Information About Dogs

What is the Dachshunds Life Expectancy?

The very long Dachshund life expectancy is one of the most desirable qualities about these special dogs. Dachshunds are known to live anywhere from 12 to 15 years on average which is significantly longer than many other breeds. The extraordinary Dachshund life span makes them a preferred choice for both families and single dwellers because they really provide many years of loyal companionship. However, this long Dachshund life expectancy requires proper care, diet and exercise or it can be cut much shorter.

Early Days

To promote a nice long life together, your puppy must receive all of his vaccinations. The first set usually begins between six and eight weeks old to prevent canine distemper, Lyme disease, kennel cough, rabies and parovirus. Your geography may play a role in determining other vaccines that are needed as well.

Another easy way to promote a long Dachshund life expectancy is to have your dog spayed or neutered. Dachshunds are prone to mammary tumors, having your dog altered will reduce the risk of these health concerns. To help avoid mammary tumors, neutering should be done whenever your vet deems it safe at a young age and spaying needs to be done prior to the initial heat cycle.

Intestinal parasites also need to be considered early on to promote a long Dachshund life span. Puppies can often be infected with roundworm prior to birth by the larvae passing through the mother's placenta. If they are not treated promptly, worms can cause serious health concerns in a puppy and Dachshund life expectancy can be reduced significantly. Common types of worms that live in the dog's stomach are tapeworm, roundworm and hookworm, educate yourself on symptoms to watch for and have stools examined.

Diet

Obesity is a huge concern when it comes to the topic of Dachshund life expectancy. Similar to humans, an overweight dog is much more vulnerable not only to disease but injury as well. Their long bodies are not designed to carry the extra weight around their midsection that may be the result of poor diet and little exercise. This weight puts a substantial amount of strain on the dog's spine.

These dogs love to eat! To maximize Dachshund life expectancy, make sure that your dog's diet consists of quality food that is measured out and monitored. This also means to take it easy on the treats!

Exercise

A daily walk can go a long way to increase the life span of a Dachshund. While they should never be encouraged to jump up or down, on or off furniture, stairs, etc., because of their backs, there is certainly nothing wrong with a stroll around the block. Dachshund life expectancy can decrease drastically when these dogs are permitted to get lazy.

This is an energetic breed so as long as a walk is part of their routine, they will look forward to it. To increase the chance of a long Dachshund life span with your four-legged friend, do not allow him the opportunity to get lazy and overweight.

Related Articles:

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Dachshund Temperament – Is This the Right Dog for You?

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