What do dachshunds eat?

The dachshund is an unusual dog that is distinguished by its wayward character. It is one of the ancient breeds. Initially, this breed was designed to hunt for fur-bearing animals. Dachshund can work deep in the hole. Due to the elongated physique, it fits perfectly into the hole, which allows you to grab the beast. Dachshund is quite hardy and strong, has powerful jaws, although its size and modest. It is worthwhile to consider in more detail how to feed the taxes, as well as what products should be discarded.

With proper feeding, the dog will definitely grow up healthy. If we consider the dietary habits, it is necessary to take into account the age of the animal. Experts advise you to adhere to the following home feeding recommendations.

• To feed an adult dachshund is necessary only after a walk. If you ignore this rule, then the subsequent walking can lead to a twist of the intestines. It is necessary to abandon the activity after feeding, the dog must rest for a few hours.
• Puppies should be fed just before walking, because after eating they want to go to the toilet. This will help teach your puppy to cope with its need for a toilet outside.
• It is necessary to provide access to water, while it must be clean and filtered.
• It is very important to maintain a balance between physical exertion and the amount of food, since the breed of taxis tend to be obese due to increased appetite. Moving dogs should increase the portion, but inactive ones should be reduced.
• If the dog has not eaten its portion, then the food should be removed to prevent overeating, because if you often over feed the dachshund, then it is dangerous for the spine. The appearance of herniated intervertebral discs, as well as paralysis of the hind legs, are possible.
• The food must be warm, because hot and cold food will only harm the health of the animal.
• It is strictly necessary to refrain from adding salt to dog food.
• It is necessary to give food at a certain time, it normalizes the work of the digestive system, and also allows you to eliminate the habit of begging.
• It is strictly forbidden to treat the dachshu food from your table, because salty, sweet and spicy food is harmful to the dog.
• It is worth being careful when maintaining new products, as dachshunds are prone to allergies. If the dog begins to itch, redness appears, then this is a manifestation of allergy, and new products should be excluded.

The amount of food and the frequency of meals are influenced not only by age, but also by the activity of the dog, its temperament, time of year, and so on. Puppies grow quite quickly, while they gain weight and have a good metabolism. But kids can not eat large portions, so they require frequent feeding. For example, at three months the dwarf dachshund needs 5 meals a day, even at night.

Over time, it is worth switching to four meals a day. Feeding standards for puppies differ from the breed line, they are more dependent on weight. On average, weight gain per day should be 20 grams.

For an adult dog, three meals a day are enough: in the morning, at lunch and in the evening. If necessary, you can feed the dachshund and twice a day, which is suitable for those people who can not come home for lunch.

Initially, it is worth noting that there are several types of feeding dogs. We need to consider each option in more detail.

• Dry feed. This is a specialized food that does not need to be prepared, therefore, it is chosen for their pets by the owners who do not want or are unable to prepare and control the menu. Dry food includes all the necessary vitamins and minerals. You can choose the option of food for the specific needs of the animal.
• Natural food. Many dog ​​owners choose just natural food, because its variety allows you to create a varied diet. Dogs eat not only healthy, but also delicious food.
• Combined view. This option is a kind of mix, when the dog is given both natural food and feed. The main rule - one meal should include either natural food or dry food.

It should be very careful when you teach a dog to a new food. It is necessary to give her body time to adapt to the new food. It is very important to observe the reaction of the dog to the new food. If there are problems with the stool or the dog’s health deteriorates, it is worth trying a different type of feeding. And do not forget that the individual preferences of the dog also play a big role.

Ready-made food like many owners, but it is necessary to choose the right, specifically for your dog. It is very important in this matter to take into account the weight, age, general health and activity of the tax. It is quite simple to calculate a single amount of feed, since on each package this question is usually carefully described. If you buy food for puppies, it is best to soak it before eating. It is necessary that the animal always has access to water, if the dog eats dry food.

The advantages of dry food are as follows:

• convenience and ease of use;
• cooking does not take much time;
• if desired, you can purchase food in reserve;
• the composition is balanced, so there is no need to additionally purchase a vitamin-mineral complex for the dog.

Among the shortcomings are the following:

• the presence of preservatives in many dry foods, and they eventually lead to poor health;
• Excellent quality feeds are quite expensive - they include super-premium and holistic feeds.

Important! If there is no money for high quality dry food, then you should not purchase low quality products, it is better to switch to natural food.

Many breeders claim that only natural food can provide the dog with proper nutrition, while it will receive all the necessary components for normal development. Natural food is characterized by utility and goodness. It is necessary to use only fresh products, while avoiding the addition of artificial type.

Among the advantages of natural nutrition it is worth noting the following:

• natural composition;
• if necessary, you can change the diet using different proportions of products, taking into account the needs of taxes.

But do not forget about the shortcomings.

• Many breeders can not properly formulate a diet, since it is impossible “by eye” to determine how much a dog needs vitamins and minerals, which leads to an excess or lack of various substances. It is necessary to consult with a veterinarian to find the best diet.
• Cooking takes a lot of time, so this option is not suitable for too busy people. Food should be fresh, so do not cook large portions.

Each dog owner chooses the option of feeding that suits him and his pet. Experts advise to continue to feed the tax with the same nutrition as the breeder. If you stick to this type of food, you can protect your puppy from allergic reactions.But if you have a desire to transfer it to another type, then it is worth doing it without haste, while it is strictly forbidden to mix two types of food in one feeding. It is necessary to adhere to the following recommendations to properly organize the diet of taxes:

• up to three months, the dachshund should eat 4-5 times a day, while it is necessary to withstand an equal period of time between feedings;
• overfeeding at any age should be avoided;
• food should be free of salt and spices, as well as at room temperature.

Initially, puppies eat only mother's milk. If the puppy develops normally, then up to one month it can be not supplemented. But if you have health problems, you should feed him extra. For a puppy up to 1 month, natural milk or milk formulas are suitable.

In order to properly designate a portion for a puppy, it is worth making a start not only from his age, but also from the weight, individual features. Up to two weeks the dog should be fed every 2 hours, from two weeks to one month the number of feedings decreases., because it is necessary to gradually increase the time between feedings from 2 to 3 hours, not forgetting to include the night break, which usually includes 4-6 hours.

The diet of a 1-month puppy is worth diversifying. During this period, it is worthwhile to introduce cereals, for example, rice and buckwheat, as well as add vegetables. A great dish is rice soup with grated carrots. You can give the puppy a chew and a raw carrot, which will be very useful for his teeth. Occasionally, baby kefir can be added to the diet, but with a slight fat content.

From two months you can feed a small dachshund with meat. Beef, turkey and chicken are preferred. Meat is usually mixed with buckwheat or rice porridge. Pre-meat should be boiled. If you compare the proportions of meat and cereal, the first ingredient should be 1, and the second - 3 parts. If a puppy has allergic manifestations, then it is better to refuse chicken meat in order not to aggravate the situation even more. Pork should be given very rarely, because it can lead to frustration, and it is better to exclude it altogether from the diet of both a puppy and an adult animal.

Should remember that fruits and vegetables must be present in the diet feebecause they provide her body with nutrients. A great addition is the combination of cottage cheese and raw eggs. This tandem should be given in the morning. A puppy's chair will determine which products are unsuitable for him.

During this period, you can begin to slowly transfer the puppy to adult food. Since the digestive system is already functioning normally, raw meat can be added to the diet. But do not overdo it. It should begin with lean meat - veal or beef. And you can also add offal, but only those that have been heat treated. The presence of vegetables, cereals and soups remains unchanged.

At the age of six months, you can begin to gradually expand the diet of the dachshund, giving her to try different products. During this period, the tastes of the dog are beginning to form, she understands what her favorite products are. In six months, you should closely monitor the growth of the teeth and the general formation of the supporting system. Usually from 6 months it is worth giving vitamins, despite the fact that the dog eats well.

The dog is increasing in size, so the portions should become large.

One-year-old dog can be fed as an adult, but it is worth considering the fact that with strong physical exertion, the portion should be increased. In 1 year the dachshund already eats many products. If you prefer natural nutrition, then the following products should be included in the tax menu:

• meat: rabbit, turkey, beef, veal;
• meat offal;
• fish: cleaned, lean, boiled;
• meat and fish broths;
• milk - if the dog tolerates lactose;
• fermented milk products: sour cream, kefir, ryazhenka and others, while homemade products should be preferred;
• chicken and quail eggs;
• cereals: rice, buckwheat, pearl barley, barley and wheat;
• vegetables - it is necessary to exclude only raw cabbage and boiled potatoes;
• fruits - you need to give up very sweet berries;
• bran;
• grass;
• greenery.

All main components with natural or mixed type of feeding are listed just above, but it is necessary to elaborate on some products.

• Meat. It should be 1/3 of the total portion of food. The best solution is turkey, lamb or veal. From chicken and pork should be abandoned. Meat is recommended to cook to avoid infection with worms. But if the meat is accurately tested, then it can be poured with boiling water or raw, give the dog. But offal is to cook everything completely.
• A fish. It is necessary to give tax only sea fish, because in the river quite often parasites. Be sure to clean the fish, remove the bones and boil.
• Kashi. They are irreplaceable, since they must be present in the diet of the tax every day - 20-40%. Popular are oatmeal, rice and buckwheat. If you cook other porridges, then you should take note that barley porridge is absorbed by only 30%, millet has a laxative effect, and beans lead to intestinal swelling. It is better to refuse semolina, because it contributes to the rapid weight gain, as well as intestinal problems.
• Fruits and vegetables. They should fill half of the entire diet. They can be used both in boiled form, and in raw, but in a ground condition. They contain many vitamins, carbohydrates and fiber. It is better not to experiment with exotic products. Celery and cilantro should be discarded.
• Dairy products. You can give dachshund different jelly. She loves kefir and sour milk, she will not give up on cottage cheese.
• Eggs They should be present in the diet, but do not abuse them. 1-2 eggs are enough per week. They can be given raw, boiled or as an omelet.
• Vegetable oil. It must be added to the porridge, because it acts as a source of amino acids.

Important! Before you feed the dog, it is worth preparing each ingredient separately.

Separate attention is deserved by products which it is better to refuse, namely:

• bone mass - bones have a tubular structure, so they do not have any benefit, in addition, they can injure both the palate of dachshunds and the intestines;
• chocolate - this product may cause poisoning;
• sausages and sausages - they mainly contain nitrate, and in turn, it leads to cirrhosis of the liver;
• onion and garlic - these products have a negative effect on the intestinal walls, corroding it;
• fatty, fried, salty food and smoked meats - they adversely affect the functioning of the liver;
• pork (like other parts of the pig) - it usually contains more parasites than other meats, and pork is quite fat, which contributes to weight gain;
• sweets - Confectionery should be completely excluded, since sucrose adversely affects the teeth and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Today, many Russian and foreign manufacturers offer dry and wet dog food. They can be divided into the following groups:

• economy;
• premium;
• super premium.

You should immediately abandon the economy class fodder, because they usually include a large number of dyes and chemical elements to enhance the taste, because there is almost no quality in such food. Such feeds have no vitamins or minerals, as they are prepared mainly from offal. In order for the dog to feed on food, its quantity must be doubled.

Feed premium and super premium are, of course, expensive. But they are quite nourishing, because they are made from natural meat, and also contain vitamins and minerals. Among the manufacturers of this segment it is worth noting the following brands:

• Royal Canin;
• Grandorf;
• Acana;
• Pro Plan.

These companies offer a wide range of quality dog ​​food, including for dachshunds. They do not use preservatives and other substitutes, since the main component is meat.

The fact that they eat taxes, see the following video.