How many years do dachshunds live and what does it depend on?

Dachshund is a fun and active breed of dog that does not leave anyone indifferent. As you know, you quickly get used to animals, and the sudden death of a pet can provoke serious depression in a person. If the owner of the dachshund values ​​the life of his pet and does not want to part with him ahead of time, then you should take care in advance to prolong his life as much as possible.

First of all, you should be aware of what health problems can arise in a dachshund, because most often it is ailments that cause the pet's premature death. So, in dogs of this breed, there is a genetic tendency to gain weight. Obese animals experience less physical activity, they develop serious gastrointestinal pathologies, diabetes. All this leads to a reduction in life expectancy.

In addition, dachshunds cannot boast of a strong spine.This part of the skeleton is sensitive to jumping, so even walking down stairs can cause serious harm to the dog's health. Another common disease for these animals is ear inflammation.... The older the dog becomes, the higher the risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts.

Generally, small dog breeds tend to live longer than large ones. On average, the life expectancy of a standard dachshund is 12-14 years, but, of course, there are also long-lived dogs. Remember at least the famous Rocky from California, who lived for 25 years. The life span of dachshunds is determined by their heredity, conditions of detention and even psychological state.

For the same reason, it is generally accepted that females live longer than males. The fact is that girls are more balanced, calm, rarely exposed to neuroses, in contrast to emotional vulnerable guys of the same breed.

If the apartment contains two opposite-sex dachshunds, then it is recommended to castrate the dog, since you cannot constantly knit representatives of this breed. If it is impossible to satisfy his sexual needs, the male, being in the same house with the current lady, is experiencing severe stress, he can refuse food and entertainment. A castrated boy will be calmer, his psychological state will stabilize.

Without a veterinary passport and metrics, it is difficult to determine the age of a dog, but if you look closely at some of the external features, you can roughly understand how old a particular animal is.

• If the dog has gray hair, she is probably 7 years old. At this age, dachshunds begin to turn gray hair in the area of ​​the lips and chin. Completely gray forehead and muzzle indicate that the animal has already turned 9 years old.

• Young individuals are characterized by a smooth, shiny coat, in older dogs, the coat becomes dull and tousled.

• Pay attention to the eyes. In older dogs, they sink slightly and appear deep-set.

• Smooth, white, shiny teeth indicate that the dog is under two years old. However, having noticed the slightly worn lower toes, it can be assumed that the dachshund is 18-24 months old. The worn out lower incisors indicate that the dog is 2 and a half years old, in addition, at this age, the teeth begin to lose their shine and whiteness. At 5 years old, the dachshund's canines are erased and blunt, and at 6 these teeth turn yellow, tartar appears. The lower toes in the form of an irregular oval indicate a 7-year-old dog, and if the lower incisors are in the same condition, then the dachshund is already 8-9 years old.

• When a dachshund's teeth completely fall out, then she is hardly less than 10 years old, and, most likely, she has already turned 12 years old. At the same age, there is a weakening of vision and hearing.

The following can lead to unexpected death of a dog: causes.

• Dachshund diseases... This breed is characterized by such ailments as chest deformation, sliding disc syndrome, epilepsy, retinal atrophy, and pathologies of the development of the visual organs. By themselves, these diseases cannot be called causes of death, but health problems lead to the fact that the animal begins to move less, with loss of vision, it experiences stress, seizures make the dog suffer. All this leads to a reduction in life expectancy or forces the owner to euthanize the pet.

• Chronic diseases. Dachshunds are active and cheerful creatures, and according to their behavior, the development of some kind of disease can be completely imperceptible. Very often, chronic diseases are latent, and the dog dies suddenly at the age of 8-10 years.

• Injury or accidents. Usually in such situations the owner himself is to blame. If the animal is walking outside the special area, then it must have a leash on it. Even a pet dog is surrounded by a lot of dangers. Most often, these are cars. In addition, a pet can get injured by escaping for a walk from an inattentive owner, for example, following a dog he likes. Left alone away from home, a pet dog does not know how to behave, how to defend against a flock of large relatives, how to avoid a car hitting, how to hide from ill-wishers.

• Poisoning... Even if the pet always walks on a leash, the owner should make sure that the pet does not pick up anything from the ground. First, utilities can poison rats in the nearest basement. And then the poison can be close to this area. Secondly, experienced dog lovers know about the threat posed to our smaller brothers by dog ​​hunters. These people deliberately sprinkle dog poison in areas where owners are accustomed to walking their pets. Therefore, you should be as careful as possible while walking. The dachshund is not protected from this problem even at home. If the apartment is being renovated, then it is worth isolating the dog away from containers with building fluids.

Proper nutrition is the key to the well-being and good health of your pet. If the dog eats natural food, then the proportion of meat products per day should be at least 30%. If the rate is working, then this figure increases to 50%. In addition, the diet should be based on rice, buckwheat, rolled oats, vegetables.

If a dachshund eats ready-made feed, then it must necessarily be premium, super-premium or holistic products. Consult your veterinarian to get the correct RDA calculation.

Due to the back pain of the dachshund, do not offer her soft mattresses as a bed, it must be a hard bedding. Comb the animal regularly, more often this procedure is carried out during the molting period. Combing is especially important for long-haired varieties. If the animal participates in the exhibition, then the grooming should be trusted by a professional. Bathe your pet as needed.

Regularly treat your dog's eyes with a cotton pad soaked in warm water or a special product. If necessary, dachshunds need to clean their ears with a cotton swab, and in order to notice the problem in time, it is important to regularly examine the auditory organs. Don't skimp on chewing toys. Although dachshunds usually clean their teeth on their own, it will be difficult for them to take care of this problem without special tools.

An elderly animal needs special attention... Beware of drafts in the presence of an age-old dachshund; warm your pet for a walk in cold weather. Try not to bathe your older dog so that it does not catch a cold.

Vigorous physical activity leads to longevity not only in the human world, but also in the canine world. Outdoor games should be in the life of a dachshund every day. Jogging is required every day. Keep the walks short, but frequent, as during a long run the dog can overwork, and this is fraught with a reduction in life.

If the city does not have a special area for walking dogs, and the dachshund has to be walked exclusively on a leash, then make trips to nature, where the animal can enjoy the fresh air and free running.

More interesting facts about the dachshund are in the next video.