Best Dog Food For Dachshunds

Despite being known for its small stature, the dachshund breed requires a huge amount of energy for its active behavior. Thus, aside from proper care, owners should also know the food and nutrients it needs to stay healthy and energetic.

Top Food Options For Dachshund

Nutritional Requirements For Dachshund

Small-breed and toy-breed formulas are generally good for Dachshunds. However, you need to check the basic nutrient content such as fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals as these are your dachshund’s primary dietary requirements.

Dachshunds have a fast metabolism and they need to consumer fats more than larger dogs do. Fats serve as their main source of energy. Aside from that, it is also essential to maintaining proper growth and healthy skin or coat.

Your dachshund, however, only needs the specific fatty acids—the type of fat considered to be healthy. This includes linoleic or omega-6 and the alpha-linolenic or omega-3 fatty acids.

Carbohydrates are one of the nutrients that are easily digested by dachshunds. They serve as an additional source of energy aside from fats, and improve intestinal and reproductive health.

Proteins are essential for the growth and production of cells and hormones. Your dachshund basically needs proteins from meat more than those that are extracted from plants, as animal proteins contain the complete amino acids your dachshund needs.

Including vitamins and minerals, especially calcium, in your dachshund’s diet positively affects their overall health. These nutrients aid metabolism, promote healthy bones, and improves the absorption of other nutrients. They also improve resistance against bone problems and health deficiencies.

Keeping all of these nutritional requirements in mind while choosing from hundreds of options in the market might be a challenge to many; so, to help you with choosing, here are the top five food choices that are best for your dachshund’s needs.

Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food Small Breed Formula

The three major ingredients of this dog food are turkey, flaxseed, and spinach. Turkey meal is a great source of both protein and fatty acids. Flaxseed is rich in omega-3 while spinach contains magnesium and iron.

This dog food contains salmon oil which is a source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for your dachshund’s skin and immune system. It also has Yucca Schidigera extract which reduces stool odor and provides iron, vitamins c and b-complex.

It also packs important vitamins and minerals from the fruits and vegetables in its ingredients such as sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, and apples.

Its calcium content, together with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, helps strengthen your dachshund’s bones and joints. It also helps prevent common issues among its breed such as brittle bones, and joint and spinal problems.

Overall, it can aid in your dachshund’s digestive health, help maintain healthy coat, provide optimal level of energy, and help strengthen bones and joints. Plus, it is grain-free so it helps control your dog’s metabolism.

BLUE Buffalo Life Protection Dry Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe

This is a natural, protein-rich food appropriate for dogs that require a healthy amount of energy for their daily activities. It is made primarily of deboned chicken and brown rice.

The brown rice contains increased levels of carbohydrates and protein to help fill your dachshund’s daily calorie needs. Also, the carbohydrates from brown rice are easily digestible thus, good for your dachshund’s metabolism.

Chicken meal and deboned chicken produce high-quality protein which help maintain and develop strong muscles. It also contains tomato pomace which is a good source of lycopene.

Barley and oatmeal, on the other hand, are high in fiber and can lower cholesterol level. Oatmeal is also proven to help reduce weight in case your dachshund starts eating too much.

In addition, it has seven antioxidant-rich ingredients including: pomegranate, blackberries, cranberries, apples, spinach, blueberries, and pumpkin. Also, it contains vitamins, omega-3, and omega-6 that support immune system and promote shiny and healthy skin or coat. 

Orijen Adult Dog Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

This dog food is made up of 90% poultry, egg, and fish ingredients and 10% botanicals, fruits, and vegetables. It’s all-natural and contains no synthetic protein and fat.

It provides an optimum level of protein from different meats including ground turkey, turkey liver and heart, ground chicken, chicken liver and heart. It also contains protein from whole herring, whole flounder, and whole eggs.

The low-glycemic vegetables and fruits such as apples, carrots, and pears found in it will aid your dachshund’s digestion and limit carbohydrate intake. Its botanical contents, on the other hand, help detoxify your pet’s system.

It also contains other chelated minerals such as iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper and zinc proteinates. These are essential to balancing your dachshund’s diet while enabling proper absorption at the same time.

Note that this particular dog food is freeze-dried, this means it provides nutritional benefits naturally without being processed further or being preserved artificially. 

EVO Turkey & Chicken Small Bite Dog Food

The protein content for this comes primarily from turkey, chicken, and chicken meal. Other sources are menhaden meal and salmon meal. The fat content comes from preserved chicken fat with mixed tocopherols which contain vitamin E.

Since it is also grain free, your dachshund would be protected from excessive carbohydrate intake and help them absorb more protein. It is easy to digest as well thus, a better absorption of nutrients.

The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are also present in this dog food. Both promote shiny and healthy coating to your dachshund, and support its immune system as well.

Aside from its complete set of basic vitamins and minerals, it contains a healthy amount of cottage cheese which is a low-fat ingredient with a high protein content. Plus, it is high in calcium which helps prevent bone problems.

It contains rosemary extract which serves as an antioxidant to maintain healthy cells and shields your dachshund’s immune system from common food bacteria. 

NUTRO Grain Free Small Breed Adult Farm-Raised Chicken, Lentils and Sweet Potato Recipe

Farm-raised chicken and chicken meal are the main source of this dog food’s protein content. The fat content comes from the chicken fat which is preserved and then mixed tocopherols.

Lentils are packed with fiber and protein. They also contain omega-3, omega-6, and essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and iron. All of which can be found in this particular dog food recipe.

Since sweet potatoes are high in dietary fiber, they are good for your dachshund’s digestive health. They also contain manganese which aid in the production of energy, as well as vitamins C and B6 that support immune system.

Sweet potatoes are also rich in beta-carotene which is converted into vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for your dachshund’s vision. It also promotes growth and muscle strength.

Aside from these main ingredients, it also comes with other beneficial content such as: rosemary extract, pea protein, flaxseed, lamb meal, split peas, potato starch, and other vitamins and minerals that cover all the nutrients needed for overall health.