I could do with some advice from you lovely people please My daughter has a 9 month old Chihuahua who seems to be losing weight. I wouldn't say Mirabelle is a fussy dog but she has definite likes and dislikes, for instance she hates puppy food and will only eat 'big dog' food (the stuff in tins -Butchers tripe at the moment). Obviously tinned dog food is quite low in calories and Mibs isn't getting enough from it. The biggest problem is that she really doesn't like biscuit, she turns her nose up at Royal Canin Chihuahua bobbles, small bite mixer, James Wellbeloved puppy food etc. In fact the only carbohydrate she really likes is Royal Canin Maine Coon bobbles!
Anybody got any ideas for getting a bit of weight on her? I have had many dogs over the years, some fussy, some not but I've never had a problem finding something they really like....

Are you sure it is the dog's diet? I personally would check out any weight loss with the vet as it could be caused by all sorts of things, including dental problems or a more serious health issue. It may just be diet, but best to be on the safe side.

Tinned dog food is not low in calories, I would get the dog to the vet if weight is being lost as chihuahuas can go down hill fast if it is not the diet at fault. BTW how many meals per day is she having ? Our late chi Rosie always needed 3 or 4 meals a day her entire life to give her enough calories as her tummy was so tiny and she was always on the go.

Thanks both she was checked by the vet very recently and pronounced healthy. We feed her as often as she wants but she has the attention span of a gnat and loses interest very quickly. I know tinned food isn't exactly a slimming food but it has less calories for its bulk than, for instance, Chihuahua bobbles. It may be that I am just not used to dogs that aren't keen on carbohydrates, my other dogs are Chows and they do best on a high(ish) carbohydrate diet.
I also suspect we need to be a little bit stricter about snacking on empty calories between meals. Oh, and she is just coming to the end of her first season, which hasn't helped!

agree with the above vet check first especially if her diet hasnt changed and she is eating the same amount of food she shouldnt be losing weight

chappie is really good for weight gain, or maybe try naturediet wet food

i know you said about the vet, but could your pup have worms ? That makes you loose weight.

I still recommend a visit to the vet but being in season she would have needed extra calories to keep her weight, our Molliepops lost a lot of weight when she had her first and only season.

Unfortunately she is not a fan of naturediet, the Chows are though.
She's been wormed recently and will be going back to the vet next week as one of the Chows needs a checkup.
She was a bit 'off' when her season was in full swing, she's back to normal now and eating with a bit more enthusiasm this evening.
Thanks all

I agree about the Vet check

But don't get drawn into the belief that dogs need carbs. They certainly don't - they can process calories from protein better.

Try her on a top quality food like Orijen - completely grain & filler free. 70% meat, 30% veg. In a 'normal' dog, a little goes a long way. In your pup, a little should fatten her up nicely. Additionally, try feeding her cheap mince - raw or boiled - quite a fatty food, should get some cals in Oily fish are good too.

You can also try a suppliment like 'NurishYum' which is jam packed full of calories and vitamins.

Hope she gets some weight on her - my littlest dog is only 3.5kg, the difference between 'nice' and 'skinny' is only a few hundred grams - a couple of meals. Luckily she isn't picky at all - though she would just eat cat and fox poop if she could

I think the carbohydrate thing is a hangover from having Chows for 30 years, they really do need a low protein/high carb diet or they get awful skin problems. Obviously does not apply to Chihuahuas! Mibs is 2,5kg, so as you say a couple of meals and you really see the difference. I like the sound of NurishYem, where do you get it?
I'll weigh her tonight and again on Sunday, if she's lost a few g it'll be off to the vet on Monday.

Pets @ home stock NurishYum

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/nouri...chappell-32701

Thanks, I'll get some next time I'm in there. I've just weighed her and she's 2.66 kg, that's pretty good as the vet predicted, when Mibs was tiny, that her adult weight would be between 2.25 and 2.75 kg. As she's 9 months old she must be just about fully grown.

2,7kg last night so she is obviously back to normal
Thanks for the help and advice.