If kept on a strict and regular feeding routine with no human tidbits or leftovers included, Chihuahuas should not have much of a problem with weight gain. However, due to the Chihuahua’s tiny size and their child-like ability to bend even the most stern owners to their will by begging, they are quite often overfed. Some owners have the propensity to drop little treats or bits of food from the table to their dogs throughout the day. This may not make too much of a difference for a larger dog, but all of this extra food visibly puts pounds on a tiny Chihuahua.

Therefore, if you have an overweight, unfit Chihuahua the first thing to look at would be the food intake of your dog. Are you giving the Chihuahua extra treats, snacks, or full meals throughout the day? Are you feeding it fatty and unhealthy human food such as dinner leftovers? In many cases you’ll find that you have been overfeeding your Chihuahua without realizing it.

Exercising your Chihuahua

For truly obese Chihuahuas, simply cutting down on unnecessary food intake may not be enough to help it shed those pounds as quickly as possible. Obese pets are known to suffer from lack of energy and stamina, so your Chihuahua is still likely to not be getting enough exercise to shed the pounds. Exercising your Chihuahua will not only help the weight loss effort, but can rekindle its spark and desire to play and run. Try the following games and activities with your Chihuahua:

• Playing fetch- Use small balls and toys that your Chihuahua can easily grasp in its mouth, but not choke on.
• Train to “come”- Kill two birds in one stone with a few 5-10 minutes obedience training sessions throughout the day. Position your Chihuahua on one side of the room or backyard and call it from the other side. Not only will this help your dog’s recall, but get your dog some running time as well.
• Play Chase- Play a game of chase with your Chihuahua, getting your pet to chase you as you’re running away (I wouldn’t recommend running after your Chihuahua – with its tiny size you don’t want to risk stepping on your dog).
• Go for a Walk- Go for a walk around the block with your Chihuahua.

Obesity can cause serious health problems in dogs. Weight gain and loss can also be caused by underlying health problems. If your Chihuahua is obese or experiences sudden weight gain or weight loss, it is always recommended to take it to a vet for a checkup.