Did you know that dachshunds are one of the most popular small breeds nowadays? They have a quite unusual body shape, built longer and lower to the ground.
Due to their small size and fast metabolism, these canines require a special diet to support their energy demands and prevent a couple of health concerns.
More on that in a bit…
In today’s article, we will make a list of the best dog food for dachshund. Make sure to stay with us and test some of these formulas. It will save a lot of time and money because wrong meals often lead to suffering and pain.
If you’re searching for aditional options see our top rated dog food list.
Our Picks of Weiner Food Reviewed
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | INGREDIENTS | |
|---|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  | Wellness CORE Our Top Pick | ✓ Turkey ✓ Chicken Meal ✓ Turkey Meal ✓ Peas ✓ Potatoes | Check Price |
Healthy Teeth  | Taste of the Wild Healthy Teeth | ✓ Venison ✓ Garbanzo Beans ✓ Lamb Meal ✓ Lentils ✓ Peas | Check Price |
For Mobility  | Blue Buffalo For Mobility | ✓ Chicken ✓ Brown Rice ✓ Chicken Meal ✓ Pea Starch ✓ Barley | Check Price |
Adult Dogs  | Nutro Adult Dogs | ✓ Chicken ✓ Whole Brown Rice ✓ Chicken Meal ✓ Rice Bran ✓ Brewers Rice | Check Price |
For Joint Health  | Royal Canin For Joint Health | ✓ Brewers Rice ✓ Brown Rice ✓ Chicken By-Product Meal ✓ Oat Groats ✓ Wheat Gluten | Check Price |
For Overall Health  | Wellness For Overall Health | ✓ Turkey ✓ Oatmeal ✓ Chicken Meal ✓ Ground Barley ✓ Salmon Meal | Check Price |
Weight Control  | Eukanuba Weight Control | ✓ Corn Meal ✓ Chicken ✓ Chicken By-Product Meal ✓ Ground Whole Grain Barley ✓ Ground Whole Grain Sorghum | Check Price |
Wellness CORE - Our Top Pick
For years Wellness brand has been a favorite among dog owners. This company focuses its nutritional philosophy on meat, stating that canines should eat animal proteins.
If you are looking to buy a premium product, which features high-quality ingredients, then Wellness Core is the best dry food for dachshunds. Therefore, it takes the #1 place on our list. This meal contains everything you need for your tiny pooch, and on top of that, it is made for dogs with allergies. Turkey comes as the first ingredient and primary protein source, which stimulates muscles and ensures a fit body.
Omega fatty acids are added for healthy skin and a shiny coat. On the other hand, glucosamine and chondroitin promote bone and joint system. Wellness Core includes a variety of probiotics, antioxidants, and plants for immunity and healthy digestion.
Overall, this complete and balanced diet helps your pet maintain a healthy lifestyle and stimulates overall wellbeing.
Taste of the Wild - Best For Healthy Teeth
Teeth health plays a crucial role in your dog’s health. Not only he can chew food better, but canines with healthy teeth have proper digestion and nutrient absorption.
When it comes to Taste of the Wild, you are probably aware of their vast food selection. This company targets various health issues, breeds, as well as different age groups in canines.
The Appalachian recipe is specially designed for small pooches, and it’s one of the best dog food for a miniature dachshund. This is a grain-free recipe and a small-size kibble ideal for your pet’s tummy and teeth.
Real venison meat is the first ingredient, and it is followed with other protein sources such as lamb, duck, eggs, and ocean fish meal. The Appalachian formula contains fresh fruits and vegetables, which are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. In this case, they will stimulate the immune system, as well as healthy skin and beautiful fur.
To conclude, give your four-legged friend a chance to lead a long and healthy life and buying this meal is one of the ways to do it.
Blue Buffalo - Best For Mobility
The Blue Buffalo brand has been long on the market, and they have an excellent variety of recipes. So, if you need something to improve your canine’s mobility and make him active again, then this company has the solution for you.
The Life Protection formula is the best way to start your dog’s day. Additionally, if you are dealing with a dachshund picky eater, the delicious ingredients will awake his taste buds.
The chicken comes as the first ingredient, and it’s an easily digestible source of proteins. It means this meat will provide your pooch with much-needed energy without adding extra calories.
On the other hand, to support join system, this meal contains supplements such as glucosamine and omega fatty acids. The Life Protection meal features seven crucial components, which include vitamins, mineral and antioxidants. They will promote the immune system and overall health.
To sum up, with this food you will ensure your pet stay active and fit throughout his adult years.
Nutro - Best For Adult Dogs
Nutro Ultra nutrition is specially designed for small breeds and will meet all dachshund food requirements. The Holistic blend contains a perfect combination of proteins and antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies.
Three types of proteins sourced from chicken, salmon, and lamb offer unique amino acids which promote active and lean muscles. On the other hand, packed with antioxidants will help maintain your pet’s immunity, sharp mind, and a healthy heart.
Linoleic acid and sunflower oil are added for a shiny coat and healthy skin, while taurine stimulates hearing and eyesight. There are no artificial colors, additives, or preservatives.
In conclusion, since this meal is formulated to meet the demand of adult canines, your pooch should feel the benefits within the first couple of months.
Royal Canin - Great For Joint Health
The Royal Canin recipe is specially designed for purebred Dachshunds. Nearly all recipes that come from this pet care company are made for a specific breed.
When it comes to joint health, your pet needs food that supports mobility and enables healthy joints. For that reason, Royal Canin is the right solution for you. Considering this breed tends to become obese, this is the best food for dachshund weight loss. It will help your pooch decrease additional stress on his joints and make sure he maintains a proper weight. This meal is made for canine over ten months old.
On the other hand, balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus will stimulate bone and joint health, while L-carnitine improves muscle tone.
In summary, this recipe will prevent numerous health condition in your pooch, while the right set of nutrients improve his movement.
Wellness - Best For Overall Health
The Wellness Complete Health is the best puppy food for dachshunds, and it’s designed to support the specific needs of small breeds. This is a complete and balanced meal; everything your pooch needs to satisfy his daily food requirements.
Turkey comes as the first ingredient and primary protein source. It will support lean muscles and promote mobility. On the other hand, the salmon meal is a natural source of DHA, which is found in mother’s milk and stimulates brain development.
This meal is rich in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. They will help your pup with proper development and protect his body from various health issues.
The bottom line, if you want to ensure proper growth and development in your puppy, then Wellness Complete Health is the right choice for him.
Eukanuba - Best For Weight Control
Pet struggling with weight are exposed to a lot of health issues, and it’s your responsibility to provide them with proper nutrition to maintain healthy body weight. For years, Eukanuba has been developing premium recipes which improve the overall wellbeing in dogs.
This company pioneered nutritional breakthrough which many companies use nowadays, and they mostly base their meals on meat. Therefore, the Weight Control formula contains premium proteins which promote lean muscles and prevent obesity.
Chicken is the primary protein, which as zero fillers and 33% less fat. These features make this recipe the best dog food for overweight dachshunds. Additionally, it has natural probiotics and fibers which promote healthy digestion, while the glucosamine and chondroitin simulate joints.
In all, the premium component will make your pet’s body is healthy and will work against those piled up pounds.
Common Dachshund Health Problems
Excessive Bloating
This breed is known to be an easy bloater. While this can’t be controlled through a proper diet and eating habits, it can be minimized to a certain degree. For instance, instead of feeding your pup one meal per day, you should prepare a couple of meals.
Additionally, it might take some time, patience, and dedication on your side.
If your dog keep having problems with excessive bloating or gasses try feeding him with best dog food for flatulence.
Joint & Skeletal Disease
Over time your pet may develop specific joint and skeletal issues. Dachshunds are one of the breeds that have significantly fragile bones. For that reason, it’s wise to use food rich in calcium and glucosamine (check our list), which can help you prevent these issues.
Eye Problems
Diseases such as cataracts, dry eye, and progressive retinal atrophy are common conditions that affect this breed. The most serious of them is PRA which can result in blindness. It might be difficult to notice symptoms; for example, your pet might be reluctant to go into dark areas or walk down the stairs.
Also, you may notice his eyes looking cloudy.
Urinary Problems
Paying attention to any urinary problems afflicting your pooch is crucial. In most cases, you will have to use specially designed dog formulas to eliminate stones or infection. You should also consult your vet before making any decisions.
The veterinarian may recommend a special prescription diet, which will help your pet feel better. We highly recommend switching to best dog food for kidney disease.
Diabetes
Sugar diabetes is the type of illness that is seen in the majority of canines. This is a metabolism disorder where dog’s body isn’t producing enough insulin. Usually, the pancreas is damaged and not functioning properly.
In this case, your pet may require daily shots to replace the missing insulin. You can make it easier for your dog if you offer him high-quality dog food for diabetes.
Heart Disease
Heart disease often leads to congestive heart failure (click here for proper nutrition) which results with the inability to pump blood to the rest of the body. While usually, heart disease affects one side of the heart, sometimes it can affect both sides.
This condition is tough to spot and may take years until you discover the right symptoms and start treatment.
Obesity
It’s essential to monitor your pet’s diet because you don’t want your pooch to become overweight. Excess weight can put a lot of pressure on the spine and joints, which leads to further health issues.
Regular excessive and proper diet may help you prevent this condition. Talk to your vet and ask him to recommend you the right dachshund food amount and quality dog food for weight management.
Anal Gland Problems
In canines, they are known as scent glands, and it’s the secretion from these glands that helps dogs mark the territory and recognize other pooches. Every time you pet poops, these glands empty.
On the other hand, if this process doesn’t occur, then your dog might experience signs of discomfort. Your pooch will lick or bite of anus, chase his tail, or find it challenging to sit down.
Diet & Nutritional Requirements
Dachshund is relatively small, but still need a considerable amount of food to maintain overall health. It’s a common rule that smaller dogs have a faster metabolism than their larger canine counterparts.
With all that energy they burn every day, these dogs require plenty of nutrition to fuel their small bodies. One of the best ways to determine how much food does your pet need is to focus on activity level and size.
For example, the recommended daily intake should contain a proper number of calories.
- Puppies – 1000 calories per day
- Adult – 600 calories per day
- Adult Active – 900 calories per day
- Senior – 470 calories per day
Follow our guides:
Dachshund Dog Food Buyer’s Guide
Quality Ingredients
Every reputable dog food manufacturer will use a premium ingredient for their recipes. However, an average buyer doesn’t know what type of nutrients the company uses.
Therefore, you should learn how to read the label. Usually, a high-quality meal has proteins placed as the first ingredient. Additionally, it features plenty of fruits and vegetable, as well as vitamins and minerals. The same rule applies to dachshund wet food.
Follow our guide:
Reliable Meat Source
Proteins play a crucial role in your pet’s diet. Therefore, quality food should feature meat such as chicken, turkey, salmon, beef should be included as the first ingredient. On the other, identified meat meals, such as turkey meal, are acceptable components. Ideally, meat meals should be listed within the first five ingredients.
If you don’t know what to feed a dachshund, then pay attention to meat source to provide high-quality nutrition.
Safety Standards
When choosing recipes for your pet make sure they comply with safety standards and regulation. For example, choose food that is manufactured in the U.S. Also, formulas made in Western Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia have similar production standards.
Unfortunately, many companies nowadays resort to ingredients imported from China. However, the label should state the origin.
No Artificial Additives/Preservatives
Preservatives and additives can cause numerous health issues in canines. A right formula will ensure your dog find his food palatable and delicious. There is no need for artificial ingredients.
For instance, colors are added to make food more appealing, but canines would care less. It’s crucial to avoid these components because they can lead to food sensitivities.
For instance, top quality dog food for dachshunds with skin allergies (follow our guide for dog food for itchy skin) doesn’t contain previously mentioned components.
No Unidentified Meat-meals or By-products
The dachshund food recipes shouldn’t contain unidentified meat-meals for by-products. For example, components such as poultry by-products or mystery meat meals can compromise health in many dogs. So, you should stick to a popular ingredient, like fish meal, or turkey meal.
Conclusion
Choosing high-quality nutrition for your pooch is crucial for his development and health. In this article, we reviewed a couple of brands, and we hope you will find the right match for your pet.
Each recipe targets a specific condition, and they are specially formulated for dachshunds. The Wellness Core being our top pick is the ideal recipe for active and adult canines and will help your pet maintain an active lifestyle.
You should test some of the recipes we recommended in this article; we are sure your dog will enjoy each one of them.
References:
