Dachshund Lovers Are You Aware That What You Are Feeding Your Dachshund Could Be Harming Them?
I know I was not. We love our Dachshunds and only want the best for them yet I failed on the one part of his life that he needs most – health. Because I was ignorant about what he was eating.
My friends, family and the Dachshund Rescue Organization that I foster for know I am a huge Dachshund lover and I want nothing more than for my own little Dachshund to be happy and healthy. Most people I meet when we are out for our walk remember me because of my Dachshunds.
A couple of years ago Dachshund Luke got very sick and needed an emergency operation. It was a scary and frightening experience to watch my healthy little one become so sick and lethargic.
As if this was not bad enough I was shocked to find out that the dog food I was feeding him had caused it all. His vet explained that the food that I was feeding Dachshund Luke was too rich for him, contained too much fat and had cause his stomach to swell up with acid and a blockage in the tiny tube leading into it. I thank god that he survived the operation but it was a long seven day stay at the vets and nearly a month of recovery at home before he was truly back to his old self. He has a scar that runs the whole length of his little belly. This is my reminder to not blindly trust but to learn.
To watch a healthy dog become so sick and nearly lose them is an experience I never want to go through again. I still feel so guilty for feeding him the cute little cans of expensive dog food and not even having any inkling that it might be harming him. I am so grateful that I was able to pay for the large vet bill.
Since then he has been on a combination of prescription food, dog food that I trust and homemade. He occasionally gets sick due to finding and eating something he shouldn’t but we are very vigilant now and do all we can to keep him healthy and yes I have to admit spoilt – but not with food and treats that I no longer trust.
I am an internet addict so this experience sent me hunting on websites to try to find out what was in the dog food I was feeding him. Then when the dog food recall happened more horrid truths came out.
I have put together an article on all the information that I could find to give to people who adopt our foster Dachshunds and have at last had time to get it on the web so all Dachshund lovers can be informed. I feel strongly about giving our Dachshunds the best, healthy life that we can. Health starts with the food that we feed them. We should all be aware what is in the food they are eating so that we can make informed decisions.
K”>http://ezinearticles.com/?Dachshund-Lovers-Are-You-Aware-That-What-You-Are-Feeding-Your-Dachshund-Could-Be-Harming-Them?&id=2876985″>K Larson Increase your Dachshunds lifespan by being informed.
Make sure you are only feeding them what they need for a long healthy life.
Visit What Am I Feeding My Dachshund today.
The Ugly Dachshund trailer, Great Dane 1966 Disney
Theatrical trailer from the 1966 Walt Disney film The Ugly Dachshund staring a Great Dane and many Dachshunds. Also staring Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette who recently died at age 70. Based on the 1938 novel by Gladys Bronwyn Stern. Story of a Great Dane who is raised with Dachshunds and thinks he is one. You can buy the DVD on www.amazon.com Thanks for watching!
Dachshund Meetup – April 09
Image taken on 2009-04-26 12:51:36 by Pathfinder Linden.
Baby Dachshund
Black and tan dapple dachshund. Born March 19. Largest in a litter of four.
shaded english cream long haired dachshund 6 months
Image taken on 2008-11-29 21:46:48 by “Soggydan” Dan Bennett.
Grooming a Long Haired Dachshund
Dachshund’s coats come in a variety of colors and lengths, with the long-haired Dachshund requiring the most intensive grooming process. This is not to say that one should be put off from owning a long-haired Dachshund, only that it requires a little more effort than the other, shorter coat varieties. It is not a difficult process, but it is important to regularly brush, trim, and clean the coat of the long-hair.
Many people mistakenly believe that long-haired Dachshunds shed more than their short- and wiry-haired counterparts. This is not true! All three versions of the breed shed equally, but the long-haired Dachshund’s shedding can be slightly more obvious because their hair is in fact so long. The long-haired variety of Dachshund also has an undercoat, which is thinner and lighter. This undercoat may become a nuisance during shedding seasons, as it can pile up in the carpeting and upholstery pretty quickly!
Frequent brushing of the undercoat and topcoat will help to minimize shedding. In the summers, when the shedding season is upon us, your Dachshund may need to be groomed daily. In the winter, when the breed retains its coat and undercoat for warmth, brushing can be less frequent. Different regions can result in different grooming needs for these dogs. They are very adaptable, but if you live in an area where it is warm year round, you will have to groom accordingly.
Brushing is not an arduous process. In fact, it can be an enjoyable bonding experience for both you and your dog. Combing and brushing the fur will help clear out dead hair and stimulate the skin. The long-haired Dachshund has the standard short and smooth fur on their faces and heads, which will not require brushing. Regular petting for these areas will have the same benefits as brushing for the long coat on the rest of their bodies.
When brushing your long-haired Dachshund, it is very important to pay attention to the trouble spots – areas that are prone to matting and collecting debris. The “skirt” (the hair that hangs down from your Dachshund’s torso), the underarms, and the tail are all likely to collect dust, dirt, and other junk found on walks or inside the house, and are most prone to matting. Regular, even daily brushing of these areas is absolutely essential, especially if your dog is exposed to nature regularly. Twigs and stickers can become very painful nuisances if not removed right away!
As with most breeds, it is also important to keep the hair between the digits of their paws trimmed and clean. This hair can grow very long on Dachshunds and can make it difficult for them to walk if they accidentally pick up some debris.
Dachshunds have been known to get into some terrible messes and roll around in whatever smells bad, but one must be sure not to over-bathe the long-haired variety, as they can be very prone to dry skin. Finding an unscented, natural dog shampoo for sensitive skin will help alleviate this problem, especially if your pup has a penchant for finding the mud.
Of course, the best method of discerning how often and intensively any long-haired Dachshund needs to be groomed is careful observation. If you spend lots of time with your dog and pay careful attention to his or her coat, you will know when he or she needs to be brushed.
This article was written by John Jackson and has been contributed by http://www.greatdogsite.com. For more information on the Dachshund, please visit our page http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Dachshund/.
The Dachshund — A Companion rather than a Hunter
The Dachshund is an elongated, vigorous, muscular dog with short legs. This is a member of the hound family. In fact, the name Dachshund is German for “badger dog,” indicating why these dogs were originally bred – to hunt badgers. Due to the long, narrow build, they are sometimes referred to as a wiener dog or a sausage dog. This is a lively breed with a friendly personality and keen sense of smell. A very intuitive dog, the Dachshund is now most commonly seen as a companion rather than a hunter.
The Dachshund puppies is well-balanced with bold and confident head carriage and intelligent, alert facial expression. Their head is elongated, their skull is slightly convex, and their long muzzle features a robust set of jaws. Their teeth close in a scissors bite and their oval-shaped eyes are dark in color. They have arched prominent eyebrows and long ears that are mobile and hang toward the cheeks. His hunting spirit, good nose, loud tongue and distinctive build make him well-suited for below-ground work and for beating the bush. They have a wide variety of colors and patterns. They can be single-colored, single colored with spots (“dappled”), and single-colored with tan points plus any pattern. Dachshunds also come in Piebald. The piebald has a white background with various shades of brown. The dominant color is red, the most common along with black and tan.
When looking for dachshund puppies, you will have three varieties to select from, these being the long haired, the short haired, and the wired haired. Each of these is also available in two different sizes. The standard or normal size is between 16 and 32 pounds and the miniature size is up to eleven pounds. The Longhaired Dachshund has a long and straight coat, with hair slightly feathered and longer on the underbelly, ears, chest, and legs. The Smooth Coat has a straight, smooth, short, and glossy coat that should all be of equal length along the body of the dog. The Wirehaired has a coat of broken appearance with wiry, coarse, and harsh hair. All Dachshund varieties are average shedders.
The dachshund’s temperament may vary greatly from dog to dog. Long-haired dachshunds have a calmer, intelligent character inherited from the spaniel. Wire-haired dachshunds have much of the terrier’s spunky personality. The Dachshund is naturally free from “doggy” odor.
The grooming requirement of different varieties is also different. The long-haired Dachshund requires daily combing and brushing, and the wire-haired Dachshund needs professional grooming at least twice per year. The smooth-haired Dachshundâs coat should be wiped down with a clean, damp cloth. The Dachshund has the tendency to become jealous, however can do very well with many other toy breeds in the home providing they are not snippy.
The Dachshund is an all around friendly dog, is very outgoing, and is sure to steal the hearts of everyone he meets. They are an active breed, both outdoors and indoors, and they enjoy going for walks and playing in the park. They are perfectly happy without a yard, but they should be given at least a bit of exercise per day. They’re a long-lived breed, which can live up to 16 years or more with proper care. Because they are such social creatures, they don’t do well as outdoor dogs – they need to be with their humans.
For more information about Dachshund puppies, please visit : http://www.pets4you.com .
Dachshund pack above
Image taken on 2009-11-04 11:47:57 by SpiritMama.
Basset hound wants what Dachshund has
Basset hound wants what Dachshund has