Dachshund Dogs Health
When choosing any dog to bring into your home as a pet it is important to first discover what conditions the dog could be prone to during their lifetime. It is common for dogs to have injuries because of the way they have been bred, usually the breeders are aiming for a particular look, like a long back or short snout but this can cause the breed to have health problems such as excess weight and stress on the spinal column etc.
The dachshund breed of dog is known to have some common health problems concerned with their backs. This is usually invertebrate disk disease caused by their elongated bodies and having a short rib cage. This causes a strain on the dogs back and can lead to problems during their life span; an overweight dog worsens this as it puts more strain on the back area from more body weight.
A veterinarian may tell you to refrain from allowing your dog to climb stairs (especially if you would need to use them on a daily basis) and instead take the elevator if possible. It is important to carry your dachshund properly to avoid injury, both front and back ends of the dog should be held correctly and firmly, you should never let the dogs weight slip to one side.
The problems dachshunds experience with their backs is mainly a hereditary disease caused by breeders aiming for the longest possible back. Breeders are now working to remedy this situation. If your dachshund has back problems there are medications that are available in the form of anti-inflammatory steroids. Sometimes surgery is an option where the surgeon removes the disk from their back that is causing the problems. It is also known for dachshund dogs to be taken to canine chiropractor.