Senior Chihuahua losing weight & won't eat

A 12-year-old Chihuahua losing weight gradually is something I'd want to get on top of quickly — in small breeds, even half a kilo matters a lot, and a fading appetite at this age usually has a fixable cause. Before I suggest anything, can I ask a couple of things? What food has she been on for the last five years — wet, dry, or mixed? And has the vet ruled out anything like dental pain or kidney issues, or has that not been looked at recently?

That pattern — loved it for years, now turning her nose up — is really common in older small dogs, and there are a few things happening at once. Kibble becomes less appealing as dogs age because their sense of smell dulls and chewing can become uncomfortable if teeth are sore, which is extremely common in Chihuahuas. Gradual weight loss alongside appetite drop is worth a vet check, I won't dance around that — kidney function and dental health are both worth ruling out at 12. But while you're sorting that, the food itself is almost certainly part of the problem. Does she ever show more interest in wet food, or anything with stronger smells like chicken or fish?

That tells me a lot — she still has appetite, it's the food format and palatability letting her down. Dry kibble at 12, especially for a Chihuahua, is often just too hard to make appealing enough. I'd switch her to Royal Canin Chihuahua Adult 8+ in the wet loaf or mousse format. It's breed-specific, designed for the tiny jaw and teeth of a Chihuahua, and the 8+ version is formulated for senior metabolic needs — higher protein to help maintain muscle mass, plus ingredients to support kidney and heart health which are the two systems that matter most at this age. The soft texture makes it much easier to eat if there's any dental discomfort, and the smell is noticeably stronger than most dry foods, which really helps with dogs whose appetite drive has faded. Royal Canin Chihuahua 8+ wet is available in multipacks on Amazon UK — I'd start with a small pack to see how she responds before committing. Warm it slightly before serving, just to room temperature, and you'll get even more interest from her.

Royal Canin's pouches for this range are 85g, and for a Chihuahua at maintenance weight you'd typically be looking at one to one and a half pouches a day split across two meals. Because she's lost weight and you want to help her rebuild, I'd aim for the higher end — one and a half pouches daily — and split it morning and evening. Don't free-feed, keep meals timed so you can monitor how much she's actually eating. If after a week she's consistently finishing her bowl, that's a really good sign. If she's still leaving food, that's when I'd push the vet visit up the priority list, because at that point something else may be going on beyond just palatability.

Perfect combination — the vet check is genuinely the right call at 12, and switching to the wet food gives you something positive to do right now while you wait for the appointment. Chihuahuas can live well into their mid-teens with the right support, and catching a weight dip early is exactly the right time to act. Hope she takes to it straight away.