What helps sausage dogs stay healthy and recover, from supplements to ramps to rehab, and what the evidence says.
Nothing here replaces your vet. If your dog is in pain, wobbly or not walking, see a vet first. Supplements and gear help, but they don't treat a back injury.
No supplement has been shown to prevent IVDD or heal a disc. The research below is mostly about joint pain (arthritis) in dogs, which many older dachshunds also have. Always ask your vet before starting one, especially if your dog takes other medicine or is about to have surgery.
The best-supported supplement for joint pain in dogs. A 2022 review of the research found omega-3 products helped dogs with arthritis, and some studies found dogs needed less pain medicine.
A New Zealand shellfish rich in omega-3. Some studies show a benefit for joint pain, but results are mixed.
The most popular joint supplement, but the 2022 review found no clear pain relief in dogs and recommended against using it for arthritis pain.
Studies so far are small and low quality, so it isn't yet possible to say whether it helps.
CBD looks promising in early studies but isn't proven. In Australia it needs a vet prescription. Turmeric is poorly absorbed by dogs and isn't recommended.
Supplements aren't regulated like medicines, so quality and dose can vary. Ask the brand for their research; if they can't show any, that's a red flag. Never give human pain medicine: many are toxic to dogs.
Simple things at home that cut down on jumping, slipping and strain on the back. These won't stop every back problem, but they're easy wins.
Lets your dog get up and down without jumping.
Spreads pressure across the chest instead of the neck.
Slippery floors make long dogs scramble and splay. Rugs on tiles and floorboards give them grip.
A firm, flat bed that supports the whole body. Low sides make it easy to get in and out.
Blocks stairs when you're not there to carry your dog.
Extra weight puts more strain on a long back. Measuring every meal is the easiest way to keep your dog lean.
If your vet prescribes strict rest after a back injury or surgery, these make the weeks easier for you both.
Big enough to stand, turn and lie flat, but small enough to stop running and jumping.
A soft sling under the belly lets you support the back legs on toilet trips, keeping the spine level.
For accidents if your dog can't control its bladder for a while.
Keep a bored mind busy without moving around.
Note toileting, eating, pain and walking each day, and film your dog walking every few days so your vet can see progress.
Rehab can make a real difference. In one study of 40 dachshunds treated without surgery, most of those that could still feel their back feet recovered with a rehab program. Rehab should always be planned by your vet or a qualified animal physiotherapist.
A rehab vet or animal physio sets exercises to rebuild strength and balance, and teaches you what to do at home.
Walking on an underwater treadmill or swimming lets your dog move with less weight on the spine.
Often used alongside exercise in rehab programs to help with pain and healing. Ask your rehab vet whether they suit your dog.
For dogs whose back legs don't work, a well-fitted cart can give back freedom and exercise.
Protect the tops of the feet from scrapes in dogs that knuckle or drag their paws.
The questions dachshund owners ask most, answered in plain English.
A good-quality commercial food labelled 'complete and balanced' for your dog's life stage, made to the Australian Standard for pet food (AS 5812). Fresh meat on its own isn't a complete diet.
Just as important is how much you feed. Keeping your dachshund lean takes pressure off that long back. Weigh or measure every meal, and count treats.
These foods are toxic to dogs: chocolate, caffeine, grapes, raisins and sultanas, onions, garlic, leeks and chives, macadamia nuts, and xylitol (a sweetener in some gum, lollies, baking and peanut butters).
Also avoid cooked bones, which can splinter, and fatty scraps like sausages and roast fat, which can trigger pancreatitis.
If your dog eats something toxic, call your vet or emergency vet straight away, even if they seem fine.
Like other dogs, dachshunds are more often allergic to things in their environment, like pollen, dust mites and fleas, than to food.
When dogs do have a food allergy, the most commonly reported triggers are beef, dairy, chicken and wheat. Itchy skin, licking paws and ear infections are common signs.
Your vet can help work out the cause, usually with an elimination diet trial for food allergies.
Most dachshunds love food of any kind, which is why they put on weight easily.
For healthy treats, try small pieces of cooked lean chicken, carrot, green beans, apple (no seeds or core) or blueberries. Treats should be no more than about 10% of their daily food.
A complete and balanced food suited to their age and size, whether that's dry, wet or a mix. Small kibble suits small mouths.
The 'best' food is one your dog does well on: steady weight, good energy, healthy skin and coat, and normal poos. Ask your vet if you're unsure.
We feed our dachshunds 5 Hounds by Dr Will, a vet-formulated fresh food. See Riahna's picks above.
Healthy dogs on a good diet usually don't need one. The evidence for probiotics in dogs is mixed, with some benefit shown for certain kinds of diarrhoea.
Quality varies a lot: testing has found many pet products don't contain what the label says. If your vet suggests one, use a product made for dogs that your vet recommends.
Plain cooked pumpkin and other fibre can help firm up soft poos in some dogs, though the research is limited. Use plain pumpkin, not pie filling, and start with a teaspoon.
Diarrhoea that lasts more than a day or two, or comes with vomiting, blood or a quiet, flat dog, needs a vet, not a supplement.
Omega-3 (fish oil) has the best evidence. A 2022 review of the research found it helped dogs with joint pain, and some dogs needed less pain medicine.
Green-lipped mussel has some evidence. Glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen are popular, but the research doesn't show they reliably ease pain.
No supplement has been shown to prevent IVDD. Ask your vet before starting any supplement, especially if your dog takes other medicine.
There isn't one single answer, but omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) have the strongest research behind them for joint pain. Some vets also recommend prescription joint diets that are rich in omega-3.
Your vet can recommend a product and the right dose for your dog's weight. Joint treats often contain too little to help.
Products with ingredients like L-tryptophan, chamomile or passionflower are popular for storms, fireworks and travel, but there's little good research in dogs, and results vary.
Training, a safe hiding spot and planning ahead usually help more. For real fear or anxiety, ask your vet: there are proven treatments, and some anxious behaviour is actually pain.
Medicinal mushroom blends are marketed for immunity, skin and allergies. There's very little research in dogs, so it's too early to say they help.
If your dog has itchy skin or allergies, see your vet first to find the cause.
You can't fully prevent it, because the disc changes are genetic. But you can lower the risk:
Keep your dog lean and fit. Use ramps and limit jumping on and off furniture. Use a harness instead of a collar. Talk to your vet about the timing of desexing: one UK study found dachshunds desexed before 12 months had a higher risk of disc problems.
If you're buying a puppy, ask whether the parents were back scored.
Dachshunds were bred to dig and go down burrows after badgers, so burrowing comes naturally. Blankets also feel warm, safe and cosy, especially for a small, short-coated dog.
Give them a bed with a soft blanket they can burrow into, and make sure they can easily get out.
There's no real evidence that one is easier. Personality, training and how they were raised matter far more than sex.
Desexing timing is worth discussing with your vet for both. In one UK study, desexed females had a higher risk of back problems, and the risk was highest when dogs were desexed before 12 months.
A large 20-year US study of over 74,000 dogs found that diseases of the nervous system were the most common cause of death in dachshunds and miniature dachshunds. In dachshunds, back disc disease (IVDD) is a big part of that.
The same study found dachshunds had a relatively low rate of death from cancer.
Sources
General information only, not veterinary advice. Riahna's picks are personal recommendations based on my own dogs. Ask your vet what suits your dog.
