The trite answer to the query of how much a Dachshund should eat is just not a lot that they turn into obese and never so little that they turn into unhealthily skinny.
But you almost certainly landed on this text because you must know the actual amount your Dachshund should eat a day.
It is crucial to find out this on your individual because each dog is different and the recommendations on the back of the food package are only that – recommendations.
What’s listed on the back of the package is a mean. A typical beginning.
In this text, I’ll explain a pair other ways to find out how much food you ought to be giving your Dachshund a day.
Determining How Much to Feed Your Adult Dachshund
There are two primary ways to find out how much food a Dachshund should eat a day.
One, is the “eyeball” method. I explain this in additional detail below.
I’m not only talking about “eyeballing” the quantity of food you place within the bowl.
The opposite way is more accurate.
The more accurate method to determine how much food to offer your Dachshund a day is to calculate the variety of calories they should devour.
Read on to know each of those methods.
The “eyeball” method
This method is less accurate, and will end in a greater weight fluctuation over time, but it surely’s still an efficient method to be certain that that your Dachshund doesn’t turn into over or underweight.
More importantly, it takes little to no math to future out or special equipment. It’s easy.
For the eyeball method, the very first thing to do is check the feeding guidelines on the back of your dog’s food package.
For dry pet food, the quantity is usually listed in cups.
For canned it is usually based on how much of the can to feed but can also list what number of cups.
For raw food, the quantity is usually listed in ounces, which you’ll have to weigh out on a scale.
Start feeding your dog this amount.
You could wish to feed just below that quantity in case your dog is sedentary, spayed, or otherwise gains weight easily.
You could wish to add just just a little to that quantity in case your Dachshund could be very energetic (typically, 30-60 minute walks not less than 5 days every week).
Feed this amount to your dog for 4-5 weeks then check their body condition rating based on the instructions further down the page.
You’ll then feed more, less, or the identical, depending in your Dachshund’s body condition rating.
Keep in mind that this amount is the entire amount of food per day.
You’ll be able to decide to feed it multi function meal or in two.
Different foods have different calorie densities, so that you won’t feed the identical volume of every
The more accurate method
Probably the most accurate method to be certain that that your dog is getting enough food, but not an excessive amount of, is to calculate the variety of calories they need in a day.
That is true for whether the food is canned, kibble, or raw.
See my article with instructions for easy methods to calculate your Dachshund’s calorie needs for more details.
Again, this amount of food is only a beginning.
Nonetheless, because it relies on your individual Dachshund, it is going to be a more accurate beginning.
Now that you will have estimated your Dachshund’s day by day calorie requirements, you must be certain that you’re feeding them that quantity – not significantly roughly.
All the time check the calories listed on the back of the pet food package (note: kCal – kilocalorie – is similar as human calories) per unit of measurement and do some more math to determine what number of cups or ounces equals the variety of calories your dog needs per day.
Then measure the suitable volume of food using a cup or scale (I prefer a scale for accuracy).
You’ll still wish to do the identical as with the “eyeball method” – feed it for a month, check your Dachshund’s body condition rating, then adjust up or down if needed.
Necessary: Don’t Forget to Account for Treats and Toppers
Whether you go by the recommendations on the back of the package or calculate the quantity of calories, it’s very vital to do not forget that is the entire number for the day.
In case your dog gets treats or chews throughout the day, otherwise you add significant meal toppers or supplements to your Dachshund’s food, you have to to account for those calories too.
That is why I’m an enormous fan of one-calorie training treats.
Some treats list the calorie count on the back of the package. Many is not going to though.
Natural chews often don’t.
For those that don’t list it, you possibly can check the manufacturer’s website for that information or estimate the calories based on a human-food equivalent.
For those who are using the eyeball method above, just guess about how much volume the treats and chews are and subtract an analogous volume from the quantity of food you’re feeding your Dachshund a day.
For instance, if you happen to think you’re giving your dog ¼ cup of treats a day, and the back of the food package says to feed your Dachshund ¾ cup a day, reduce the quantity of kibble to only ½ cup a day to make up for the treats.
For those who calculated the precise amount of calories, subtract the actual or estimated calories of all treats, chews, and meal toppers from the entire.
L to right: Full meal, less kibble with toppers, less kibble with chew
Double Checking How Much to Feed Your Dachshund Using Body Condition Rating
Commonly monitoring your Dachshund’s Body Condition Rating (BCS) is the one true method to be certain that that your Dachshund is at their optimum weight.
Listed below are the steps to determining your Dachshund’s BCS:
- Take a look at the chart below to familiarize yourself with what you will likely be in search of.
- Take a look at your dog’s ribs from the side while they’re standing up. Are you able to see greater than the last rib or two protruding?
- For those who can’t see your Dachshund’s ribs, attempt to feel them underneath the skin. Can you are feeling them but there may be a slight to moderate fat covering or do you will have to push hard to feel them?
- Take a look at your Dachshund from the side after they are standing up. Does their abdomen “tuck” up behind the ribs like a Greyhound or is their underside only one straight line from front to back?
- Take a look at your Dachshund from above after they are standing up (not while they’re eating or drinking because some dogs suck their ribs in just a little when doing this). Are their hip bones protruding? Does your Dachshund have a waist (hourglass shape)?
Use your observations gathered from above and seek the advice of the Dachshund Body Condition Rating chart below.
In case your Dachshund is assessed as underweight, their ideal weight could also be 1-2 lbs heavier than their current weight.
In case your dog’s BCS is above 5, you’ll likely want to cut back the quantity of food you’re feeding per day.
Read this text if you must know the way much a Dachshund should weigh
In case your dog’s BCS is below 4, it’s possible you’ll wish to increase the quantity.
Personally, I adjust up or down by ⅛ to ¼ cup of food per meal as needed.
For those who are frightened about reducing the quantity of food a lot that your dog will act like they’re “ravenous”, read my article on helping a Dachshund drop extra pounds.
All the time seek the advice of along with your veterinarian if you happen to usually are not comfortable making this determination on your individual.
Note: it’s possible you’ll actually want to envision your Dachshund’s BCS before you begin calculating how much to feed them since it’s possible you’ll feed just a little roughly depending on their current BCS rating.
How Much to Feed a Dachshund Puppy
The calculations above are for an adult Dachshund, so it’s possible you’ll be asking yourself, “How much should I feed my Dachshund puppy?”
Puppies have to be fed a bigger amount of food more often than adults because they’re still growing.
Moreover, small breed puppies like Dachshunds are inclined to grow more quickly and have a faster metabolism in comparison with larger breeds.
Additionally they require a special nutrient profile than adults do.
Your Dachshund puppy must be eating high-quality food with not less than 22.5% protein content.
How much food your Dachshund puppy should eat
Using the “eyeball” method described above, based on the food advice listed on the back of the puppy food bag, might be essentially the most accurate method to feed a puppy.
Calculating calories is tough because a puppy grows so fast that their weight (the first measure calorie needs are based off of) is always changing.
It may even change day by day!
Most puppy foods will make the recommendations on the chart below. As you see, there is kind of a spread!
That’s why it’s best to go together with what’s listed on the back of the package for a particular puppy food.
Below is a general Dachshund puppy feeding chart.
| Ideal Weight | 3-5 months | 6-8 months | 9/11 months | 1-2 years |
| 3-12 lbs | 3/4 – 1 1/3 cup | 1/2 – 1 1/2 cup | adult portion | adult portion |
| 13-20 lbs | 1 – 2 cups | 3/4 – 1 1/2 cup | 1 – 1 1/2 cup | adult portion |
How over and over a day should a Dachshund puppy eat
Dachshund puppies must be consuming 3-4 meals per day so divide that day by day amount into equal portions for every meal.
For Dachshund puppies, follow this rough feeding guideline:
- 2-4 months old: 4 meals day by day
- 4-6 months old: 3 meals day by day
- 6-8 months old: 2-3 meals day by day
- Over 8 months old: 2 meals day by day
Body Condition rating Matters, but not as much
Verifying that your puppy is just not getting too skinny or plump using the Body Condition Rating (BCS) chart remains to be relevant but not as much while they’re growing.
Like human kids, based on my observations, Dachshund puppies typically grow “out” before they grow “up”.
Which means they might get just a little roly-poly before the subsequent growth spurt when they may grow longer and taller.
In my view, a puppy’s ideal BCS is between 5 and 7. I’m not a vet though, only a passionate Dachshund owner.
Still, it is going to be clear in case your puppy is just too skinny (body condition rating of two or 1).
Monitor your puppy’s body condition and adjust portion sizes as needed.
For essentially the most accurate advice, seek the advice of your veterinarian, who can give you specific forms of food, supplements, and feeding schedules tailored to your puppy’s needs.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t any absolute, hard and fast rule about how much a Dachshund should eat per day.
There are such a lot of variables to contemplate just like the calorie density of the food, your Dachshund’s ideal weight, their age, whether or not they are spayed and neutered, and the way energetic they’re.
Learning the correct amount you ought to be feeding your Dachshund is step one to an extended, blissful, comfortable life for them.
Nonetheless, food is just not just something you possibly can “set and go”.
You’ll want to revisit the quantity of food you give your Dachshund several times throughout their lifetime, if not several times a yr.
Times it’s possible you’ll must recalculate the quantity are:
- When your Dachshund transitions from a puppy to an adult
- When your Dachshund is spayed or neutered
- When their activity level changes – significantly increased or decreased
- In the event that they develop health issues requiring medication
- For those who switch the food type or brand
- When on crate rest and recovering from IVDD
The #1 foolproof method to be certain that you’re feeding your Dachshund the suitable amount of food every day is to closely monitor their Body Condition Rating (BCS).
That can help guide your decision to extend or decrease the quantity of food your Dachshund eats.
And, speaking of food, you is perhaps wondering what the perfect food for a Dachshund is.
The reality is, there are loads of great foods on the market and, personally, I prefer to rotate (change) my Dachshund’s food often to maintain it interested and to assist their gut be more resilient.
Read this text to see what I feed my miniature Dachshunds.
