The maths, with your numbers
No guesswork and no brand chart. This is the same calculation a vet does on paper, so you can check it.
A healthy adult Chihuahua weighs up to 6 lb (AKC official breed standard). Below are daily amounts for that range, for a typical dry dog food (382 kcal per cup, the middle of the dog foods in our list). For your own food, use the calculator above: it is already set to a Chihuahua weight.
| Weight | Couch potato | Spayed or neutered | Very active |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 lb 1.4 kg | ¼ cup29 g · 106 kcal | ⅜ cup39 g · 141 kcal | ½ cup48 g · 176 kcal |
| 4.5 lb 2.0 kg | ⅜ cup39 g · 143 kcal | ½ cup52 g · 191 kcal | ⅝ cup65 g · 239 kcal |
| 6 lb 2.7 kg | ½ cup49 g · 178 kcal | ⅝ cup65 g · 237 kcal | ¾ cup81 g · 297 kcal |
Daily totals with no treats. Worked out from resting energy (70 × kg0.75) and the AAHA 2021 life-stage factors. Weight source note: Not to exceed 6 pounds.
Good to know
The AKC sums up the Chihuahua in three words: charming, graceful, sassy. How active yours really is matters more for the bowl than the breed name, so pick the column that fits your own dog.
Toy dogs eat so little that a single extra spoonful is a large share of the day. Weighing the food on kitchen scales is worth it here.