Feeding a Dachshund – What’s the best diet for a happy and healthy dog?
Dachshund diet and exercise, is obviously an important thing to get right.
As you’ve probably found, there’s lots of advice around when it comes to finding out about feeding a dachshund. It’s important to emphasise at this point that for any dog, one size DOES NOT fit all, and this is also true when it comes to feeding a Dachshund.
The dog’s age, size, medical condition, and personal preference will all play a part in making a decision on what and how much to feed your Dachshund.
A bit like us humans, every dog is different in the type of food they’ll like to eat and you may find that their preferences change as they get older too.
Feeding a dachshund – Adult Dog
Some dogs will enjoy soft, canned food over hard kibble but the important thing is to make sure that they get all the nutrients and minerals they need. This is vital to aid their growth and development.
You’ll find there are a few brands that make food specifically tailored to your Dachshund, one such example is Royal Canin dog food – These tailored foods tend to have an adapted calcium and phosphorus content to help aid bones and joints which is important for a dachshund.
Obviously, there’s a huge amount of choice when it comes to dog foods, and if you’re interested in feeding a dachshund correctly, it’s always worth checking the ingredients of any food you’re thinking of using.
Ideally, you want a moderately high percentage of protein with a relatively low water percentage to ensure the dog is getting enough calories from the food.
(You might want to change this to lower levels of protein should your dog become overweight as they’re probably getting too many calories from their current diet).
When feeding a dachshund, it’s important to include a source of Vitamin D in the diet to prevent the occurrence of rickets and it may be a good idea to introduce some Omega 3 such as DHA or EFA which can be found in fish oils. Some recent studies have suggested there’s a link between low Omega 3 levels in the diet and aggression, something you don’t want to see from your dachshund!
Grains such as Soy often bulk out food and this is good in small percentages as it allows for waste products to be moved through the large intestine and be excreted (creating good, firm stools).
Unfortunately, though, this is a source of insoluble fibre which can’t be digested by your dog. This could leave your dachshund not feeling as full as it could be leading to overeating and weight gain.
Equally, these bulking elements of dog food, are lacking in the nutrients and calories they need. So it’s well worth checking this aspect of the food you’re considering.
It’s been known for some dogs to develop allergies associated with grain food so grain-free food may be a better option. On the downside to this, some research appears to have found a suspected link between grain-free food and heart disease.
So as you can see, it’s a bit of a minefield. At the end of the day, all you can do is get as much advice as you can, your vet will happy to help you out, so maybe do a little research, and find out what your dog likes from the healthy choices you discover.
Raw Food Diets
When it comes to feeding a dachshund a raw-food diet, there are different points to consider.
Originally, of course, dogs were bred as carnivores but have now adapted to eat not just meat but also larger volumes of carbohydrates found in vegetables, etc.
There are some potential benefits from a raw-food diet, such as shinier coats, healthier skin, and higher energy levels which comes with the high protein content.
There is a risk, though, that not all of your dog’s nutritional needs will be met. For example, not enough calcium and phosphorus, essential for bone development & health.
So if you are considering a raw-food diet for your dachshund, it’s probably worth seeking out the advice of a nutritionist. Many vet practices typically have them as part of their team or can refer you if not.
Feeding a Dachshund Puppy
As you’d imagine, energy demands for a puppy are high and so your puppy’s diet should contain high levels of protein. Be careful not to overdo it though, as this can lead to weight gain which is of course something to avoid.
What’s the best food for a dachshund puppy? As you’d imagine, energy demands for a puppy are high and so your puppy’s diet should contain high levels of protein. Be careful not to overdo it though, as this can lead to unwanted excessive fat accumulation which is of course something to avoid.
The rate of growth for your dachshund puppy will be high and they normally their adult maturity by between 8-12 months.
At this point, you should look at changing their diet, in particular decreasing the amount of protein as energy demands decrease.
It’s a good idea to give your puppy a good quality complete diet to be sure that they get all the nutrients they need during this crucial time of development. If you’re using specialist puppy feed, make sure to follow the guidelines on the pack to ensure they’re getting everything they need (but also not too much)!