It is very important to keep us fit and not fat. My owner should adopt a mixed regime of on-and-off leash exercises. As I grow from a puppy to an adult, my owner should also increase the amount of exercise. It is also very important that I am fed a well-balanced diet, which is suitable for my lifestyle.
You can also consider getting me spayed or neutered after giving it a lot of thought. You should also ask your vet about my ideal body condition score, and for tips to follow in making sure that I live a long and healthy life and as such, won’t need to be taken to the vet more often.
My breed has shorter legs and a longer back. We originated in Germany as hunting dogs. In order to take care of me and to protect me from disease, it is important that you are aware of my special needs, which include a predisposition to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). Taking care of me includes helping me maintain a healthy weight, teaching me good habits and following grooming recommendations. In order to learn the ways to protect me from diseases, read on.
Protecting My Back
Like other small dogs, I have a higher risk of developing IVDD. With this disease, the cushioning between my vertebrae bursts or bulges out, resulting in severe stress on the vertebrae. This disease can cause severe pain, bladder control problems, and even paralysis. In order to reduce the risk of your dachshund developing IVDD, there are certain precautions that you can take. For example, learn to recognize the symptoms of IVDD so that you will become immediately aware if there is a problem. A vet should be contacted right away of you observe any of these symptoms:
- Trouble standing
- A change in activity level, like not running or jumping
- Crying out in pain
- Reduction in appetite
- Losing control of bladder or bowels
- Hunching back
Help Me Maintain A Healthy Weight
If I am overweight, I will have a higher risk of developing IVDD. I should be given the right diet and provided a lot of exercise. To see if I am at a healthy weight, you should stand over me and look down. If you can see my ribs, I am too thin, and I need to put on some weight. If you cannot see my bones, but you can feel them when you touch me, it means that I am of a healthy weight. If you are not able to see or feel my ribs, it means that I am overweight. I should also have a tapered waist, instead of a belly that hangs down.
You should talk to the vet to determine how much weight I should lose or gain. The vet can also tell you how much food you should give me so that I can achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Furthermore, you should walk me every day and play with me. Treats are to be given to me in moderation. You can also consider feeding me weight-maintenance food if I have become too heavy.
The Right Food
My chances of staying healthy are greatly increased if I eat the right food. If you feed me food that is homemade, it should contain a combination of vegetables, meat, bone, and other tasty supplements. Once you have decided what to give me, you next need to decide: raw or cooked? If you want to give me raw food, but do not want to prepare the food yourself, it is possible to purchase pre-made food from the market. Commercial raw food comes in frozen or freeze-dried form. These foods can also be ordered online or purchased from the nearest pet store. The food simply needs to be defrosted and served. Similarly, bags of freeze-dried raw food can also be found on the shelf and can be served by simply adding water.
Learn how to hold me
Holding me the right way will also help protect my back. In order to avoid injuring me, you should support my rear end with one hand and the other hand should be placed under my belly. You can practice with something light before you decide to hold me. Remember: never hold me with only one hand or hold me by the paws or the head.
Helping Me Go Up And Down The Stairs
Considerable pressure is put on my back when I go up and down stairs. Over time, such stress may result in the development of IVDD. In general, stairs are too tall for me to go up and down without causing stress on my back. You should carry me whenever you would like me to come up or down the stairs. In order to prevent me from going up or down the stairs on my own, you can put a baby gate. You can also consider installing ramps for small steps in case I have to go up and down routinely.
Don't Allow Me To Jump On Furniture Or Other High Places
Jumping also places considerable pressure on my back and this may increase my chances of developing IVDD. As such, you should not allow me to jump from high places like a sofa or a bed. If you want me to get up on your lap, you should lift me up yourself and not encourage me to jump up. It is also a good idea to consider some furniture ramps if you want me to be able to get on the sofa when you are not around.
Use A Harness To Walk Me Around
If I pull you when you take me out for walks, I am causing excess strain on my vertebrae, which can also result in developing IVDD. Therefore, you should attach my leash to a harness instead of my collar. This will reduce the stress on my back and also help eliminate this risk factor for developing IVDD.
Conclusion
Some of these suggestions may appear very simplistic or a little extreme, but these are some practical suggestions that were shared by doctors and others who routinely care for dachshunds.
