If you are going to bring a dachshund into your home, it is very likely that you will love this adorable little dog. You will instantly connect with its playfulness, love, and cuddles.
One of the things that you might be thinking about is - how can I improve the dachshund lifespan? The truth is while there is a dachshund life expectancy of about 12 years, there are numerous ways that you can improve your dog’s lifespan.
In fact, some dachshunds will live to be 17 years of age or older. If you can keep your dog healthy, get them exercise, and follow all the tips on how to increase your pet's longevity, you can increase the lifespan of your dachshund wiener dog.
Diet Tips
Now that you know the average life of a dachshund, it is time to learn the best ways to increase the lifespan of your dachshund wiener dog. First, you will want to focus on their diet. Your pet needs better food for a better life.
There are so many different foods that you can get for a dachshund such as organic dog food and grain-free dog food. You might be confused about what type of food you are supposed to get for your dachshund wiener dog. You might even decide that you want to cook for your dachshund.
To increase the dachshund life expectancy for your dog, the quality of your dog's food matters so be sure their diet mainly consists of protein with a little fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals added in. You can always check with your dog’s veterinarian to figure out what food they recommend giving your dog.
There are some foods that you should avoid giving your dog if you want to increase their dachshund life expectancy. Some of the foods that your dachshund should never eat include the following:
- Coffee, chocolate
- Xylitol (usually found in peanut butter, sweets, and different processed foods)
- Onions
- Avocado
- Moldy foods
- Citrus
- Salt
- Grapes (check with your veterinarian for a full list)
These foods can cause effects such as diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. Some of them can even cause death.
Exercising
Part of caring for your dog is making sure that they're getting enough physical activity. Exercising is another great way to increase the dachshund life expectancy. It is just as important as the food you give to your dachshund wiener dog. Exercising helps to strengthen your dog’s heart, muscles, joints, and improve their overall well-being. In addition, when making sure your dachshund gets enough exercise, they will have more energy which improves their daily lifestyle, as well. There are many different ways that you can ensure your dog is exercising enough. Some of the ways to do this include the following:
- Walking regularly (you can walk around your own yard, go to a local park, walk around your neighborhood, or take them to a dog park)
- Hunting games (you can play hide and seek with your dog using their toys
- Place toys or treats in harder to reach areas (so they have to work for it - don’t make it too difficult though)
- Swimming
These are some of the best exercises to have your dachshund dog partake in regularly.
Regular Vet Appointments
You should also make sure your dog is going to the vet at scheduled times. Your dog will need their vaccinations, deworming, possible flea medication (if they have fleas), and exams to ensure they are in good health.
Making sure your dachshund is seen at least once a year by the vet is a good idea. This way, if there is anything going on with your dachshund, the vet can catch it early. This way proper treatment can be given to help improve the dachshund life expectancy. Depending on the vet that sees your dog, they might recommend bringing them in more than once a year.
It is important to talk to the vet about any concerns you might have about your dachshund. Anything that you are concerned about should be brought up. For instance, if your dachshund is scratching a lot, it could be the food or something else could be going on. Getting this figured out with the help of the vet can improve your dog’s overall well-being and possibly help them to live longer, as well.
Conclusion
Currently, dachshund life expectancy is about 12 years of age. However, there are many things you can do to help your dachshund to live longer. You should start by making sure that you are feeding your dachshund appropriately. They need to have enough protein in their diet, along with some fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, you should make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. You should also make sure you are taking your dachshund to the vet regularly. They need to get their vaccinations, possible medications, and exams to ensure they are in good health. These three tips can help your dachshund wiener dog to live a healthier and longer life. If at any time, you have concerns about your dachshund, be sure to contact your vet to talk about these concerns.
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