Best treats for a Chihuahua
A Chihuahua's tiny size means treats need to be genuinely small and low in calories relative to their body weight, since even a couple of standard-sized dog treats can be a meaningful chunk of a Chihuahua's daily food intake. Given the breed's well-known tendency toward dental problems, a treat that supports chewing and gum health is often a sensible pick alongside the purely tasty ones.
Why size and calorie content matter more for a Chihuahua
Chihuahuas typically weigh only a couple of kilograms, so their entire daily calorie needs are a fraction of a medium or large breed's, which means treats have to be sized and portioned accordingly. A treat that would barely register for a Labrador can be a significant proportion of a Chihuahua's daily intake, so training treats broken into small pieces, or treats specifically made small, are worth prioritising over anything bulky.
Weight gain is easy to miss on such a small frame until it becomes noticeable, so keeping total treat intake to a genuinely small proportion of the day's food, and factoring treats into overall feeding rather than adding them on top, helps keep a Chihuahua at a healthy weight.
Dental health is a real consideration
Chihuahuas are commonly prone to dental crowding and gum problems, partly because of how small their jaws are relative to the number of teeth they carry, so a dental chew or dental stick alongside regular tooth brushing is a sensible addition to their treat rotation rather than an optional extra.
Soft, easily broken treats are worth choosing over anything that could pose a choking risk for such a small mouth, and it is worth supervising a Chihuahua with any new chew the first few times to see how they manage it.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats
Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.
From£12.99
Dried Catnip & Cat Grass Leaf Treats
A tub of dried catnip and cat grass leaves to sprinkle over toys, scratchers and bedding.
From£8.99
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with salmon, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Creamy Adult Cat & Kitten Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Creamy lickable salmon treats for cats and kittens, in a 40g pack with taurine
£1.59
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Dreamies Shakeups Seafood Celebrations Cat Treats
Complementary Dreamies Shakeups tuna, salmon and shrimp treats, 55G
£2.05
Common questions
- How many treats can I give my Chihuahua in a day?
- Keep treats to no more than around ten percent of your Chihuahua's total daily food intake, which for such a small dog often means only a treat or two, broken into small pieces. Adjust your dog's main meals down slightly on days with more training treats.
- Are dental chews suitable for Chihuahuas?
- Many are, but check the size guidance on the pack, since a chew sized for a medium or large dog can be too big or hard for a Chihuahua's small jaw and teeth. Look for treats specifically labelled for small or toy breeds.
- Why does my Chihuahua have bad breath?
- Dental crowding and a build-up of plaque are common in small breeds like Chihuahuas, and persistent bad breath is often a sign of dental disease rather than just something to mask with treats. It is worth having your vet check your dog's teeth if bad breath is ongoing.
Related
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.