Choosing the right food for your Chihuahua can be intimidating. There are tons of foods on the market, but Chihuahuas are small dogs with specific needs to consider. To keep your Chihuahua healthy, it’s important to ensure you select high-quality food that meets their nutritional needs while also maintaining health and longevity.
Some Chihuahuas show a distinct preference for wet food, so if you’re looking for wet or canned dog food for your Chihuahua that meets their nutritional needs, check out these reviews of the best of the best options for your Chihuahua, including our veterinarian-recommended pick!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Purina Pro Plan Focus Small Breed
Real chicken is the first ingredient
9% protein supports healthy muscles
Low in fat
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Best Value
Purina Beneful Medleys
Best value
Contains real liver and chicken meat
9% protein supports healthy muscles
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Premium Choice
Ollie Fresh Lamb With Cranberries
Made with whole food ingredients
Minimal processing
May be more enticing to picky eaters
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Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin
Chicken broth and turkey are the first ingredients
Good source of omega fatty acids and vitamin E for skin and coat health
Contains highly digestible ingredients to support digestive health
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Best for Puppies
Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws Puppy
Top pick for puppies
High-quality protein from chicken and pork
Single-serve trays make for easy measuring
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The 11 Best Canned and Wet Dog Foods for Chihuahuas
Purina Pro Plan Focus Small Breed food is the best overall wet dog food for your Chihuahua. This food is made with real chicken and pork lungs as the first two ingredients, providing your pup with 9% protein in every tray of food and supporting healthy muscle development. It’s low in fat at 3.5% fat content, and it contains 105 calories per tray, meaning one or two trays of food per day is enough for most Chihuahuas. It’s a nutrient-dense food that meets all nutritional needs of your Chihuahua, and the pre-portioned trays make it easy to measure out your dog’s food properly to prevent weight issues.
Main ingredients: Chicken, pork lungs
Protein content: 9%
Fat content: 3.5%
Calories: 105 kcal/tray
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This is a grain-free food, so make sure to discuss it with your vet before offering this food to your dog. Grain-free foods are not more nutritious than foods with grain, and some grain-free foods have shown a link to heart disease and grain-free foods rarely relieve food sensitivities.
Pros
Real chicken is the first ingredient
9% protein supports healthy muscles
Low in fat
Pre-portioned trays make food measurements easy
Most Chihuahuas only need one or two trays daily
Nutrient-dense food that meets all nutritional requirements
Cons
Grain-free food
Purina Beneful Medleys is the best wet food for Chihuahuas for the money. This food is made with water as the first ingredient, followed by liver and chicken. It comes out at 9% protein and only contains 74 calories per can of food, making it a good food for maintaining muscle mass while helping to maintain a healthy weight. It’s low in fat at 2% fat content.
Real chicken is the first ingredient
9% protein supports healthy muscles
Low in fat
Pre-portioned trays make food measurements easy
Most Chihuahuas only need one or two trays daily
Nutrient-dense food that meets all nutritional requirements
- Real chicken is the first ingredient
- 9% protein supports healthy muscles
- Low in fat
- Pre-portioned trays make food measurements easy
- Most Chihuahuas only need one or two trays daily
- Nutrient-dense food that meets all nutritional requirements
Grain-free food
- Grain-free food
Main ingredients: Liver, chicken
Protein content: 9%
Fat content: 2%
Calories: 74 kcal/can
This food contains distinguishable pieces of grain, vegetables, and meat. It’s fortified with vitamins and minerals for maximum health for your Chihuahua. Some people report their picky dogs not finding this food to be as palatable as some other options.
Pros
Best value
Contains real liver and chicken meat
9% protein supports healthy muscles
Low in calories and fat
Recognizable ingredients
Fortified with vitamins and minerals
Cons
May not be palatable enough for picky eaters
3. Ollie Fresh Lamb With Cranberries Dog Food – Premium Choice
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Main ingredients: Lamb, butternut squash, lamb liver, chickpeas, kale
Protein content: 10%
Fat content: 7%
Calories: 1804 kcal/kg
Some Chihuahuas can be picky eaters and need a little something extra to tempt their appetites. For these pups, try Ollie Fresh Lamb with Cranberries wet food. Ollie specializes in producing minimally processed, whole-food diets for dogs, and it’s our 3rd place premium choice for wet dog food for Chihuahuas.
Best value
Contains real liver and chicken meat
9% protein supports healthy muscles
Low in calories and fat
Recognizable ingredients
Fortified with vitamins and minerals
- Best value
- Contains real liver and chicken meat
- 9% protein supports healthy muscles
- Low in calories and fat
- Recognizable ingredients
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals
May not be palatable enough for picky eaters
- May not be palatable enough for picky eaters
With simple, recognizable ingredients like lamb, kale, butternut squash, chickpeas, and cranberries, feeding this diet makes you feel like you’ve cooked your Chihuahua a gourmet meal in your own kitchen. However, Ollie Fresh Lamb with Cranberries is also nutritionally balanced, so you know your dog is getting all the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy.
This poultry-free recipe may be suitable for Chihuahuas that struggle with food intolerance or allergies. Unfortunately, Ollie doesn’t ship outside the 48 continental United States. Chihuahua parents in Alaska, Hawaii, and international locations will need to look elsewhere for their fresh food needs.
Pros
Made with whole food ingredients
Minimal processing
May be more enticing to picky eaters
Poultry-free for dogs with possible food allergies
Shipped directly to your door
Cons
Doesn’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or international addresses
Contains legumes
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin is another good food pick for your Chihuahua. This food contains chicken broth and turkey as the first two ingredients. It is lower in protein than many other options at 2.8%, but it is a great option for dogs with stomach and skin sensitivities.
Made with whole food ingredients
Minimal processing
May be more enticing to picky eaters
Poultry-free for dogs with possible food allergies
Shipped directly to your door
- Made with whole food ingredients
- Minimal processing
- May be more enticing to picky eaters
- Poultry-free for dogs with possible food allergies
- Shipped directly to your door
Doesn’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or international addresses
Contains legumes
- Doesn’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or international addresses
- Contains legumes
Main ingredients: Chicken broth, turkey
Protein content: 2.8%
Fat content: 1.9%
Calories: 253 kcal/can
It’s a good source of vitamin E and omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat. It contains ingredients that are easy to digest in order to better support digestive health. It’s also formulated with ingredients to support cardiac health. The tender stew texture is good for small dogs, especially those with eating difficulties and dental disease.
Pros
Chicken broth and turkey are the first ingredients
Good source of omega fatty acids and vitamin E for skin and coat health
Contains highly digestible ingredients to support digestive health
Formulated with ingredients to support cardiac health
Texture is easy for dogs with eating difficulties to eat
Cons
2.8% protein content
The top wet food pick for Chihuahua puppies is the Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws Puppy food. This food contains 5% protein content from ingredients like chicken broth, chicken, and pork liver. The single-serve trays make measuring your pup’s daily food intake easy and help prevent waste.
Chicken broth and turkey are the first ingredients
Good source of omega fatty acids and vitamin E for skin and coat health
Contains highly digestible ingredients to support digestive health
Formulated with ingredients to support cardiac health
Texture is easy for dogs with eating difficulties to eat
- Chicken broth and turkey are the first ingredients
- Good source of omega fatty acids and vitamin E for skin and coat health
- Contains highly digestible ingredients to support digestive health
- Formulated with ingredients to support cardiac health
- Texture is easy for dogs with eating difficulties to eat
2.8% protein content
- 2.8% protein content
Main ingredients: Chicken broth, chicken
Protein content: 5%
Fat content: 3%
Calories: 88 kcal/tray
The stew texture is easy for small puppies to eat while their adult teeth are still coming in. This food is formulated with growing small breed puppies in mind to support size-appropriate growth and development. Some people report finding the trays difficult to open due to the vacuum sealing used to close them.
Pros
Top pick for puppies
High-quality protein from chicken and pork
Single-serve trays make for easy measuring
Stew texture is easy for developing puppies to eat
Formulated to support the growth of small breed puppies
Cons
Containers may be difficult to open
- Royal Canin Weight Care Loaf in Sauce – Vet’s Choice
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Main ingredients: Pork, chicken
Protein content: 7.5%
Fat content: 3.9%
Calories: 263 kcal/can
Royal Canin Weight Care Loaf in Sauce is the vet’s choice wet food for your Chihuahua. This food contains 7.5% protein content from high-quality protein sources like pork and chicken.
Top pick for puppies
High-quality protein from chicken and pork
Single-serve trays make for easy measuring
Stew texture is easy for developing puppies to eat
Formulated to support the growth of small breed puppies
- Top pick for puppies
- High-quality protein from chicken and pork
- Single-serve trays make for easy measuring
- Stew texture is easy for developing puppies to eat
- Formulated to support the growth of small breed puppies
Containers may be difficult to open
- Containers may be difficult to open
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Main ingredients: Pork, chicken
Protein content: 7.5%
Fat content: 3.9%
Calories: 263 kcal/can
It’s formulated to help your dog feel full and satiated between meals, allowing you to help your dog lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Make sure to talk to your dog’s vet before attempting any weight loss program, though. This food is highly palatable and is easy for dogs of any size to eat. This food does retail for a premium price, so it may be out of the budget for some people.
Pros
High-quality protein sources
Formulated to maintain satiety between meals
Veterinarian recommended
Helps with weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight
Highly palatable and soft texture
Cons
Premium price
The Iams ProActive Health Pate has 8% protein content with high-quality chicken as the number one ingredient. This food is higher in fat than some of the other options at 6% fat content, and it is higher calorie than many other wet foods as well.
High-quality protein sources
Formulated to maintain satiety between meals
Veterinarian recommended
Helps with weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight
Highly palatable and soft texture
- High-quality protein sources
- Formulated to maintain satiety between meals
- Veterinarian recommended
- Helps with weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight
- Highly palatable and soft texture
Premium price
- Premium price
Main ingredients: Chicken
Protein content: 8%
Fat content: 6%
Calories: 390 kcal/can
It’s formulated as a good source of vitamin E and omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health, as well as being fortified with other vitamins and minerals to support overall health and longevity. It’s slow cooked in broth to ensure maximum palatability and nutrient content. This is a budget-friendly food option for your Chihuahua.
Pros
High-quality protein from real chicken
Good source of vitamin E and omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
Fortified with vitamins and minerals for health and longevity
Slow cooked in broth for maximum palatability and nutrition
Budget-friendly option
Cons
6% fat content
Higher in calories than most other options
The Purina One Smartblend food contains real beef and chicken as sources of high-quality protein, bringing the protein content to 8%. It is higher in fat at 7% fat content and calories at 416 calories per can than most of the other foods we reviewed.
High-quality protein from real chicken
Good source of vitamin E and omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
Fortified with vitamins and minerals for health and longevity
Slow cooked in broth for maximum palatability and nutrition
Budget-friendly option
- High-quality protein from real chicken
- Good source of vitamin E and omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals for health and longevity
- Slow cooked in broth for maximum palatability and nutrition
- Budget-friendly option
6% fat content
Higher in calories than most other options
- 6% fat content
- Higher in calories than most other options
Main ingredients: Beef, chicken
Protein content: 8%
Fat content: 7%
Calories: 416 kcal/can
This budget-friendly food option contains natural glucosamine to support your Chihuahua’s joints. It’s also a good source of omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health. It’s free of fillers and is made to be highly digestible, which may make it a good option for some dogs with digestive sensitivities, along with ensuring your dog is able to absorb maximum nutrition from the food.
Pros
8% protein thanks to beef and chicken
Budget-friendly option
Contains natural glucosamine to support joint health
Good source of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
Highly digestible and free of fillers
Cons
7% fat content
Higher in calories than most other options
For your older pup, the Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws Adult 7+ is the top pick. This food contains high-quality protein from chicken and pork, but it is lower in protein than most foods at only 3.5% protein content. It’s also formulated for small breed dogs, making it ideal for your older Chihuahua.
8% protein thanks to beef and chicken
Budget-friendly option
Contains natural glucosamine to support joint health
Good source of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
Highly digestible and free of fillers
- 8% protein thanks to beef and chicken
- Budget-friendly option
- Contains natural glucosamine to support joint health
- Good source of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
- Highly digestible and free of fillers
7% fat content
Higher in calories than most other options
- 7% fat content
- Higher in calories than most other options
Main ingredients: Chicken, pork
Protein content: 3.5%
Fat content: 2.3%
Calories: 83 kcal/tray
It is low in fat and calories, at 2.3% fat content and only 83 calories per tray. The single-serve trays make measuring food easy and help to reduce waste. It contains a flavorful gravy to maximize palatability, but some people report their picky dogs not finding this food very palatable
Pros
Formulated for small breed dogs aged 7 years and above
Contains high-quality protein from chicken and pork
Low in fat and calories
Single-serve trays make measuring easy and reduce waste
Cons
3.5% protein content
May not be palatable enough for picky eaters
- True Acre Hearty Stew
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Main ingredients: Beef broth, beef
Protein content: 10%
Fat content: 2%
Calories: 205 kcal/tub
The True Acre Hearty Stew is made with high-quality protein from beef, bringing the protein content to 10%, making this food ideal for supporting muscle mass. It’s low in fat at only 2% fat content. It contains recognizable pieces of veggies, grains, and meat, and it is formulated with gravy to make it highly palatable.
Formulated for small breed dogs aged 7 years and above
Contains high-quality protein from chicken and pork
Low in fat and calories
Single-serve trays make measuring easy and reduce waste
- Formulated for small breed dogs aged 7 years and above
- Contains high-quality protein from chicken and pork
- Low in fat and calories
- Single-serve trays make measuring easy and reduce waste
3.5% protein content
May not be palatable enough for picky eaters
- 3.5% protein content
- May not be palatable enough for picky eaters
Main ingredients: Beef broth, beef
Protein content: 10%
Fat content: 2%
Calories: 205 kcal/tub
This food is one of the more premium-priced foods we reviewed due to the number of containers per day recommended for most dogs, even small dogs. It also contains peas as the fifth ingredient, which have potentially been linked to heart disease in dogs. Make sure to talk to your vet about this food before starting it to ensure it’s right for your Chihuahua.
Pros
10% protein content
2% fat content
Contains recognizable veggies, grains, and meat
Highly palatable
Cons
Premium price
Contains peas
The Tiki Dog Aloha Petites food contains high-quality protein from chicken and salmon, bringing the protein content to 8%. It’s low in fat at 2% fat content, as well as low in calories at 83 calories per pouch.
10% protein content
2% fat content
Contains recognizable veggies, grains, and meat
Highly palatable
- 10% protein content
- 2% fat content
- Contains recognizable veggies, grains, and meat
- Highly palatable
Premium price
Contains peas
- Premium price
- Contains peas
Main ingredients: Chicken, salmon
Protein content: 8%
Fat content: 2%
Calories: 83 kcal/pouch
This is a grain-free food, so make sure to talk to your vet before starting your dog on it. It also contains mung beans, which are a good source of plant protein and fiber, but they are also a legume. Legumes have been potentially linked to heart disease in dogs, so make sure to discuss this with your vet.
It does contain nutrient-dense ingredients, like sweet potatoes, kale, and flaxseeds, as well as turmeric, which may help reduce inflammation. It’s a good source of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, as well as nutrients that help support joint health.
Pros
8% protein content from chicken and salmon
Low in fat and calories
Contains nutrient-dense ingredients
Supports skin, coat, and joint health
Cons
Premium price
Grain-free food
Contains mung beans
8% protein content from chicken and salmon
Low in fat and calories
Contains nutrient-dense ingredients
Supports skin, coat, and joint health
- 8% protein content from chicken and salmon
- Low in fat and calories
- Contains nutrient-dense ingredients
- Supports skin, coat, and joint health
Premium price
Grain-free food
Contains mung beans
- Premium price
- Grain-free food
- Contains mung beans
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Food for Your Chihuahua
The best place to start when choosing food for your Chihuahua is talking to your dog’s vet. However, you likely know your dog’s preferences better than anyone, so that can give you a great starting point when choosing a food. Knowing what types of flavors and textures your dog likes will help you narrow down the field of options.
Without first discussing it with your vet, it’s best to choose a food that contains grains and doesn’t contain legumes for your dog. Most dogs have sensitivities to proteins, like chicken and beef, and not to grains, so grain-free foods aren’t necessary for the majority of dogs. Legumes have shown a potential link to heart disease in dogs, so they should be avoided, especially high up in the ingredient list unless cleared by your vet.
Conclusion
These reviews are intended to help you find the perfect food for your Chihuahua, but your vet or a veterinary nutritionist will always be the best place to get this information.
The best overall pick is the Purina Pro Plan Focus Small Breed, which is a high-quality food formulated for small dogs. The more budget-friendly pick is the Purina Beneful Medleys, which is low in fat and calories, while the premium pick is Ollie’s Fresh Lamb With Cranberries, which is a great pick for dogs with skin, coat, and digestive problems.
For puppies, the Hill’s Science Diet Small Paws Puppy food, which supports the growth and development of small breed dogs. The vet’s pick is the Royal Canin Weight Care Loaf in Sauce, which is a great food for helping your dog maintain a healthy weight.
See also:
- 10 Best Puppy Foods for Chihuahuas
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
