What is the most common cause of for Dachshunds
Life Expectancy For a Dachshund and Common Causes of Death
More popularly known as sausage dogs or Doxies for short, Dachshunds are skilled hunting dogs and known in the dog world as having exceptionally long lives. Learn all about their average life span and the factors that can impact it to give you the most quality time with your furry friend.
What is the life expectancy for a Dachshund? The average life expectancy of a Dachshund is around 15 or 16 years of age. A miniature Dachshund typically has the same range, though it can be between 16-18 years of age. Many live for longer some even well into their 20s and some live for shorter. Like many things to do with your dog, their life span can vary dramatically depending on genetic factors such as breeding, dog breed-specific issues such as heart valves and spine issues, and overall lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise.
While nothing can guarantee it, of course, factoring in all of these points will help your Dachshund enjoy the best quality of life possible and may just give you a few extra years with them, too!
What do Dachshunds usually die from?
Your sweet Dachshund will eventually part from this world and cross over the rainbow bridge. There is no such thing as an immortal Dachshund, though many would wish different. As far as the usual cause of death, you can expect that your Dachshund will most likely die from old age, i.e., natural causes. Many dog breeds have complications, but Dachshunds consistently tend to have the most issues with natural causes as the leading cause of death.
The second cause of death is cancer, typically breast cancer or lymphoma (which is the most common cancer among dogs). This quite a way behind natural causes, though; youll be happy to learn.
After this, heart disease and its complications is another breed-specific cause of death. The disease itself will vary from dog to dog, and it may be gradual or sudden.
While it is the least common cause of death, Dachshunds can be prone to spine issues that, together with the complications that they bring, will cause death in rare cases. However, please note that spine issues dont always lead to death.
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Common health complications in Dachshunds
Sometimes their health conditions are considered to be the cause of death in Dachshunds. This is when it is a combination of factors that cant be necessarily separated from each other that end in death for your Dachshund. Take a look at the more common ones below for the Dachshund breed.
Intervertebral disc disease
As you most likely know, Dachshunds have exceptionally long spines, earning them the nickname of wiener dog. This long back can be a health hazard as the excessive amounts of vertebrae can lead to invertebrate disc disease, which means that his discs are damaged. This is a very painful disease that cant always be moderated with pain or lifestyle changes. If your Dachshund jumps a lot or runs a lot, it means that they are more at risk for these health issues later in life.
Issues with joints and hips
From knees that prop out to improperly balanced hips, Dachshunds are also known for having lots of joint-related issues as they get older, such as hip dysplasia, especially if they are very active and go on lots of walks. These issues tend to be focused on his legs and spine, as well as his hips.
Eye issues
Also known for their seemingly oversized and puppy-dog-pout-perfect eyes, Dachshunds can also have eye issues that will complicate their health profile. Other Dachshunds have especially small eyes that also cause a problem. It really does vary in terms of their health factors (more on that). Common eye issues include cataracts, dry eyes, and even glaucoma. Many Dachshunds will even lose their sight as they age.
Cushings disease
This is a disease that creates a series of benign tumors throughout the body. Dachshunds are thought to be especially susceptible to it. These often focus on the bodys pituitary or adrenal glands, resulting in too much cortisol in his body. Essentially, it will heighten his natural stress levels.
Diabetes
In Dachshunds, in particular, insulin-resistant diabetes is common. This means that they wont produce enough insulin, which must be managed with help and support from you and your vet.
Hypothyroidism
Similarly, hypothyroidism is when your thyroid gland doesnt produce properly and slows down its metabolism. This leads to many health issues that can cause life span-related complications, including obesity. Thankfully, this is often easily managed by medication.
Feeling the need to run and give your Dachshund a big hug? Go right ahead. Well wait.
Learning about your beloved furry friends possible complications is scary, but remember that knowledge also brings power! If you know where the potential problems are, you can watch for them and make sure that you are ready to act as soon as possible and/or need comes up.
Health factors affecting Dachshunds average lifespan
Some more general health factors can also influence the average life expectancy of your Dachshund.
Genetics from parents
Youve most likely added your Dachshund to your household through a breeder, so one of the best things about that is that youll have access to all of the information about his parents right from the very beginning. This should include proper certification, of course, but also potential health weaknesses that can be transferred on from parent to pup. If you are aware that these are likely risk factors for your Dachshund, you and your vet can both use those to plan and adequately care for your Dachshund as he ages.
General health and lifestyle
Other health factors are more in your control, such as his day to day life and health. These focus on the kind of dog food he gets, how much of it he gets, and his exercise routine. This will help manage his general health and those more at-risk issues such as heart problems and even spinal health.
How to help a Dachshund live longer
As his loving pet parent, it is your job to help him make sure that he seems as many happy and healthy years as possible! While it may feel like a challenge, its also pretty special to think that raising him properly will help him to enjoy better and longer years, right?
Get all of his immunizations
From his first puppy shots to spay or neuter to yearly immunizations, youre going to want to stay on top of whatever your vet recommends for shots. These will help him fight off sicknesses and diseases, which is very important when he gets older and more susceptible to these things, just like humans.
Have your vet check out his parents records
If possible, have a trusted vet check out his parents records regarding their certifications and hereditary factors (all of which should be no issue for a breeder to give you ahead of time) before you sign a contract for a Dachshund puppy from a breeder. They might be able to let you know ahead of time of any genetic markers to know about. A breeder can also be a great source of information about them.
Share his information with the vet
Once you get him home, consider sharing any medical and health history information you have for him with your vet. This will help them make informed decisions and watch for particular markers that could cause health problems down the road. The more that they know about your puppy, in particular, the more that they can help preventatively which is what this is all about.
Feed him a healthy diet
Perhaps you already know a lot about your Dachdhunds diet regarding the diet itself you want to approach. Theres kibble, canned dog foods, raw food. However, whatever medium you decide to go with, youll want to pay some attention to what is actually in the food choices you are giving him!
Dachshunds need to have a lot of protein in their food, particularly lean protein. These will help them get excellent muscle growth and healthy bones, which will help prevent issues with their spine and joints.
Carbs are essential in their diet, though there are often differing opinions on how many to have. As a general rule of thumb your vet will be able to help more you can aim for less than 50% of their daily diet to be carb content and aim for smaller servings as far as how much to have at one point. This will give you the best of both opinions.
Healthy fats from fish oil and other omega-3s will promote better eyesight and even better brain development in Dachshunds. Focus on those healthy lean sources of fats as much as you can instead of the bad fats.
Lastly, proper vitamins and minerals will finish it all off as far as a balanced diet. Certain ones will be more valuable at various stages in his life, so ask your vet for guidance on this.
Theres no question that there is a lot of effort that goes into enhancing your Dachshunds life expectancy through diet, but it is long thought to be one of the most critical factors.
Manage his weight with exercise
Due to their strange, though adorable, shapes, Dachshunds can be prone to dealing with obesity. Youll want to make it another priority to really focus on your Dachshunds overall weight, especially as he ages and his metabolism and energy start to slow down naturally. Besides diet, youll also want to focus on exercise as a factor for weight management. But, for your Dachshund, not all exercise is good.
With their breed standard issues, particularly with his spine and hips, youll want to be very careful with exercise while a puppy. He should still get some exercise but try to keep it focused on shorter spurtsshort play sessions, shorter walks, and minimal to no jumping or running. If you are careful to monitor his amount of exercise as a pup, he will be much better off for it as he ages.
When he gets older and is full-grown as an adult, you can look at having him go for longer walks or play sessions. Also, consider low-impact activities such as swimming as this will keep the strain off his various joints. Hell still get some great exercise, and he also will enjoy himself!
A reminder of your Dachshunds life expectancy
How many of us wish that our dogs could live forever? Yeah, exactly. Even if you are the most attentive pet parent in the world and do every single thing on this list to help increase his life expectancy, there are a lot of factors that even the best specialists and vets cant predict.
It could be something as simple as a heart attack or even just some sort of bad fall that results in him having severe pain where you have to make that seemingly impossible call whether or not you should put him out of his pain. None of this means that youve failed as a pet parent or that you didnt do it properly. An estimate, at the end of the day, is just that: an estimate. All the more reason to genuinely enjoy every single moment that you possibly can with your Dachshund.
With the right information to guide you on estimated life expectancy and how to get as much time as possible with your sweet Doxie as your faithful bestie, youll be well on your way to taking on the world side by side!
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How long do dachshunds live? The truth might surprise you
If youve spent enough time around dog people, youve probably heard it said that the smaller the dog, the longer the lifespan. While this idea does have some scientific basis to it, its not everything. Some breeds decided to throw us a curveball in regards to the dogs life expectancy and geriatric needs, while others are totally predictable. And some of it comes down to the individual, including their lifestyle factors. How long do dachshunds live? Do any other breeds live as long? Keep on reading these helpful pointers to find out.
How long do dachshunds live?
According to the American Kennel Club one of the leading expert sources on canine life standard dachshunds have a life expectancy of 12 to 16 years on average. Though their miniature-sized brothers and sisters are smaller (this can sometimes be an indicator of a longer lifespan) their average life expectancy is not different from that of standard dachshunds.
Heres the good news: the wiener dogs life expectancy is already longer than most dogs! While large dogs live an average of 8 to 12 years, Doxies and other smaller dogs can stay with us for many more, with Chihuahuas often making it to their late teens.
What is considered old for a dachshund?
Knowing that a dachshund can expect to live to 16 or beyond doesnt give the whole picture. A dogs lifespan is often broken down into four stages: puppy, young adult, adult, and senior. With a large dog, you might wind up in the senior years as young as 5 or 6 but a pup with a bigger lifespan will stay in the adult phase longer. Thats great news for you and your beastie. It means you have more years of long walks and playtime.
Many wiener dogs dont start slowing down until 13 or even older, so you should plan to maintain an active lifestyle up to that point. Your vet will be able to give you a better sense of timing for your individual animal.
Can a dachshund live for 20 years?
With the right diet and exercise routine, a small dog like the dachshund absolutely can live to be 20 years old. In fact, more than one of the worlds oldest dogs on record had Doxie blood in them, and they were all over 20. Most recently, a miniature dachshund named Funny spent his final days with the title of Oldest Living Dog which he received in November 2020. At the time, he was 21 years and 169 days old (via Guinness World Records).
To make sure your hot dog stays as happy and healthy as can be, youll want to keep an eye on his physical condition, especially his weight. The dachshunds long body shape makes carrying extra pounds even harder on them than on the average dogs, but in truth, there are so many reasons to keep your dog trim. Breeds like this are also prone to spinal issues such as Intervertebral Disc Disease, which can be exacerbated by extra weight (via British Veterinary Association). This, by far, is the biggest health issue facing dachshunds, especially as they age.
What is the oldest dachshund to live?
As far as we know, Funny the miniature dachshund is the oldest of this breed to be recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. This sweet boy may not be the most elderly dachshund ever, though. Californias Mountain Democrat interviewed Robert Rowland and his four-legged friend Rocky back in 2011 when Rocky was a staggering 24 years old. Rowland believed his buddys longevity was a result of their active lifestyle together. Even though Rocky was eventually put down due to his low quality of life from mobility impairment, he had zero chronic health concerns like heart disease or liver failure.
What is the most common cause of death for dachshunds?
Although spinal abnormalities are the most common health concern for dachshunds, heart disease is their leading cause of death. Leaky heart valves tend to be the most common root of this problem, especially if not caught early on. When a valve becomes weak and deformed, it allows blood to seep out and gather around the valve. If this results in too much pressure, it can strain the heart and cause a murmur or other physical defect. This issue certainly isnt exclusive to dachshunds but does occur frequently in the breed.
Just because dachshunds are at risk for heart problems doesnt mean they arent at risk for other health concerns, too, so make sure to keep up with your dogs regular vet visits. Your dog doc can help reassure you that everything is exactly as it should be, so you can get back to having fun with your fur baby as soon as possible. The vast majority of dachshunds seem like such happy dogshow could you not have fun!
