Admin 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 the best wet food for your small but mighty best friend.
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The 11 Best Wet Dog Foods for Chihuahuas
1. Ollie Fresh Lamb Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Lamb, butternut squash, lamb liver, chickpeas, kale |
| Protein content: | 10% |
| Fat content: | 7% |
| Calories: | 1,804 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 top pick for wet dog food for Chihuahuas.
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.
All in all, we think this is the best wet dog food for Chihuahuas that is currently available.
2. Purina IncrediBites Variety Pack Canned Dog Food — Budget Buy
| Main ingredients: | Beef broth, chicken broth, chicken |
| Protein content: | 11% |
| Fat content: | 5% |
| Calories: | 86 kcal/can |
If you need budget-friendly wet dog food for Chihuahuas, consider 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. This is the best canned wet dog food for Chihuahuas if you’re on a tight budget.
3. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Real Chicken, Turkey, or Beef |
| Protein content: | 38-41% |
| Fat content: | 26-32% |
| Calories: | 282-361 kcal/serving |
If you only want to give your Chihuahua the very best wet dog food, take a look at The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food. The Farmer’s Dog uses human-grade food in all their recipes, including the meats, vegetables, and other ingredients they source. Not only does the company use the best ingredients, but their recipes are also simple, minimally cooked, and processed the way nature intended.
The cooking and preparation The Farmer’s Dog uses are also geared towards providing your Chihuahua with superior nutrition to fuel its active lifestyle. Their wet dog foods are cooked in a way that protects the natural nutritional value of the food so that it can be passed to your pup. The nutritional value of all of their wet dog food for Chihuahuas exceeds the standards set by the AAFCO, which means your furry friend will be getting a lot more vitamins, minerals, and protein.
What’s genuinely different about this company and its wet dog food, however, is what they don’t put in their food. You won’t find preservatives of any kind, and none of their protein sources is a “meal.” Also, The Farmer’s Dog plainly labels their wet dog food and is 100% transparent. Again, if you only want to give your cheerful Chihuahua high-quality dog food, try our #3 choice, The Farmer’s Dog. It’s real food from a company that cares about your dog and its health.
4. Cesar Puppy Classic Loaf in Sauce
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken liver, beef lung |
| Protein content: | 9% |
| Fat content: | 6% |
| Calories: | 113 kcal/tray |
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.
5. Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Lamb and chicken broth, liver, lamb |
| Protein content: | 10% |
| Fat content: | 3% |
| Calories: | 350 kcal/can |
Purina’s ONE SmartBlend Adult Canned Dog Food is a good pick 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 of 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.
6. Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken broth, turkey, carrots |
| Protein content: | 8% |
| Fat content: | 9% |
| Calories: | 253 kcal/can |
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin is another good choice for wet dog food. It suits dogs with stomach issues and keeps their skin and coats 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, 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.
7. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver |
| Protein content: | 5% |
| Fat content: | 5% |
| Calories: | 398 kcal/can |
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.
8. Cesar Classic Loaf in Sauce Variety Pack Dog Food Trays
| Main ingredients: | Beef, chicken, chicken liver |
| Protein content: | 9% |
| Fat content: | 4% |
| Calories: | 91% and 105% |
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.
9. Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken Grain & Gluten Free Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, water, potato starch |
| Protein content: | 10% |
| Fat content: | 4% |
| Calories: | 5268 kcal/can |
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.
10. Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Adult Dog Canned Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, water, liver |
| Protein content: | 9% |
| Fat content: | 6% |
| Calories: | 442 kcal/can |
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.
11. Merrick Lil’Plates Mini Medley Variety Pack
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, beef, deboned turkey, broth |
| Protein content: | 8% |
| Fat content: | 3% |
| Calories: | 93% and 97% |
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 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.
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 food that will keep your pup healthy and happy. Here’s what you should consider when looking for the best wet dog food, canned or fresh, for your Chihuahua.
Canned or Fresh?
There are multiple types of wet dog food, but the two on our list are fresh and canned. Fresh wet dog foods offer excellent nutrition and hydration, with premium proteins and gentle, nutrient-preserving cooking. Of course, all of that comes at a higher price, and these foods typically require refrigerator and freezer space. Canned wet dog foods are easy to serve and store, and you can typically pick them up at any pet food store or even your local grocery. However, they are more likely to contain meat meal, byproducts, and unhealthy fillers.
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 canned wet food for Chihuahuas 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 feed your Chihuahua food without grains, you may not want to 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 Ollie’s Fresh Lamb With Cranberries, which is a great pick for dogs with skin, coat, and digestive problems and is an all-around high-quality food formulated for small dogs. For a budget option, try Purina Beneful IncrediBites Variety Pack, which is a good canned wet dog food at a very reasonable price.
The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food is another great choice for dogs with stomach and skin issues.
We hope that these reviews will help you find tasty and healthy food for your Chihuahua so both of you will be happy.
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Featured Image Credit: Vitaly Titov, Shutterstock
