issue you have is people often believe that if a food is OK for a human then it’s Ok for their dog and that’s just not the case. There’s a long list of things that your dog can’t eat. Rice is big on the list of things that people like to feed their dogs, when actually rice is not a suitable food at all and can contribute to leaky gut syndrome.

Good reasons to home cook

One of the best reasons to home cook for your chihuahua is control over the ingredients and the ability to curate your dogs meal to suite any dietary issues like IBD or pancreatitis. Having more control also means less fillers and carbs and a higher protein content. You dog needs fat and protein to thrive, they do get some benefit from veggies but not as much as people like to think.

Do you have a dog with allergies? The chances are they are eating something that doesn’t agree with them. Dry dog food would be the top of the list here, even the stuff that’s meant for dogs with allergies. Most allergies will start in the gut. Being able to switch your chihuahua out to a novel protein like pork and white fish is very helpful, and then you can work on eliminating the food that is causing the problem. (Pork & fish on it’s own would not be a long-term diet answer but is a helpful short-term solution)

Does home cooking help with weight control?

Getting involved with counting calories for your dog is rabbit hole that you may not want to go down. Dogs need fat in their diet and leaving it out can be harmful. Rather than try and curate a low fat diet go with weighing food out to suite their correct body weight. Most dogs are overweight because of dry food, too many treats and vague feeding instructions mean they are overfed. If your chihuahua is overweight this article may be helpful.

Is home cooking cheaper?

Yes and no, buying the ingredients may be cheaper at the till, but putting it all together is time consuming. We have five dogs and home cooking for my lot is a significant investment of time, I still do it, but not as much. I have found a good quality moist dog food that they all like and this is what they get most of the time.

You also need to take into account the supplements you must add into their food.

This list is essential and should go into all meals. I have linked to places you can buy the products.

This list is advisable and can be curated to site your dogs needs.

This is what I am using at the moment and it goes into shop brought and home cooked food.

(Some of these links are affiliate links and if you use them I earn a few pence so thank you in advance for helping me keep it all going!)

Plaque or seaweed supplement to help keep teeth clean.

Complete probiotics. I don’t add this to every meal, I add it to Macy’s once or twice a week because she is poop eater and this helps stop it. It is also good to keep in stock in case of tummy upsets and seems to help with tear staining.

Calming supplements.

I use the Calm K9 for the younger ones as it promotes a healthy gut biome and does help them stay in a calmer frame of mind and makes them easier to train.

Then Calm K9 senior for Mika who is 10. This stuff is a little pricey but because chihuahuas are small they don’t need a lot and it lasts for ages. The senior version has made a massive difference to Mika. It supports cognitive health and gut biome and seems to have helped reduce anal gland issues.

What must go into home cooked food

Like humans dogs need a variety of different proteins, just feeding one meat every meal is not a good idea, especially if it’s chicken which is an inflammatory meat. (don’t eliminate it, just mix it up)

They need

A main meat like ground lamb, beef, pork or chicken on rotation
White fish and oily fish on rotation
Lightly cooked veggies on rotation
Eggs once or twice a week
Offal, Liver, kidney and heart meat. (This should only be about 10% of yours chihuahua diet as the vitamin A content will be high)
The essential list of supplements
A curated list of supplements suited to your dogs lifestage.

Home cooking is not that straight forward but,

While home cooking has its advantages it’s not as straightforward as you first think. It certainly isn’t a case of just dropping some cooked chicken breast in a bowl. But it is very satisfying to do and can have health benefits for your chihuahua.

But once you have all your proportions and supplements sorted and in place it becomes so much easier. If you would like to know more about home cooking for your chihuahua please fill in the pop up. I am filming a cooking course and would love to keep you in the loop.

Dry food

Feed your chihuahua a fried egg!

September 27, 2021November 10, 2021
by Louise Kirby

Fry an egg once a week for your chihuahua!

Once a week I get the frying pan out and cook a fried egg for my chihuahuas. I tell my dog training clients to do the same and often get a quizzical raised eyebrow.

Why is good to feed your chihuahua a fried egg

Eggs are little power packs of top-quality protein and omega 3s. Eggs are packed with high quality protein and are bursting with essential amino and fatty acids. They contain an array of vitamins including A and B12, they also have folate, iron, selenium, and riboflavin. The benefits to your dog will be strong teeth, bones, and a shiny coat.

If your chihuahua is on a kibble-based diet, then it will provide a useful boost in protein and vitamins and minerals from a source food. Vitamins and minerals in dry food are synthetic as the source ones will be killed off in the cooking process. It will also be an enjoyable break from a very bland eating regime for your dog.

Get the frying pan out

Why is it better to lightly fry rather than scramble? Eggs contain long chain fatty acids that are delicate in nature. Keeping them complete for as long as possible is better nutritionally. The trick is to lightly fry your egg keeping the yolk runny thus preserving the LCFAs.

What should you cook them in.

The good news for people and dogs is that eggs don’t absorb much fat in the cooking process, but it’s still important to make sure they are good in good oils and fats. I tend to use either organic rapeseed or coconut oil. Using a nonstick pan will also help use less fat.

How to serve them.

I tend to chop them up in their morning food. I will fry the eggs aiming for 1 small egg per dog. I have their daily food in a pot then once the eggs are cooked, I chop them in. Then I weigh their food out, so the egg is included in their daily food allowance and is not an extra.

Is it OK to feed raw eggs?

Yes, if you feed your dog the whole egg and not just egg whites. (Egg whites contain avidin, an enzyme that prevents absorption of biotin in the body.) The yolk balances this out. But cooking them will make them slightly more digestible and you will be killing of pathogens and reduces the risk of salmonella.

Can they eat the shells?

Egg shells mainly calcium carbonate, a very calcium rich compound which is also very easily absorbed. This will give your dog a very high dose of calcium in one hit. Getting the calcium balance correct for your dog can be tricky and is especially important for a puppy. Too much or too little can have health implications. If you are feeding a commercial dog food, then avoid feeding the eggshells on a regular basis as the calcium will have been worked out for you and you may upset the balance.

However, if your home cooking for your dog then you will need to add ground eggshell to make sure they are getting sufficient calcium, but this is another blog post.

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!

Recipes

Sooth your chihuahua’s upset tummy and diarrhoea

October 8, 2019September 29, 2022
by Louise Kirby

Recipe for dealing with your chihuahua’s upset tummy

If your chihuahua has an upset tummy and diarrhoea it can be difficult to know what to feed them to help clear it up. Sometimes you are advised to starve your dog for 24 hours, but for a small chihuahua that can cause issues with blood sugar.

If you’re dealing with a sensitive tum and loose stools this is a nice recipe that has worked for our dogs. It quite simple to put together and there are some easy add-ins that can boost it’s healing effect. If you can’t get them and it’s an emergency the meat and mash will be find on it’s own.

Ingredients

500gms of turkey thigh mince.
Can of pumpkin or Sweet potato
Bone broth gravy (see above)
Good Probiotic powder or paste
Slippery elm (Buy this and keep it in the cupboard)

Method

Boil the mince till cooked through then drain it while warm to remove the fat
Add 2 good size tablespoons of pumpkin or cooked, mashed sweet potato and mix in. Serve a couple of tablespoons to your chihuahua. How much depends on his size so you will know best.

These add-ins will help speed the cure for an upset tummy and diarrhoea

Bone broth

You can make it extra nourishing by adding a bone broth gravy, I like to keep some bone broth in the freezer for emergencies like this. You can read how to make a bone broth here. I have used a chicken but any bones will do. Don’t wait until you are having a crisis, make some today and freeze it.

Add a couple of tablespoons into each serving.

Slippery elm

This can be a godsend when you have a runny poop epidemic. It can only take one dog to have an upset tummy and diarrhoea to cause mayhem.

You can either mix slippery elm in dry as a powder or boil some with water and make a syrup. (Keeps in the fridge for a few days). Slippery elm is very thick and gloopy. It lines the gut and helps sooth inflammation. You can buy slippery elm here.

Add Slippery elm in to each serving. Mix it as per instructions.

Probiotics

It’s always a good idea to add probiotics to their food. Probiotics help reseed the gut with good bacteria and will help restore the equilibrium to an inflamed GI tract. I add a maintenance does daily to my dog’s nosh or you can just keep some in stock to use in an emergency. You can buy powders or paste from the vet or online here

Probiotics add into serving as per the packet instructions

It goes without saying that if your chihuahua has an upset tummy and diarrhoea for more than a couple of days, you should speak to your vet. Also even if your chihuahua loves this meal it’s not for long term. Longer term home cooked dog food needs additional supplements and proteins to make it balanced

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, 2018May 9, 2022
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

About the author

Louise Kirby

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.

Get help with chihuahua behaviour

Feeding

The Perfect Chihuahua Christmas Dinner

December 19, 2017March 17, 2018
by Louise Kirby

How to Make the Perfect Chihuahua Christmas Dinner

Mains
Turkey & Lamb with Crispy Honeyed Parsnips.

Desert
Sweet Potato Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

You want your chihuahua to enjoy Christmas dinner with the family, but sharing the feast from the table is fraught with problems as a lot of the ingredients in the traditional Christmas dinner will be poisonous for your dog. You can read more about what your chihuahua can’t eat from your Christmas dinner. Read about Christmas foods your chihuahua can’t eat.

We have put together a two course chihuahua Christmas dinner that will have your chi drooling and wishing it was Christmas every day. So ditch the dry, unappealing kibble and give your chihuahuas a tasty Christmas dinner they will love.

Everything here is make ahead so you are not extra busy on the day. You can also freeze any extra.

The Perfect Chihuahua Christmas Dinner

This is a delicious dinner that is full of awesome ingredients. Tender turkey drumstick and lambs liver. Brussels sprouts and carrots cooked slowly in the slow cooker so they are tender and easy to digest and a side of honeyed parsnips to add some extra crispy crunch.

This recipe will make enough food to last around 3 days.

If I was making this as an everyday food I would also add the necessary supplements like bone meal and salmon oil.

800 grams Turkey Drumstick
400 grams Lambs Liver
1 tsp Cider Vinegar
250 grams Brussel Sprouts
200 grams carrots
150 grams Parsnip
1.5 tsp Honey

Desert

1.5 small Sweet Potato
128 grams Self Raising flour
32 grams Porridge oats
32 grams Butter (Unsalted is best for your dog)
2 small Eggs
100 ml milk or water

Topping

200 grams Cream Cheese (I use lactose free)
60 grams Greek yogurt (plain)

Chop up the sprouts and carrots (no need to peel) but discard the tops.Place the drumstick, liver, brussel sprouts and carrots into the slow cooker. (No need to chop up the liver it’s easier once its cooked.) Drop in a splash of cider vinegar if you have some. Put the lid on the pot and cook on low overnight.
Once it has cooked take out the meat and remove any bones. Chop the meat into chihuahua bite size pieces. Place it in a bowl.
Remove the brussel sprouts and carrots from the slow cooker and chop or mash them. Mix them into the bowl with the meat.
Add a couple of spoons of the yummy gravy.
Slice up the parsnips length ways, drizzle a little oil and some honey. Cook them in the oven or under the grill until they are crispy and golden brown.
Once this has cooled put it in the fridge.

Sweet Potato Muffin

Peel then grate the sweet potato
Mix the flour, sweet potato, and porridge oats into a bowl
Melt the butter and let it cool
Beat the eggs in a separate container, then add in the butter and honey
Mix into the main bowl
Add some milk or the water until you have the consistency you require
To make the muffins, I stole some paper source pots from a well known burger bar and dived the mixture up. But you could use any tin and cut the cooked sponge into squares.Cook at 180 degrees for about 15mins or until it has cooked through.

Frosting

Mix up the cream cheese and the yogurt and spoon onto the top of the muffin.

Serving Suggestion

One meal serving of the main meal should be around 30-50 grams depending on the size of your chihuahua. We divide our dogs daily allowance up into 3 So they get 3 small meals a day. The muffins are treat for Christmas and is not something they should have every day. I would cut the muffin up as it is still quite large in relation to your chihuahua.

We have a range of everyday recipes if you are interested in home cooking for your chihuahua. It’s fun and much better for your chihuahua than dry kibble. Read what’s the best food for your chihuahua

Feeding

Christmas food that’s poisonous to dogs

December 12, 2017December 16, 2018
by Louise Kirby

Christmas food that’s poisonous to dogs

Both Christmas and Easter is a time for getting together and enjoying some seasonal food, but a surprising amount of traditional celebration food is either poisonous to dogs or likely to cause an upset tummy. As your chihuahua is tiny even the smallest amount of food from banned list could make him ill.

Currents & Sultanas

These play a bit part in Christmas & Easter treats, they are abundant in Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, mince pies and hot cross buns. But, currents are highly toxic to dogs, so don’t be tempted to feed your dog your crumbs or leave cake lying about in temptations way.

Nuts

Some nuts are OK for dogs and others are toxic. But in general, they need to be avoided. Even if they are not toxic they are very high in fat which could cause an upset stomach. They are also very hard to digest so there is a risk of intestinal blockage. According to petinsurance.com ‘can my dog eat peanuts’ is one of the most common searchers for dog owners.

Almonds
These are not toxic as such, but they aren’t good for your dog. They are hard to digest and may cause an upset stomach.
Cashews
Not toxic but high in fat and hard to digest.
Macadamia Nuts
Very high in fat and cause a major stomach an upset.
Peanuts
Peanuts aren’t poisonous, and dogs love them. Only feed them as an occasional treat and make sure your chihuahua doesn’t find a mouldy one. (See black walnuts)
Pecans
Contain the same toxin as walnuts. Banned.
Pistachio Nuts
Very high in fat and again can cause an upset stomach.
Walnuts
Black walnuts are toxic to dogs. They contain a toxin called juglone. Also, walnuts are very high in fat, hard to digest so can cause an intestinal blockage. Mouldy walnuts contain tremorgenic mycotoxins which can cause seizures or neurological symptoms.

Chocolate

Most people realise that chocolate is on the banned list for dogs. It contains caffeine and theobromine which are both poisonous to dogs. Given your chihuahua’s size, even a small amount of chocolate could make him ill. Dark chocolate is more poisonous that milk. Signs that your dog has eaten chocolate is:

Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Shaking
Rise in temperature
Seizures

What part of your roast dinner can your chihuahua enjoy?

It is only natural to want to share roast dinner with your chihuahua family, and with those pleading eyes, giving titbits is hard to avoid. But some of the things on your plate are just plain bad for your dog.

Meat:

Meat is generally Ok for your dog, but not if it is covered in salt, pepper and other sauces. If you are going to treat him to a titbit, keep it lean or you could pay the price later as large amounts of fat can cause diarrhoea.

Roast potatoes

Potatoes are very starchy and when covered in fat may be just too rich for his tummy. If you do give him some, make it a very tiny amount.

Gravy

Gravy makes a meal, but people gravy is full of salt and fat. Salt is very bad for your chihuahua and the fat could contribute to an upset tummy.

Veggies

Most green veggies, carrots and parsnips are OK if they are cooked and not covered in salt.

Onions

Avoid onions and onion family like leeks are banned. Onions are poisonous.

Redcurrants

On the banned list. Redcurrants are also poisonous to dogs so keep him away from the redcurrant jelly.

Alcohol

Dogs should not be allowed to drink alcohol. Beer & wine’s main ingredients, grapes and hops, are both poisonous for dogs. Dogs are not wired to process the ethanol in alcohol. Alcohol can very quickly poison a tiny chihuahua.

Cooking

If you are busy in the kitchen make sure your chi does not lick up any spilt baking powder or eat any uncooked yeast based dough. Both foods can make your dog very sick as they react in their stomach.

If you and your children are making homemade ornaments from salt dough, it is vital that your chi does not get a chance to munch on them. Salt dough contains toxic levels of salt.

This is not a definitive list of every thing that is bad for your dog. If you are not sure then avoid it. You can read 8 things your chihuahua mustn’t eat.

Feeding

Home Cooked Dog Food: Oxtail & Turkey Drumstick Winter…

October 23, 2017March 17, 2018
by Louise Kirby

Home cooked dog food: Oxtail & Turkey Drumstick with Super-Food Parsnips

This is a home cooked dog food your chihuahua will love. This is a lovely thick oxtail & drumstick juicy stew that your chihuahua will love. Simmered all day in the slow cooker to bring out the richness of flavour. Both oxtail & turkey drumstick are inexpensive cuts of meat. You can add a splash of apple cider vinegar to draw out the goodness from the bones.

Sweet potato is high in dietary fiber and low in fat, it also add a touch of sweetness that your dog will love.

Parsnips are a bit of a super food, high in vitamins and potassium they are help protect against colon cancer. Parsnips are also has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties.

Calories: 179 per 100g (Based on the meat weights below)

Oxtail & Drumstick Winter Fuel Stew

A hearty home cooked dog food stew that will have your dog drooling. Cooked gently in the slow cooker with a drop of apple cider vinegar to pull all the gelatinous goodness out from the bones. Both meats are relatively cheap as well.

1 Turkey Drum stick (about 810 grams will yield 600g meat )
4 big chunks Oxtail (800g will yield 400g meat)
200 g Sweet Potato
125 g Parsnip
125 g Peas (Frozen is fine. Not tinned)
0.9 g Bone meal (Adjust for the size of your dog)
0.6 g Brewers yeast (Adjust for the size of your dog)
3 tsp Salmon Oil (Adjust for the size of your dog)

Boil the kettle, and add the drumstick and oxtail to the slow cooker with the hot water.Pour in a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar. This brings out all the goodness from the bones.
Chop up the vegetables leave the skins on and add them to the pot.
Pour in a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar. This brings out all the goodness from the bones.
Cook on high for a couple of hours then turn down the pot and let it simmer all day or overnight.
Once the meat is nice and tender you need to remove the bones. Take the meat out to another pot and carefully remove the meat, making sure all the bones are gone.(Don’t feed the cooked bones to your dogs)
To get the exact ratio of veggie to meat you can weigh the meat.You need a third of their meal to be vegetables, So, if you have 900g of meat you need to add 450g of veg
Fish the Veggies out the pot, they should be nice and tender, weigh them if you want to be super accurate. Out everything in a bowel and chop them up to chihuahua bite size
Add a couple of spoonfuls of the lovely gravy.(You can freeze the rest and use it as a stock base of your home cooking)
Once it has cooled add your bone meal, brewers yeast and salmon oil.
You can also add in some seaweed for extra teeth cleaning benefit.

The bone-meal, brewers yeast and salmon oil should be part of your home cooking store cupboard ingredients. You can buy them from AniForte. Once you have them in stock they last for ages. Keep the lids on tight. How much you put in will depend on the size of your dog, the above is an approximate amount. So read the packet for feeding instructions.

It doesn’t matter if the vegetables are in different ratios to the list above, as long as you have a 70/30 split of meat and veg. The calories will change slightly but not enough to worry about.

It is a shame to chuck out the resulting stock, so you can freeze it for your own soups and stews.

Allergies

5 Reasons not to feed kibble to your dog

September 25, 2017March 1, 2021
by Louise Kirby

When you get a new dog, or take on a rescue, one of the biggest decisions, apart from his name, is what are you going to feed him. Most people will head towards the nearest pet emporium and gaze at the dizzying array of pet foods available.

The pet food industry is worth £2.8bn a year. The majority of this is going to be dry food also known as kibble. Kibble is sold as a ‘whole food’ that contains everything your dog needs to thrive. Dry dog food is the ultimate convenience food, relatively cheap to buy, appears to store well and needs no preparation.

You are what you eat

‘You are what you eat’ and the message from dog nutritionists is ‘the same goes for your dog’.

Kibble is coming under increasing pressure from dog nutritionists who question the idea of ‘one food for life’ and suggest that by feeding the same kibble (dry food) every day we are storing up potential health time bombs for our dogs.

Five reasons kibble may not be the best thing for your chihuahua

It is now agreed that dogs, like people need a variety of high quality fresh food to thrive and live into old age fit and disease free. Dog’s need protein and fat from meat, fish, and eggs. They don’t need carbohydrates, grains and rice and limited veg.

Here are the reasons we need to rethink our love affair with dry food kibble:

Low quality ingredients

#1Often a lot of the ingredients are going to be low quality. They fall behind the 70% protein level that your dogs need, and the protein that is present is low quality and of dubious origin. Read how to read dog food labels’

Too much starch and carbohydrate

#2 Kibble will contain starch and carbohydrate as it is needed for the cooking process, some foods will be 30% starch and other 60%. When this is eaten this turns to glucose (sugar). dogs are unable to process this, it is turned into fat and stored around the body. This could also lead to diabetes.

Some research suggests that cancer and harmful bacteria feed off fat and sugar and that 46% of dogs will die of cancer.

Carbohydrate can also cause a leaky gut, which means that the lining of the gut that sieves out large food particles and toxins gets damaged and allows food particles through. The body will attack these and this can in turn cause allergies to foods. Many dogs fed a diet of dry dog food will have itchy skin,and goopy ears. Once put on a fresh food diet theise allergies disappear.

It’s also worth noting that itchy skin and pain in general will ‘pay into your dog’s emotional bucket’ and make them reactive and barky.

Not enough moisture

#3 Dry dog food contains only 10-12% moisture (needed to aid digestion) so your dog is going to be in a constant state of mild dehydration. Drinking water after does not resolve this and that is assuming your dog will take a drink after their meal.

Contains grains

#4 Kibble contains grains such as rice and barley. Dogs do not need grains and rice in their diet. It contributes to leaky gut which causes allergies and skin conditions In addition to this, rice and grains can be contaminated with a type of mold that releases toxins that can make your dog ill.

Grain free may not be the solution

#5 Grain free and organic kibble may be grain free and organic, but it will still contain starch as this is needed for the cooking process. It also has little nutritious value after the intense cooking process. Manufacturers add synthetic vitamins and minerals to bring the food up to the required dog food standards.

Doesn’t store

#6 (bonus) Many people chuck a handful of kibble into their dogs bowl and never give it a second thought to ‘is it fresh’. But like any food stuff, kibble has a shelf life and it’s shorter than you think. If you leave the top of the bag open then chances are by the time you get to the bottom it has no nutritional value left at all and may even now be harmful for your chihuahua. (or any dog) read how to store dry dog food.

Balance

In the interest of balance there are some better quality dry dog foods available on the market now, as some manufactures bow to pressure to supply better food. But don’t assume the big premium brands are going to be the best. The trick is to be able to ignore the graphic design on the front, read the label and understand what you are feeding your dog. Read the article ‘how to understand do food labels.’ But even so, I would recommend that it is not fed every day.

If you are wedded to kibble and want to feed it every day, you can make a big difference by just adding a finger of oily fish and a small lightly fried egg with runny yolk once a week. (not at the same time)

About the author

Louise Kirby

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Allergies

Chicken bone broth healing recipe for your chihuahua

September 25, 2017March 1, 2021
by Louise Kirby

Chicken soup or chicken bone broth has for generations been the panacea for all ills. A cure for belly ache and a broken heart. (Well nearly)

Turns out, chicken bone broth super good for your chi as well. Its golden goodness helps heal a multitude of health problems. A good bone broth is packed full vitamins and minerals and is low in fat & salt. Served regularly will help your chi with long term health and well-being.

Your chi will absolutely love this broth, if your chi has been sick or is in general a picky eater they won’t be able to resist. Use it to feed up a skinny pooch or to help settle a rescue.

Good for Joints

Chicken bone broth is packed full of glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. So, if your chi has problems with stiffness or arthritis a good chicken bone broth will help strengthen joints, ligaments and cartilage, keep supple.

Detoxing the Liver

Every day your dog's liver has a huge amount of work to do. Detoxifying the body from VOCs from household cleaners, scented candles, textile sprays, not to mention spot-on flea treatments. give your dog's live a little love with some chicken bone broth.

According to Dogs Naturally Magazine;

The liver was never meant to suffer this onslaught and its capacity to detoxify is limited by the availability of the amino acid glycine. Guess what has tons of glycine? Bone broth!

Heal a Leaky Gut

The gut is lined with lots of tiny holes that allow nutrients to pass through into the body. However; poor diet, often fed inadvertently, can lead to the holes becoming bigger than they should be. This allows particles through that shouldn’t enter the body. Read more about 5 reasons not to feed kibble.

The body will notice those undigested food particles as foreign invaders and start to attack them. This is how allergies and food sensitivities develop. Dogs Naturally Magazine

The gelatin in the chicken bone broth will help block these holes and help the gut to heal. The outcome should be fewer allergies, less wind & diarrhoea, happy dog and happy you. You can find out more about leaky gut from Dogs Naturally Magazine.

How to Cook Chicken Bone Broth.

You can use a chicken carcass or a whole chicken (the meat from this will be lovely and soft and easy to digest)

Use a slow cooker and cook this overnight:

1 Chicken Carcass.

It can be left over from your Sunday roast if any onion has been removed and there are no meat or skin with lashings of salt & pepper

Juice of a lemon or another citric acid like Apple Cider Vinegar use 2tlbs.

This helps to draw out the minerals from the bones.

Method

Place in a slow cooker, cover with water and allow it to simmer away for 24 hours. Once you have a thick, golden gelatinous liquid you are nearly there.

Skim off any obvious fat then strain off the bones, if you want to be extra sure there are no bones left then liquidise the broth.

As well as being super good for your chihuahua, and other pets it is a fantastic base for your own soups or risottos. So, everyone’s a winner!

Keep it in the fridge and use it as a gravy over food, or it can be frozen into ice-cubes for dog lolly pops for the summer. Keep some frozen for times of ill health or as a special chicken treat. Minnie and Mika love them, but Minnie is finding burying them is not going well!

You can also use other bones if your dog is allergic to chicken. Lamb, beef or even fish make a good bone broth.