Dachshunds 101 - ins and outs of the dachshund diet

I was surprised to discover that one of the most controversial topics amongst dachshund owners is the dashie diet.

Luckily there are some things we can all agree on.

1. Overweight dachshunds run a significantly increased risk of developing back problems.
2. A whole stack of food we people love are toxic to dogs, even in small amounts (see below).
3. Dachshunds are super cute. (ok, that isn’t diet related but you know it’s true).

Foods that are toxic for dogs

Some of these foods can be deadly, others may cause tummy upset.  If you think your dog has eaten any of these foods, seek veterinary advice.

• Chocolate
• Macadamia nuts
• Other nuts including almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios
  (Note: peanuts are actually a legume, not a nut and peanut butter is great kong stuffer for our short legged companions)
• Sultanas, raisins, grapes
• Onions
• Garlic
• Caffeine
• Cyanide – (well duh – but this is contained in apple seeds, cherry pips, peach, apricot and plum stones)
• Avocado
• Cornncobs – (the corn itself isn’t too much of a problem, but the cobs can cause bowel obstructions)
• Mushrooms
• Artificial sweeteners (Xylitol) – contained in lollies, chewing gum and who knows what else)
• Green tomatoes
• Green potatoes and potato peelings
• Rhubarb leaves
• Raw bread dough

The good news is, when you’re noshing down on some yummy chocolate or nutty treat, you don’t have to feel guilty about not sharing with your dog – you’re saving his/her life.

That said, no matter how many times he hears it, I’m not sure that our dog knows what “Chocolate’s bad for dogs” means yet...

For more information on the symptoms of eating these foods, here are some links.

http://www.pethealth.com.au/Page/human-foods-that-poison-pets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_health#Dangerous_foods
http://ibostonterrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/healthy-dog-snacks.jpg
(I'd like to credit whoever created this originally, but I can't seem to find out where it came from)

So what should I feed my dog?

There is a lot of research out there, some of it conflicting.
Whether you decide to feed you dog a raw diet, a commercial dog food or some other combination, it is important to know your options.

Some dogs will have special dietary needs regardless of your preference.

For more information on general diet questions, here are some places to start;

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/


http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-should-I-feed-my-dog_263.html
http://ibostonterrier.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/healthy-dog-snacks.jpg
(I'd like to credit whoever created this originally, but I can't seem to find out where it came from)
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Food-Dogs-Clare-Middle/dp/1921361352
http://www.amazon.com/Give-Your-Dog-Bone-Commonsense/dp/0646160281/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377939272&sr=8-1&keywords=billingshurst+dog+food