If you’re thinking of getting a mini dachs you may be wondering what the average lifespan of a miniature dachshund is and how to keep such a dog healthy. This is a big question as we usually plan these things ahead of time. Some people get dogs for their kids, hoping that the two will grow together until the child turns 18-20. Others get dogs to have a companion during their golden years.
So, is the typical lifespan of mini dachshunds long enough for something like this? Or is this one of those breeds that rarely reach a particularly advanced age?
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The Average Lifespan Of A Miniature Dachshund
More often than not, mini dachs will live to around 12 to 14 years. Keep in mind that this is just the average, of course. With the right care and a bit of luck, mini dachs can easily live to 16 or 17 years. This is longer than the average for most other dog breeds.
What Is The Longest Recorded Mini Dachshund Lifespan?
The oldest miniature dachshund we know of is called Chanel. Thanks to her loving owners, Chanel lived to the ripe old age of 21 years old before she passed away in 2009.
The second oldest mini dachs was a spirited dog named Scolly who passed away in 2013 at age 20. Granted, these are just the dogs we have records of – many others are guaranteed to have also lived that long.
Standard Vs Mini Dachshund Lifespan
Another crucial question is whether standard or mini dachs live longer. This is a bit debatable, especially since different kennel clubs list different “average ages” for both. According to our estimates, however, because they have fewer problems with their backs.
The difference isn’t very significant, however, and standard dachshunds live almost as much as mini dachs on average. Besides, there are other health areas where mini dachshunds have more problems than standard dachs.
What Do Mini Dachshunds Usually Die From?
The four conditions that are most likely to take your mini dachs away from you are:
- Cancer (canine neoplasia) – the most likely cause of death for a mini dachshund
- Cardiac disorder – approximately 10% of dachshunds suffer from heart disease
- Kidney failure – Kidney stones, bladder rapture, toxin ingestion, urinary obstruction, and others can cause this problem
- Liver disease – severity and mortality vary greatly here with some mild cases
Of course, there are other potential issues you should also keep an eye for. These include Cushing’s Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism), obesity, Lafora disease, Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), various eye diseases such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), glaucoma, and cataracts, Acanthosis Nigricans, and others.
Back problems are fairly common in mini dachshunds although not as common as in standard dachs. None of these is as deadly for a mini dachs as tumors or cardiac disorder.
7 Key Ways to Improve The Life Expectancy Of Miniature Dachshunds
So, the million-dollar question is how to make sure that your mini dachshund lives as long and as healthily as possible? There are several main factors you might want to consider:
- Feed your dachs as well as possible. A mix of high-quality dry and wet food is best. Using treats is ok, even daily, but make sure they are not too high on calories. As for a feeding schedule, a minimum of two meals per day is a must. If you can fit three (smaller) meals into your schedule, that’s even better. Alternatively, you can count dog trees during playtime as a third meal.
- Daily exercise is a must. For mini dachshunds, the bare minimum is 30 minutes of high-intensity running and playtime outdoors. Additional indoor playtime should be pretty regular throughout the day too – at least several times. Mini dachs love to play with balls and most other toys, as long as they are suitable for their small stature.
- Give your dachs plenty of love and interaction. This is a very social breed that thrives off of love and attention. It may sound like a cliché but social breeds like the mini dachshund really depend on getting the love of their humans. Such social and playful breeds are very prone to boredom so you’ll have to watch out for that. A bored dog can easily get depressed – from there, physical inactivity and lack of appetite follow pretty quickly.
- Let him out for a wee more regularly. Two daily walks are ok for a mini dachshund but this breed needs to pee more often than that. You should make sure that your dachs can pee whenever he wants to – kidney problems are one of their 4-5 main concerns. If you don’t have a yard, housetraining your mini dachs is a good alternative.
- Regular vet check-ups are a must. We recommend two annual visits to the vet. Most people are usually content with just one visit to the vet per year, together with the yearly vaccination. We strongly suggest bringing your dachs to the vet every 6 months, however, even if the dog is feeling well.
This is especially important for older dachshunds – over 8-9 years of age. A lot of the key issues that can shorten your dachs’ life such as tumors and cardiac problems must be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. - Cleanliness and grooming are also important. It’s common for dachs owners to ignore this as a lesser concern. And it certainly is, compared to the food and exercise points. However, you still shouldn’t ignore grooming. Improper grooming and hygiene can lead to parasite infestations, skin issues, infections, dental problems, and other concerns.
While none of these are usually lethal on their own, they can easily lead to other problems that can affect the average lifespan of a miniature dachshund. - Protect your mini dachshund from the elements. This can mean watching out for heatstrokes in the summer and being wary of freezing in the winter. Miniature dachshunds are not as delicate as other miniature dog breeds but they are not as hardy as larger breeds either.
An Awesome Dog With a Long Lifespan
All in all, if you take good care of your dog you should go well beyond the average lifespan of a miniature dachshund. And, yes, luck always plays a role in these things. However, we can account for that by not missing the regularly scheduled vet visits.
