Fat Chihuahuas are a bigger concern than any other breed of dog turning fat because even a little fat causes too much stress on their bodies. A healthy Chihuahua is supposed to weigh around 6 pounds. Apart from weight, there are other ways to find out if your Chihuahua is fat:
- Touch the abdomen of your pooch and try to examine if there are extra layers of fat.
- Another way is touching the shoulders and spine. If you cannot feel the bones easily, your Chihuahua is fat.
- Third way is to look at your pup from above (back of pup should be visible while he/she is standing). If you feel that the circumference around the belly is bigger and waist area is smaller than the abdomen area, your Chihuahua is fat.
Chihuahuas are a small breed of dogs and can grow upto 10 pounds, if not monitored. However, Gracie turned a whopping 42 pounds. She has lost some weight recently though. There is not one reason that causes fat chihuahua. Let’s understand all the causes in detail.
Overfeeding Makes Your Chihuahua Fat
Love is a very complex thing sometimes because it makes you feed your loved ones too much, which can be fatal as well at times. Overfeeding is a problem which makes many pets suffer. Their owners just keep feeding them as an expression of love, which makes them fat. Later, this obesity can cause more issues such as joint problems, diabetes, organ failure, etc.
It is a bigger problem for Chihuahuas because they need very less food, as they are small. Even a little extra makes too many calories for their small bodies. As a puppy, Chihuahuas may do well with little extra food because they are growing and playing a lot. But as they turn adult, their diets need to be changed as per the requirement. If you are not sure how much to feed them as they turn into an adult, consider reducing 10 to 60 calories per day.
Human Food Makes Chihuahuas Fat
Our food contains too many calories, sodium, and fat percentage, which is very unhealthy for Chihuahuas. Letting them eat from your plate, or serving them the same food as you eat can be very bad for their health.
Chihuahuas Need Exercise Too
Sometimes, even after giving the right amount of food, Chihuahuas turn fat because of the lack of exercise. Ideally, a Chihuahua must go on walk at least twice a day. Some people like to carry them in their hands, as they are very small and light, but this is not good for their health. Also, carrying them a lot may make them too relaxed and lazy.
Health Risks Associated With Fat Chihuahuas
Difficulty Breathing: Excess fat limits the expansion of lungs, which causes difficulty in breathing. Also, lungs do not function in full capacity.
Issues With Joints: Extra weight puts excessive strain on bones and joints, which might cause arthritis at a very young age. Severe back and spinal issues are also possible. Excessive weight may also lead to fractures, torn ligaments, slip discs, etc.
Diabetes: Just like us (humans), obesity may cause diabetes in Chihuahuas too. It is more difficult to handle diabetes with Chihuahuas, as they are like little children and cannot tell their symptoms. Also, we cannot explain anything to them, so that they can take care of a few things.
Heart Disease: Due to excessive fat, the heart is forced to pump extra blood. Fat puts too much pressure on vital organs. Obesity also leads to high blood pressure or hypertension issues.
You may want to check the weight tracker feature of DuePet’s app.
Overall, the quality and length of life decreases because of fat.
If your Chihuahua is doing everything right (good food and exercise), but still getting fat, it could be because of an underlying disease such as diabetes, inactive thyroid, cushing’s disease, etc. You must see your vet if a good diet and exercise is not able to keep your furry friend lean.
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FAQs
Most probably you are feeding your Chihuahua too much or he/she is not getting enough exercise. In extreme cases, your Chihuahua might be suffering through a disease like diabetes or thyroid, which might be making him/her fat.
A Chihuahua more than 6 pounds of weight is overweight.
Of course, less than those Chihuahuas who have a healthy weight. A healthy Chihuahua can live upto 15 to 20 years.
Fat Chihuahuas should be fed a high protein, low fat, and low calorie diet.
You can slim down your Chihuahua by giving him/her an ideal diet and enough exercise.
