How old are dachshunds and what does it depend on?

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

First of all, you should be aware of the health problems that a dachshund can have, because most often it is precisely ailments that cause the premature death of a pet. So, dogs of this breed have a genetic tendency to gain weight. Obese animals experience less physical activity, they have 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 the usual descending stairs can cause serious harm to the dog’s health. Another common disease in these animals is ear inflammation.. The older the dog becomes, the higher the risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts.

As a rule, small breeds of dogs usually live longer than large ones.The average life expectancy of a standard fee is 12-14 years, but, of course, there are long-lived dogs. Recall at least the famous Rocky from California, who lived 25 years. The life expectancy of dachshunds is determined by their heredity, conditions of detention and even the 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 undergo neurosis, unlike emotional vulnerable guys of the same breed.

If the apartment contains two heterosexual dachshunds, it is recommended to castrate the dog, as it is impossible to constantly breed representatives of this breed. If it is not possible to satisfy his sexual needs, the male, being in the same house with a flowing lady, experiences severe stress, he can refuse food and entertainment. A castrated boy will be calmer, his psychological condition will stabilize.

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

• If the dog has gray hair, she’s probably already 7 years old. At this age, dachshunds begin to turn gray 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 radiant coat, in older dogs, the hair grows dull and ruffled.

• Pay attention to the eyes. In dogs aged they are slightly sunken and look deeply set.

• Smooth, white, shiny teeth indicate that the dog is not yet two years old. However, having noticed the slightly erased lower hooks, it can be assumed that the dachshund is aged 18-24 months. Erased lower incisors indicate that the dog turned 2 and a half years old, in addition, at this age, the teeth begin to lose their luster and whiteness. At 5 years old, dachshunds fade and blunt their teeth, and at 6 these teeth turn yellow, tartar appears. The lower hooks in the shape of an irregular oval indicate the dog's 7-year-old age, and if the lower incisors are in the same condition, then the dachshund is already 8–9 years old.

• When the dachshund does lose his teeth, then she’s hardly less than 10 years old, and, most likely, she’s already turned 12 years old. At the same age, there is a decrease in vision and hearing.

The following can lead to an unexpected death of the dog. causes.

• Dachshund Diseases. This breed is characterized by such ailments as chest deformity, sliding disk syndrome, epilepsy, atrophy of the retina, and pathologies of the development of visual organs. By themselves, these diseases can not be called the causes of death, but health problems lead to the fact that the animal begins to move less, experiences loss of vision, and cramping makes the dog suffer. All this leads to a reduction in life expectancy or forces the owner to euthanize a pet.

• Chronic diseases Dachshunds are active and funny creatures, and the development of a disease can be quite imperceptible by their behavior. Very often, chronic diseases occur in a latent form, and the dog suddenly dies at the age of 8-10 years.

• Injuries or accidents. Usually in such situations the owner is to blame. If the animal is walking outside the special area, then there must be a leash on it. Even a pet dog is surrounded by a bunch of dangers.Most often, these are cars. In addition, a pet can get injured by running away from an inattentive owner on a walk, getting caught, for example, after a dog he likes. Left alone away from home, the domestic dog does not know how to behave, how to protect yourself from a flock of large relatives, how to avoid a car collision, how to hide from ill-wishers.

• Poisoning. Even if the pet is always walking on a leash, the owner should make sure that the pet does not pick up anything from the ground. First, communal services can poison rats in the nearest basement. And then the poison may be near this area. Secondly, experienced dog lovers are aware of the threat that doghunters pose to our smaller brothers. These people deliberately spread poison for dogs in places where owners are accustomed to walking their pets. Therefore, a walk should be as careful as possible. 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 good health 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 fee is working, then this indicator increases to 50%. In addition, the basis of the diet should be rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, vegetables.

If the dachshund eats ready-made feeds, then it must be premium, super-premium or holistic products. To calculate the daily rate correctly, consult your veterinarian.

Because of the sore back of the dachshund, do not offer her soft mattresses as a bed, it should be a hard bed. Regularly comb out the animal, more often this procedure is carried out during the molting period. Particularly combing is relevant for long-haired varieties. If the animal participates in the exhibition, then grooming should be trusted by a professional. Bathe your pet as needed.

Regularly treat the dog's eyes with a cotton pad dipped in warm water or in a special product. If necessary, the dachshund should be cleaned with a cotton swab, and in order to notice the problem in time, it is important to regularly inspect the auditory organs. Do not save on biting toys. Although usually dachshunds put their teeth in order on their own, without special means it will be difficult for them to take care of this problem.

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

Active 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 daily. Jogging is required every day. Let the walks be short but frequent, because during a long run the dog may overwork, and this is fraught with a shortened life span.

If the city does not have a special platform for dog walking, and you have to walk the dachshund exclusively on a leash, then make field trips where the animal can enjoy fresh air and free running.

Additional interesting facts about dachshund - in the next video.