One of the most important decisions the owner of a small dog faces is what to feed the dog. Nutrition is certainly one of the most important aspects of Chihuahua care. A dog that weighs only four to eight pounds and stands only six to nine inches high - like the Chihuahua - has to watch it's figure! Canine weight gain is something all Chihuahua owners have to watch out for. Every bite a Chihuahua eats has to be packed with nutrition and taste.

Chihuahua care is more difficult in this respect than, say, caring for a large dog. Large dogs can eat a lot more food than Chihuahuas, so they have more chances to get the nutrition they need. A typical Chihuahua should eat only about a cup and a half of food a day. The Chihuahua has to eat high quality food to keep up its stamina and to maintain healthy teeth, gums, skin, and coat. Owners who are experienced with Chihuahua nutrition know that feeding the best diet for a Chihuahua can prolong the dog's life and enhance its lifestyle.

Knowing what not to feed your Chihuahua for nutrition is at least as important as knowing what to feed it. Some foods that cause no health problems in humans are toxic to dogs and should be avoided at all costs. Chocolate, onions, and garlic are three such foods.

Chocolate is one of humankind's favorite foods, but it is poisonous to dogs-even in small amounts. Any amount of chocolate a Chihuahua consumes can cause damage, so if you even suspect that your Chihuahua has eaten chocolate, take the dog to the vet or emergency veterinary hospital as soon as possible. Your vet will give your Chihuahua the care it needs to alleviate the effects of chocolate on your dog's health. The symptoms of chocolate poisoning are vomiting, diarrhea and excessive thirst, but these symptoms may not show up for several hours, so it is important to get your Chihuahua medical care immediately.

Some Chihuahua owners elect to cook and prepare all of their dog's food on their own instead of feeding the dog commercial dog food. Proper food is such an important part of Chihuahua nutrition that these owners feel like it's worth the effort to know what is in their dog's food. Some owners eat only organic food themselves, and they want to their dogs to enjoy the same organic experience.

Dog food is simple to make. The best dog foods include a meat protein, a starch, and a vegetable. By combining these three elements, any owner can make home-cooked meals for their Chihuahua. All ingredients should be cooked before feeding them to your dog. Lean beef, pork, fowl, or lamb should be grilled, sautéed, or roasted and rice, potatoes, or noodles can be boiled or steamed. When it comes to vegetables, Chihuahuas prefer sweet choices like carrots and peas. Cooked food should be cooled completely before feeding it to your dog.