10 Vet-Verified Common Dachshund Health Issues: Signs, Treatment & Prevention

Dachshunds are a popular breed of dog, and for good reason! Their long bodies, adorable little legs, and unique personalities could capture anyone's heart. As any other dog breed, they can be prone to certain health issues¹, and unfortunately, the features that make these ‘weiner dogs’ so recognizable also cause some major health issues. In the following article, we will discuss 9 of the most common health problems that dachshunds face. We will also provide tips on how to prevent and treat these health issues. If you own a dachshund, it is important to be aware of these health concerns so that you can take steps to protect your furry family member.

The 10 Common Dachshund Health Issues

1. Intervertebral Disc Disease

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a condition that can affect your dog's spine. It happens when the disks that cushion the vertebrae in your dog's spine start to degenerate and calcify. This can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, and cause pain, weakness, and even paralysis. IVDD is most common in small breeds of dogs, like dachshunds, and usually affects dogs between the ages of 4 and 8. However, any dog can be affected by IVDD.

There are two types of IVDD: acute and chronic. Acute IVDD happens suddenly and is often the result of an injury. Chronic IVDD develops slowly over time and is usually the result of age-related degeneration. Regardless of the type, IVDD can be very serious and even life-threatening.

2. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

Dachshunds are not one of the most common dog breeds to suffer from hip dysplasia, but it can still happen. This is a condition that affects the hip socket and leads to pain, lameness, and even arthritis. The abnormal shortening of the limbs has also resulted in a rotation of the long bones, which then affects the conformation of the joints, making them more susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia.

3. Dental Problems

Dental problems are one of the most common health issues in dogs, and dachshunds seem to be particularly susceptible, possibly because the signs are often missed with their heads so close to the ground! Dogs can suffer from plaque and tartar buildup, gum disease, and tooth decay. Poor dental hygiene can lead to pain and infection and can even cause other health problems such as heart disease.

4. Patellar Luxation

The patella – aka kneecap – is connected to the femur and tibia via ligaments and tendons, and runs in a shallow channel of cartilage called the trochlear groove. If this groove isn’t deep enough or there is uneven tension in the connective tissue, the patella can pop out of this location, and this is called luxation. There are various grades of luxation, ranging from grade 1, where the patella is slightly mobile and can be moved out of the groove, to grade 4, where the patella sits permanently out of the groove.

Dachshund limbs are shortened and rotate when compared to a standard canine leg, and this puts abnormal load on the ligaments and tendons holding the patella in place, making them highly susceptible to this condition.

Patellar luxation often presents as an intermittent, skipping lameness.

In mild cases, the condition may be managed conservatively with weight management, physiotherapy, and joint supplements. In more severe cases of patellar luxation, surgery is often required to prevent further injury to the joint.

Prevention of patellar luxation is partially down to judicious breeding of dogs with superior limb conformation and no luxation. Weight management and joint supplements are a great way to reduce the risks of patella luxation becoming an issue for your dog.

5. Obesity

This is less likely to be a specific genetic predisposition of the breed, but rather an unfortunate, common problem with their owners. Dachshunds are often susceptible to a bit of overindulging, and due to their small size and short legs, are often unable to burn off the calories they are given.

Because of their predisposition to spinal and joint problems, excess weight carries a particularly high risk of causing more serious health problems, in addition to the usual issues associated with obesity in dogs.

Use the Body Condition Score chart to help you assess whether or not your dog is the right size and shape. If you can’t readily feel your dog’s ribs, then there’s a good chance they are overweight.

Don’t use breed weight charts as a guide for what your Dachshund should weigh, as every individual is different. It is therefore vital that you work with your vet to ensure your Dachshund is maintaining a lean bodyweight at all times.

6. Eye Problems

There are various eye problems that can affect dogs, and the Dachshund is no exception. Their short stature can put them in the firing line of grasses and shrubs that can cause trauma, scratches, ulcers, or conjunctivitis. The breed also has a genetic predisposition for a condition called Generalized Progressive Retinal Atrophy GPRA, where the photoreceptors in the back of the eye break down, resulting in blindness.

Look out for signs like squinting, redness, rubbing the eyes, cloudiness, discharge, or even bumping into things.

Most eye problems can be addressed readily with specific ocular medications. Unfortunately there is no treatment for GPRA.

There is a genetic test for GPRA, and responsible Dachshund breeders should be able to provide you with the results of their dogs’ tests.

7. Allergies

Allergies are one of the most common health problems in dogs. They can be caused by a variety of allergens, including environmental substances, food, and flea saliva. For Dachshunds, spending life low to the ground can make them more susceptible to contact allergies from grasses and pollens.

8. Urinary Stones

Certain Dachshund populations, especially males, might be prone to develop cystine urinary calculi or stones.

9. Cushing's Disease

Hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing's disease is a most common hormonal health problem in dogs. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including tumors and medications.

10. Arthritis

Degenerative joint disease (DJD), inflammation, and osteoarthritis can occur as a result of developmental or congenital abnormalities, trauma, infection, and conformation problems. The abnormal load and angular deformities that predispose the Dachshund to spinal disease, patellar luxation, and hip & elbow dysplasia, also make them prone to developing arthritis.

Signs of arthritis will depend on the area involved, but may appear as slowed or abnormal gait, limping or lameness, reluctance to stand or jump up, exercise intolerance, or excessive panting. These last two can also be a sign of heart disease, which is why a veterinary examination is essential.

The diagnosis of arthritis is often based on a physical examination by your vet, but may also include imaging such as x-ray or MRI. Treatment may involve a combination of pain relief medication, anti-inflammatories, joint supplements, and complementary therapies such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, or laser therapy.

The good news is that arthritis can be slowed and in some cases, even prevented. Talk to your vet about the types of activities and exercises that are ideal for a Dachshund, and which ones should be avoided at all costs, like running up and down stairs and jumping off sofas. While joint supplements can be helpful to all dog breeds, those that are physiologically predisposed to arthritis can really benefit from the early initiation of joint supplements to help nourish the joint structures.

Maintaining a lean and healthy body condition will also go a long way to reducing the wear and tear on your dog’s joints.

Summary

Dachshunds are prone to a number of health problems. It is important to be aware of these conditions and to take your dachshund to the vet if you notice any changes in their health. Early detection and treatment of these conditions can help improve your Dachshund's quality of life.

• See also: 7 Best Dog Harnesses for Dachshunds

Featured Image Credit: llaszlo, Shutterstock