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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)

The Xoloitzcuintli is a famously healthy, naturally lean dog with one outsized weakness: a serious love of food. Left to free-feed, a Xolo gains weight fast — and on a breed this lightly built, every extra pound presses on the joints and the heart.

Here is exactly how to feed a Xolo on freeze-dried raw: measured by weight and life stage, with the clean, whole-food nutrition that protects their sensitive skin, their joints, and that famously easy-to-tip waistline.

  • Adult weight10–55 lb
  • SizeSmall
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan13–18 years
  • CoatHairless (sensitive, exposed skin) — minimal to no shedding
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A healthy Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)'s body needs

Every Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless) trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Loves to eat, gains weight easily

    Needs: Measured portions, lean protein

    Calorie-dense freeze-dried raw is easy to weigh exactly, so a food-motivated Xolo gets a precise meal instead of a guessed one. Staying lean is the single biggest lever for a long, healthy life.

  • Bare, sensitive skin (no coat)

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids, whole-food nutrition

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting the supple, healthy skin a hairless dog depends on — no fur to protect it.

  • Acne-prone in adolescence

    Needs: Low-inflammation, minimally processed diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers and additives that can stoke skin inflammation, helping keep a young Xolo's face and muzzle clearer.

  • Lean, agile, athletic build

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    Real meat, organs and bone fuel lean muscle and steady energy for daily walks, runs and play — without the carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Hip & kneecap (patella) sensitivity

    Needs: Joint support + a lean frame

    Natural glucosamine and chondroitin from ground bone and cartilage, plus omega-3s, support the joints — and keeping a Xolo lean takes load off hips and knees.

How much to feed a Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)

Quick answer: a healthy adult Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless) (10–55 lb) needs about 1.5–8.3 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
10 lb 1.5 oz 0.8 oz
21 lb 3.2 oz 1.6 oz
32 lb typical Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless) 4.8 oz 2.4 oz
43 lb 6.5 oz 3.2 oz
55 lb 8.3 oz 4.1 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)

For a Xoloitzcuintli we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition. It's calorie-honest and easy to measure precisely, which is exactly what this food-loving breed needs.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod keep calories in check for a weight-prone Xolo, while omega-rich Salmon supports their bare, sensitive skin. Just add water and serve a measured portion.

Recipes for Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)s

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Daily support for Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)s

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Treats Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)s love

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Feeding a Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless) by life stage

  • Puppy: Xolo puppies should eat a complete, growth-appropriate diet across three or more small meals a day on a regular schedule until about 12 months. Feed to a healthy, not chubby, body condition — early overfeeding sets up a lifelong weight struggle in this hungry breed.
  • Adult: Shift to two measured meals a day, fed to a lean, visible waist. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not to your Xolo's appetite — they will always ask for more.
  • Senior: Xolos are long-lived (often 13–18 years). Activity dips but appetite rarely does, so trim portions, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting whole-food nutrition.

Common Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless) concerns — and the diet connection

  • ObesityThe breed's most common and most preventable issue — Xolos love to eat. Measured raw feeding and a consistently lean body condition lower the risk of arthritis, pancreatitis and the other problems excess weight invites.
  • Sensitive, exposed skinWith little or no coat, skin health is everything. An omega-rich, whole-food diet supports the skin barrier from the inside and helps keep a hairless dog's skin supple and comfortable.
  • Adolescent acneYoung Xolos are prone to breakouts on the lips and muzzle; a minimally processed, low-filler diet helps reduce the dietary inflammation that can make skin issues worse.
  • Hip dysplasia & patellar luxationLargely developmental, but a lean frame plus natural joint nutrients (glucosamine from bone and cartilage, omega-3) support day-to-day joint comfort and ease the load on hips and knees.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless): what to know

The breed's biggest feeding risk isn't a fragile constitution — it's appetite. Xolos love to eat and will happily talk you into seconds, so the single most important habit is scheduled, measured meals rather than a constantly full bowl.

Feed to body condition, not to the begging: on a healthy Xolo you should easily feel the ribs and see a clear waist from above. Because they come in toy, miniature and standard sizes, portion by your dog's actual weight and re-check it every few weeks.

Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless) feeding questions

How much should I feed my Xoloitzcuintli?
It depends on size — Xolos range from toy to standard. As a guide, freeze-dried raw is fed at roughly 0.15 oz per pound of body weight per day, so a 15 lb miniature needs around 2–2.5 oz and a 30 lb standard around 4.5 oz, split between two meals. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for a Xolo that loves to eat and gains weight?
A measured, complete freeze-dried raw diet of lean single proteins like Chicken or Cod makes portion control easy and keeps calories honest. Weigh each meal and feed to body condition rather than to your Xolo's very persuasive appetite.
Does diet help my hairless Xolo's skin?
It helps a lot. With no coat to protect it, a Xolo's skin relies on nutrition from within — an omega-rich, minimally processed whole-food diet supports the skin barrier and can help with the dryness and acne the breed is prone to. (Skin care like bathing and sun protection still matter too.)
How do I switch my Xolo to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Most food-loving Xolos take to it eagerly — it's rich, so start at the lower end of the range and watch the waistline.
Do Xolos need supplements?
A well-balanced raw diet covers most needs. That said, given the breed's joint sensitivities and bare skin, an omega supplement for skin and a joint supplement can be sensible support — and always follow your vet's guidance for your individual dog.

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  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.