Do you want to know when to switch a Dachshund from puppy to adult dog food? Maybe you want to find out what happens if you keep your Dachshund on puppy food too long? Here’s everything you need to know about when to change your Dachshund’s food.
When Do You Switch A Dachshund From Puppy To Adult Dog Food? Dachshunds should be switched from puppy to adult dog food when they reach around 9 to 12 months old. The transition between your Dachshund’s puppy food to the new adult dog food should be done over 10 days to avoid digestive upset.
Read on to find out how to change your Dachshund’s puppy food over to adult dog food without causing a stomach upset, and when to move your Dachshund on to senior dog food.
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This article is based on research and personal experience as a Dachshund owner of 10+ years. I’m not a Vet, qualified dog trainer or dog behaviourist.
When Do I Switch My Dachshund From Puppy To Adult Dog Food?
Dachshunds should be switched from puppy to adult dog food from around 9 to 12 months old.
Small miniature Dachshunds tend to need to switch to adult dog food nearer the 9 month old mark and standard Dachshunds can sometimes be a bit later.
It’s a good idea to get a vet health check when your puppy reaches 8 months old to find out when it’s the right time for them to change over to adult dog food.
It’s best to choose an adult dog food that’s similar to the puppy food brand your Dachshund was on before.
This dietary change can sometimes be difficult on your Dachshund’s digestive system if it’s done too suddenly!
That’s why you should transition your Dachshund from puppy food to adult dog food over a slow process of around ten days.
Begin by taking out small amounts of your Dachshund’s puppy food from their regular meal time. Then replace this amount with the new adult dog food.
So maybe start with a meal of around 90% puppy food mixed with 10% adult dog food. Then go down to 80% puppy food mixed with 20% adult dog food. And keep gradually reducing the puppy food down until you’re feeding only adult dog food.
This process should help your Dachshund slowly adjust to the new adult food over time.
However, if your puppy gets sick, has diarrhea, or simply stops eating altogether, then contact your vet for advice.
Many larger dog breeds need to wait until they’re 2 years old before switching over to adult dog food.
The reason why Dachshund owners are recommended to switch sooner is simply because Dachshunds are small dogs!
This means they reach maturity sooner. They no longer need the extra fat and protein in puppy food for their bones, organs, muscles and joints to develop.
What Happens If I Keep Feeding My Dachshund Puppy Food?
If you keep feeding your Dachshund puppy food for too long, they may start to gain weight.
Puppy food is high in protein and fat. It’s formulated for growing puppies who quickly burn off all those extra calories.
Whereas full grown Dachshunds have very different nutritional needs to puppies. They’ll store the extra calories and then start to gain weight.
Sadly, Dachshunds are prone to obesity. So, if your Dachshund starts to rapidly gain weight at around 8-9 months old, it’s worth checking with your vet.
The vet may get you to switch your Dachshund over to adult dog food a bit sooner to keep his weight in check!
Keeping your Dachshund at a healthy weight is important as they’re also prone to Intervertebral Disc Disease or IVDD.
IVDD an extremely painful back disease that one in four Dachshunds suffers from. Unfortunately, it can lead to paralysis in extreme cases.
Any extra weight could put pressure on your Dachshund’s spine, and that could put him at increased risk of suffering from IVDD.
Ideally, your Dachshund needs to be fed a diet that works for his nutritional needs. But these needs will change as he develops and grows older.
And that’s the reason why there’s a choice of dog food available to buy. There’s ‘puppy food’, ‘adult dog food’ and also ‘senior dog food’ too!
When Does A Dachshund Need To Switch To Senior Dog Food?
In general it’s best to switch an adult Dachshund over to senior dog food from around 8 to 11 years old.
However, all dogs are different and have different health and nutritional needs, so it’s best to check with your vet before making any dietary changes.
There are many factors that determine whether a Dachshund has reached their senior years – so this isn’t just about age!
It’s also about any health conditions your Dachshund may have, how active their lifestyle is, their weight, dental state, coat condition, and mental function too.
Dachshunds live much longer lives than larger dog breeds with an average life expectancy of around 12-16 years.
However, there are many owners on Facebook Groups with Dachshunds that are 18 or more years old.
Senior Dachshunds tend to sleep a lot more as they get older. And that’s why senior dog food is formulated to stop your Dachshund gaining weight as he slows down.
Senior dog food may also help with any dental issues, skin problems or joint pain too.
In fact, there can be many benefits to switching your Dachshund on to senior dog food at the right stage of their life.
It’s best to choose a senior dog food that’s similar to the adult dog food brand your Dachshund was on before.
And again, you need to transition your Dachshund over to the senior dog food slowly. Ideally over 10-14 days.
So start with a meal of around 90% adult food mixed with 10% senior food. Then go down to 80% adult food mixed with 20% senior food. And keep reducing the adult food down gradually until you’re feeding only senior dog food.
If your Dachshund vomits or has diarrhea, or simply stops eating altogether, then contact your vet for advice.
Should I Check With My Vet Before Making Changes To My Dachshund’s Diet?
Yes, changing your Dachshund’s diet over to adult dog food or senior dog food should be a decision based on your Dachshund’s age, weight, health, activity levels, lifestyle and individual needs.
Your Vet is always the best person to advise you on your Dachshund’s health, and feeding the right diet at the right stage of their life is an important part of that.
Keeping your Dachshund in tip-top condition and at the ideal weight, will help them to live the best and longest life they can!
If you want to know what Dachshund’s eat the click here!
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