The Dachshund is a favorite among many dog lovers; these German bred short-legged hunting dogs can trace their ancestry back to ancient Egypt. They are also a well-loved breed among royals, particularly Queen Victoria of England. They are playful, friendly and loyal, although some can be prone to being stubborn. They have an elongated body making them prime candidates to having spinal problems that can sometimes become worse because of obesity. Having a proper dog diet is very important for both the standard and the miniature sized Dachshund.

When it comes to Dachshund and obesity it is important to watch your dog’s diet and give it regular exercise. This will prevent your dog from gaining unnecessary weight, being overweight can put strain on the Dachshund’s spine, gravity puts pressure on the dogs back if there is too much weight, this can cause ruptured and slipped disks and other health problems affecting the dogs lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and joints. Being overweight can also affect your dog’s temperament, causing them to be inactive or lazy and even irritable. A physically fit Dachshund is an energetic, clever and fun to play with.

In maintaining your dog’s weight it is important to consult a veterinarian regarding the proper proportions, dog diet and overall care. It is also important to spot signs of obesity early on so that you can avoid further health problems. Take a good look at your dog’s body and pay special attention to the hips, waist, ribs, abdomen and neck. Check for fat deposits on your Dachshund’s ribs and waist, from the top view check if your dog’s waist is bigger than his ribs this is a sign that he is obese. From the sides, look at its waist and abdomen, if you do not see the waist curving towards the hind leg then your pet is too fat. The abdomen should not be hanging too close to the ground, and although they have a hotdog shaped body, it should be fairly even from head to tail without too much fat in the middle section.

Giving your Dachshund a proper dog diet is one of the best things you could do for your pet. Sometimes dog owners tend to feed their pet too much and some even consider their love handles to be a bit cute, but being overweight is a serious health problem for dogs too. Table feeding and giving unnecessary treats is a bad practice for both pets and owners that can create nutritional imbalance and bad eating habits. When giving treats, try using low-fat doggie biscuits or steamed vegetables. It is important to feed your Dachshund the correct amount of food based on his weight. Study the feeding instructions that come with dog food packages. Here is a simple chart that tells you how much to feed your dog for the whole day, it can be divided in two feedings for day and night.

Dog Size/ Weight ¾ Cup 1 Cup 1 ½ Cup 2 Cups

Rabbit - 6 pounds and below X

Minis - 7 to 12 pounds X

Tweenies - 13 to 16 pounds X

Standard - Small- 17 to 20 pounds X

Standard - Medium – 21to 29 pounds) X

Standard - Large - 30 pounds & above X

Apart from providing proper dog diet, make sure that your Dachshund is also getting the right amount of exercise. Take him on daily walks around the neighborhood or play fetch with him in the park. This helps both his weight and socialization ensuring that you have a happy and healthy dog.