Chihuahuas are feisty and charming little dogs, and when it’s time to find new food, you want to ensure that your pup is getting only the best. There is a definite advantage to feeding wet or canned food to your dog, but with the plethora of wet dog foods available, it can be daunting when you start shopping.
These reviews are designed to make your life easier, as we have found foods for a variety of different needs. We also give you a few tips on choosing canned food for your small but mighty best friend.
A Glance at Our Winners in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Purina Bella Small Breed Dog Food Trays
Made for toy/small dogs
Pâté with savory juices
Tasty and easy for small dogs to eat
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Best Value
Purina IncrediBites Variety Pack Dog Food
Variety pack with three flavors
Shredded meat and vegetables with gravy
Formulated for small dogs
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Premium Choice
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Dog Food
Helps dogs with stomach sensitivities
Real meat and veggies in stew texture
Uses vitamin E and omega-6 for healthy coat and skin
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Best for Puppies
Cesar Puppy Classic Loaf in Sauce
Small peel-and-serve trays for puppies
Right balance of vitamins and minerals for growing pups
Main ingredient is beef sourced from the U.S.
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Vet’s Choice
Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult Canned Dog Food
Vet’s choice
High levels of antioxidants
Chunks of real lamb and rice in gravy
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The 10 Best Wet Dog Foods for Chihuahuas
1. Purina Bella Small Breed Dog Food Trays — Best Overall
The best overall wet dog food for Chihuahuas is Purina’s Bella Small Breed Dog Food. It was made specifically for toy and small dogs, making it perfect for a Chihuahua’s nutritional needs. It’s a pâté in porterhouse steak flavor (and in other flavors) with savory juices, which makes it tasty and easy to eat for toy dogs. It comes in peel-and-serve trays, so you don’t have to worry about leftovers. It’s been formulated to be nutrient dense to support a small dog’s energy and metabolism.
The issues are that the trays are not resealable if you want to use only a small amount (like a topper), and the first ingredient is a meat by-product. By-products are fine if they are named (like chicken by-products), but unnamed means you won’t know what animal they came from.
Made for toy/small dogs
Pâté with savory juices
Tasty and easy for small dogs to eat
Peel-and-serve trays, so no leftovers
Nutrient dense
- Made for toy/small dogs
- Pâté with savory juices
- Tasty and easy for small dogs to eat
- Peel-and-serve trays, so no leftovers
- Nutrient dense
Trays not resealable
Main ingredient is generic meat by-product
- Trays not resealable
- Main ingredient is generic meat by-product
2. Purina IncrediBites Variety Pack Canned Dog Food — Best Value
The best wet dog food for Chihuahuas for the money is Purina Beneful IncrediBites Variety Pack. It has three flavors (beef, chicken, and salmon) and is formulated specifically for small dogs. It includes gravy, vegetables, and real meat in a shredded texture that is small enough for your Chihuahua’s mouth and teeth. It also contains 23 essential minerals and vitamins.
However, two of the three flavors (chicken and salmon) contain chicken. In fact, the first ingredient in the salmon recipe is chicken, so if your dog is sensitive to chicken, the beef recipe is the only one that doesn’t contain poultry. Additionally, all three recipes include meat by-products.
Variety pack with three flavors
Formulated for small dogs
Shredded meat and vegetables with gravy
Well-priced
Contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals
- Variety pack with three flavors
- Formulated for small dogs
- Shredded meat and vegetables with gravy
- Well-priced
- Contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals
Chicken is the main ingredient in chicken and salmon recipes
All three recipes contain meat by-products
- Chicken is the main ingredient in chicken and salmon recipes
- All three recipes contain meat by-products
3. Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Dog Food — Premium Choice
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin is our pick for a premium choice wet dog food. It’s suitable for dogs with stomach issues and keeps their skin and coat healthy with vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids. It is made with real meat, including chicken and turkey, and veggies, including carrots and spinach, in a stew texture, which is slow cooked.
However, being a premium choice also means it’s expensive, and not all dogs will enjoy the stew texture. Since it’s not thick like a pâté, it might not be as filling.
Helps dogs with stomach sensitivities
Uses vitamin E and omega-6 for healthy coat and skin
Real meat and veggies in stew texture
Slow cooked
- Helps dogs with stomach sensitivities
- Uses vitamin E and omega-6 for healthy coat and skin
- Real meat and veggies in stew texture
- Slow cooked
Expensive
Thin stew texture might not be that filling
- Expensive
- Thin stew texture might not be that filling
4. Cesar Puppy Classic Loaf in Sauce — Best for Puppies
Cesar’s Puppy Classic Loaf in Sauce is a great choice for tiny Chihuahua puppies. The trays are small, so you won’t have leftovers, and they’re peel-and-serve. The main ingredient is beef sourced in the U.S., and it’s grain free if your pup has a sensitivity to grains. It contains the right kind of vitamins and minerals for a growing puppy and is in pâté form, which is easy to eat.
Unfortunately, it is expensive, and picky puppies might not like it.
Small peel-and-serve trays for puppies
Main ingredient is beef sourced from the U.S.
Right balance of vitamins and minerals for growing pups
Pâté is easy for puppies to eat
- Small peel-and-serve trays for puppies
- Main ingredient is beef sourced from the U.S.
- Right balance of vitamins and minerals for growing pups
- Pâté is easy for puppies to eat
Expensive
Some puppies might not like it
- Expensive
- Some puppies might not like it
5. Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult Dog Food — Vet’s Choice
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Main ingredients: Lamb and chicken broth, liver, lamb
Protein content: 10%
Fat content: 3%
Calories: 350 kcal/can
Our vet chose Purina’s ONE SmartBlend Adult Canned Dog Food for your Chihuahua pup. It has chunks of meat (lamb) and brown rice in a gravy. It contains high amounts of antioxidants from selenium, zinc, and vitamins A and E, and it’s a nutritionally balanced diet for all adult dogs. It’s also tasty, well-priced, and easily digested and works well with weight management.
But sometimes, the consistency in the food is off. So, sometimes, you’ll open a can with a large amount of meat and a small amount of gravy, and other cans might have less meat and more gravy. Also, some Chihuahuas might have difficulty eating the bigger chunks of meat.
Vet’s choice
Chunks of real lamb and rice in gravy
High levels of antioxidants
Well-priced
Great for weight management
- Vet’s choice
- Chunks of real lamb and rice in gravy
- High levels of antioxidants
- Well-priced
- Great for weight management
Ratio of meat to gravy is sometimes off
Chunks might be too big for small dogs
- Ratio of meat to gravy is sometimes off
- Chunks might be too big for small dogs
6. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior Canned Dog Food is formulated for older Chihuahuas. It has real chicken as the main ingredient, which can help support healthy muscles, and a combination of fruits and vegetables. It contains chondroitin and glucosamine, which support your senior dog’s mobility and joints. There are no artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, or any by-products.
One of the issues is that it comes in large cans (12.5 oz.), which means plenty of leftovers for the small Chihuahua. While it is a pâté food, some cans are runnier than others.
Real chicken is the main ingredient
For senior dogs
Includes fruit and veggies
Contains chondroitin and glucosamine for joints and mobility
No artificial ingredients
- Real chicken is the main ingredient
- For senior dogs
- Includes fruit and veggies
- Contains chondroitin and glucosamine for joints and mobility
- No artificial ingredients
Large cans for small dogs
Some cans have a runny pâté
- Large cans for small dogs
- Some cans have a runny pâté
7. Cesar Classic Loaf in Sauce Variety Pack Dog Food Trays
Cesar Classic Loaf in Sauce Variety Pack has four recipes: beef, filet mignon, grilled chicken, and porterhouse steak. Each recipe starts with real meat, U.S. beef or chicken, and added vitamins and minerals for a nutritious and healthy meal. It comes in those handy peel-and-serve trays, which usually means no leftovers, and it’s in a pâté form with sauce. The small tray size is also ideal for Chihuahuas.
But while variety packs are ideal for literally adding variety to your dog’s diet, some Chihuahuas might not like one or more of the flavors. Additionally, each recipe contains added color.
Four recipes
U.S. beef or chicken as the main ingredient
Vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet
Peel-and-serve trays, so no leftovers
Pâté in sauce
- Four recipes
- U.S. beef or chicken as the main ingredient
- Vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet
- Peel-and-serve trays, so no leftovers
- Pâté in sauce
Some dogs might not like all recipes
Includes added color
- Some dogs might not like all recipes
- Includes added color
8. Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken Grain & Gluten Free Dog Food
Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken in Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food is made with real shredded chicken, which means it hasn’t been processed and is high in protein. It also has high moisture content, is low in carbs, and is free of carrageenan, grains, and gluten. It’s easy to digest and doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients.
Unfortunately, it is quite expensive, and any dogs that like eating pâté might not enjoy the shredded texture.
Made with real shredded chicken with gravy
High-quality protein
High moisture, low carbs
Doesn’t contain carrageenan
Easy to digest and no artificial ingredients
- Made with real shredded chicken with gravy
- High-quality protein
- High moisture, low carbs
- Doesn’t contain carrageenan
- Easy to digest and no artificial ingredients
Expensive
Not all dogs like the texture
- Expensive
- Not all dogs like the texture
9. Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Adult Dog Canned Food
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials has chicken as the main ingredient, which makes for a high-protein diet. Twenty-three essential minerals and vitamins are also included for a balanced and nutritious meal. These vitamins and minerals help support the immune system and a healthy coat and skin. There are no added artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors.
However, it contains meat by-products, and picky dogs might not like it. Also, these large cans might be too big for little dogs, which means more leftovers.
Chicken is the main ingredient
23 essential vitamins and minerals added
Immune system support
No artificial ingredients
- Chicken is the main ingredient
- 23 essential vitamins and minerals added
- Immune system support
- No artificial ingredients
Contains meat by-products
Picky dogs might not like it
Large cans for a small dog
- Contains meat by-products
- Picky dogs might not like it
- Large cans for a small dog
10. Merrick Lil’Plates Mini Medley Variety Pack
Merrick Lil’Plates Mini Medley Variety Pack is a variety pack with three flavors: pot pie, beef stew, and turkey dinner. All recipes are served as a meat and vegetable stew with real veggies and meat in gravy. It’s formulated for small breeds using all-natural ingredients and no grains. There are also no added artificial ingredients or fillers, and it’s a peel-and-serve dog food.
Unfortunately, the peel part of opening up these trays might be difficult for some owners, and it is a bit pricey. Additionally, like with other variety packs, some dogs might not like all the flavors.
Variety pack with three recipes
Stew with real meat and veggies in gravy
Made for small breeds
No artificial ingredients or fillers
- Variety pack with three recipes
- Stew with real meat and veggies in gravy
- Made for small breeds
- No artificial ingredients or fillers
Peel-and-serve can be challenging to open
Expensive
Variety pack means some dogs won’t like all flavors
- Peel-and-serve can be challenging to open
- Expensive
- Variety pack means some dogs won’t like all flavors
Buyer’s Guide: What to Look For in Wet Dog Food for Chihuahuas
In this guide, we go over a few points to consider when shopping for dog food for a toy breed. Chihuahuas have different nutritional needs than larger breeds, so it’s important to find a food that will keep your pup healthy and happy.
By-Products
Not all by-products are necessarily bad. For the most part, named by-products, such as beef by-products, do have nutritional value in your dog’s food. Once the meat is removed from the carcass, things like tendons, bones, and organ meat are considered the by-products.
You should just be warier if the by-product is named “animal by-product” or “meat by-product,” as you don’t know where the meat is coming from. This is even more important if your dog has any food allergies or intolerances.
Meat
All dogs need meat to maintain their health. The ingredient list on the wet food should have a meat product as the first ingredient. This means real meat is the main ingredient and will provide your dog with high-quality protein. In wet food, you’ll also see water and/or broth among the top ingredients, which adds extra moisture to your dog’s diet, which is a good thing. But you should aim for whole meat as the first ingredient.
Chunk Size
The size of the chunks in a stew-type wet food should be easy for your dog to eat. Feel free to ask the company from which you’re purchasing the food how large the chunks are, or read through customer reviews. All the foods on this list are meant for small dogs, but only a few are specifically made for small breeds.
Grain Free
Unless your vet has explicitly told you to only feed your Chihuahua food without grains, you shouldn’t look for grain-free food. Grains are healthy additions to dog food, so before purchasing any food labeled as grain free, speak to your vet. In fact, you should talk to your vet if you are changing your Chihuahua’s food, anyway. They can advise you on the right food to give your dog and the best way to switch to it gradually.
Final Thoughts
Our favorite wet food for Chihuahuas is Purina’s Bella Small Breed Dog Food, which is formulated specifically for toy dogs. Purina IncrediBites Variety Pack comes in a tasty, shredded texture with real meat and veggies.
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin is our premium choice for dogs with stomach and skin issues, and Cesar’s Puppy Classic Loaf in Sauce is a great choice for tiny Chihuahua puppies. Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult Canned Dog Food was chosen by our vet because it works well for weight management and has a reasonable price.
We hope that these reviews will help you find tasty and healthy food for your Chihuahua so both of you will be happy.
See also: 10 Best Treats for Chihuahuas — Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Vitaly Titov, Shutterstock
