6 Most Common Health Issues In Dachshunds

Taking care of your pup’s unique and specific medical needs is important to ensuring a long and healthy life. Depending on the breed of your pup, there are different factors to look out for and give extra care to.

Dachshunds might be small, but boy are they tough! This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t keep an eye out for them, though. Here are six of the most common dachshund health problems.

1. Eye issues

Some pups of this breed may inherit eye problems such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca – where eyes become dry on the surface – and progressive retinal atrophy – where eye cells gradually die. They may also develop cataracts. Take proper care of the eyes by cleaning away eye gunk, trimming excess fur, and ensuring all eye issues are treated properly.

2. Anal gland issues

These glands can become infected or cause pain or discomfort for your pup if they are not emptied regularly when your pup does their business. Signs that something is wrong include scratching by licking, biting, or rubbing, difficulty in sitting, and a bad odor. Learn more about your pup’s butt here!

3. Hip dysplasia

This mainly genetic disorder can be affected by the environment your pup lives in and their current health. When developed, this condition can cause lameness or loss of movement in rear legs. An overweight pup, one who ate a lot as a puppy, or one often subjected to tall jumps can develop hip dysplasia as a result. Learn more about this condition here and find out how to prevent and/or manage it here.

4. Intervertebral disk diseases

This is a very common issue in dachshund pups, especially when they are overweight, and can mainly be prevented with selective breeding. For most, there is no full recovery from this – however, milder forms of the condition can be treated for it. You can also opt for surgery to fix the problem, and your pup will likely be given dietary supplements to help them cope.

5. Patellar Luxation

This is arguably perhaps the most common dachshund health problem, and it happens due to the dislocation of the knee cap, usually due to the femoral groove becoming too narrow or shallow. Serious surgery may be needed to fix the problem. You can help prevent it by keeping your pup fit and at a healthy weight, or by giving them supplements or feeding them a selective diet. The main symptom of this condition is pain or discomfort when running or walking.

6. Mammary tumors

These are found in both male and female pups, and the risk of contracting them can be reduced if pups are de-sexed before they ever go into heat or reach sexual maturity. Half of all tumors of this nature are found benign, but treatment requires surgery and often chemotherapy.

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