Supplements for dachshunds – what a jungle! Just like us humans, our doxies need to get the right amount of vitamins and minerals to help them stay in good health.
It can also be tricky to know what to take, when to take it, and what to look out for when buying supplements for dachshunds.
That’s why we’ve put together a guide to help you make sense of the various supplements and vitamins suitable for your doxie.
We will talk about the most common types of supplements that your dachshund needs, the essential things you need to know before buying them, and whether senior dogs and puppies need some extra care. We’ve also gathered some of our favourite products, so please have a look at those too!
When it comes to vitamins for your dachshund, the chances are that if you have a healthy adult dog, he is already getting all he needs in his food. However, if you don’t feed your doxie nutritious homemade meals daily, you might have to give him some supplements to ensure your wiener dog gets all the nutrients he needs.
Disclaimer: We are not health professionals, and you always want to check with your vet before making changes to your dachshund’s diet.
What to Look for When Choosing the Right Supplements?
You’ll first want to check if the supplements and vitamins are specifically made for dogs. Whereas some nutrients will be the same as for humans, the formulation and strength might differ. As well as that, some human supplements contain certain additives that are toxic to dogs. It would be best if you didn’t give your dachshund anything that has been designed for human consumption. Stick to the doggy pills and tablets, and you’ll be fine!
You also want to have a look at the amount of the active ingredient(s) in each capsule so that the formula is potent enough for your dachshund. The active ingredients and their amount will be listed on the back of the jar and can vary from vitamins and minerals to fish oils and probiotics. Different supplement brands come in different strengths, so check carefully before buying!
Another thing to keep an eye open for is information about how the supplements for dachshunds were made. Have there been any clinical studies to make sure they’re safe? You’ll also want to check the country of manufacturing as different countries have different regulations that they have to follow. It might seem like a bit of a hassle, but ensuring you get the best quality supplements for your dachshund is time well spent!
Your dachshund will probably agree that taste is another crucial factor to consider when choosing supplements. A tasty little treat will be much more popular than something your dog doesn’t particularly like and, therefore, will be much easier to get him to eat without struggle. If it’s delicious, you might not even have to hide it in a cube of cheese or a piece of sausage, can you imagine! Buying supplements with natural beef or chicken flavour is always a win-win situation.
And, of course, you want to ensure that whatever you get your dachshund (and perhaps yourself!) is hypoallergenic because no one wants to trigger any allergies when trying to stay fit and healthy.
Does your Dachshund Puppy Need Additional Nutrition Support?
The short answer is – it depends.
A slightly longer answer – it depends on your pup’s health condition and the supplement formulation! In general, puppies get everything they need through their food – especially if it’s made specifically for puppies and young dogs.
Still, sometimes dog food only contains the minimum rather than the recommended dose of certain nutrients, so read the labels carefully and ask your vet how many nutrients your baby doxie needs to stay happy and well.
Similarly, if your puppy seems a bit malnourished, it’s a good idea to check with your vet to see if you can treat any deficiencies with vitamins and supplements. However, if you don’t notice any health conditions like a dull coat or flaky skin, there is no need for any added nutrients. Just make sure his diet is varied, and you’ll be fine!
Since dachshunds tend to have issues with their joints and bones, you might want to look into whether you should give your pup supplements specifically for healthy joints. It might also be a good idea to look into Omega fatty acids, which promote cognitive development and function. Don’t worry, though; we’ll cover both those things a little further down, so keep on reading!
Supplements & Vitamins for Senior Dachshunds
Senior dachshunds’ joints, bones, and muscles might need extra help to function correctly. Even if you haven’t overworked your sausage dog, he has still (hopefully!) been active his whole life, which has taken its toll on his body. You might have to help your weiner dog by adding supplements and vitamins to relieve the stress and possible complications such as IVDD.
What to give your dachshund depends on what kind of issues he has or might get. Some things to address are a healthy coat, joint pain, and back issues, and older dogs might also get anxious or suffer from incontinence. There are supplements for dachshunds for all these conditions. We’ll talk about supplements for healthy joints, among other things, in a little bit.
Your doxie also needs a healthy, well-working digestive system to absorb all the nutrients required for overall well-being. Probiotics are excellent for this purpose; you can also add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the water bowl – just make sure it contains the “mother”, – a cloudy substance with all the goodness in it.
And now, it’s finally time for the list of products you can get for your dear sausage dog! Just remember – over-supplementation can lead to adverse side effects, so choose one or two according to your dachshund’s health needs!
Breed-specific Supplements for Dachshunds
Dachshund Advanced Care by Breedology
Dachshund Advanced Care by Breedology is by far our favourite. It is the one & only breed-specific supplement for the dachshund breed – how cool is that!
We love that Breedology supplements and tailored to address and prevent the most common health conditions dachshunds face in their lives.
For instance, we all know that dachshunds are chondrodystrophic dogs and are prone to joint & spine issues more than other breeds.
Breedology supplements are formulated specifically for chondrodystrophic breeds and provide powerful joint and cartilage support to address & prevent any back problems in dachshunds.
Doxies are also prone to hypothyroidism; this is why Dachshund Advanced Care includes Astragalus, a traditional Mongolian herb that helps balance a thyroid hormone.
Other dachshunds’ widespread health problems include weakened vision and skin problems such as dry skin or color dilution alopecia.
A bespoke blend by Breedology is explicitly tailored to target these health areas.
Breedology offers an all-in-one supplement instead of multiple products to support your dachshund’s well-being holistically; this is it is why it is our all-time favourite.
You will no longer need to have a cupboard full of doggie supplements that only target one specific concern – what a piece of fantastic news!
Pros:
- Formulated with dachshunds’ health needs in mind,
- One jar lasts up to 3 months, depending on your dachshund size,
- Made in the USA with natural & organic ingredients,
- All-in-one supplement instead of multiple products,
- Effective amounts of ingredients in the formula.
Cons:
We didn’t find any!
Most Effective Joint Supplements for Dachshunds
To support your dachshund’s joints, you need active ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid, which all have benefits and work to improve joint health. In addition, herbs like turmeric contain potent antioxidants and are also great for reducing inflammation in the joints, so you might want to check that out too!
Dachshund Advanced Care by Breedology has all of these powerful ingredients in its formula; that’s why it’s by far our favourite when it comes to maintaining dachshund’s joints & cartilage.
However, here are a couple of other decent options for you to consider:
VetriScience Laboratories GlycoFlex PLUS
This supplement is great for seniors or working dogs who might need extra support. The active ingredients help to cushion the joints and promote cartilage building – how good is that! It’s also specifically made for small dogs and can increase hind leg strength, so it’s perfect for your dachshund. It comes in bite-size chews and has several yummy flavors to choose from, so getting your dog to eat them won’t be a problem – fingers crossed!
NOW Pet Health Joint Support Supplement for Dogs
Another supplement that’s great for senior dogs who want to keep going on adventures and play in their golden years! This supplement will maintain hips and joints and help your dachshund stay healthy, and to improve mobility and enthusiasm for walks. Other than ingredients like MSM and glucosamine, it also has both antioxidants and several vitamins, making it a bit of a superhero in the supplement world!
Zesty Paws Glucosamine for Dogs
Not only does this supplement come in a colourful package, but it also works for dogs of all ages. It helps with the joints and surrounding tissue with ingredients like glucosamine, MSM, and chondroitin and also has vitamin C and E as well as kelp to make your dog even healthier. The soft chews come in several flavors, including tasty bacon and duck – perhaps this supplement deserves a superhero title too!
Navitas Organics Turmeric Powder
If you want to give turmeric a go, this is a great one to use. This powder is organic and anti-inflammatory, and is naturally one of the best supplements for dachshunds. You can just mix it up with some coconut oil (which has great health benefits, too!) and give it to your dachshund as it is.
Best Omega Fatty Acid Supplements for Dachshunds
Omega fatty acids are said to be one of the best supplements you can add to your dog’s diet and have many health benefits for dogs and humans alike. They keep your dog’s coat shiny and silky, are good for the heart, and help with joint pain. In addition, the immune system gets a boost and cognitive development and function are promoted, and they’re also great for itchy, irritated skin. Omega fatty acids can even help treat arthritis and kidney disease – what’s not to like about this!
Finn Skin & Coat Salmon Oil Supplement for Dogs
These tasty chews contain both Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA & DHA). There’s also B-Vitamin, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Biotin and Zinc, which helps with general health and itchy, dry skin and a shiny coat. It gets the Omegas from salmon oil that has been sustainably sourced and contains no sugar, dairy, corn, or artificial flavourings or preservatives. It’s also said to be delicious – we haven’t tried it ourselves, but your dog will most likely love these yummy chews!
Zesty Paws Omega Bites Skin & Coat
These soft chews are delicious and contain not only fish oil but biotin and vitamin C and E as well. The oil comes from wild pollock and is both a pure and clean source of Omega 3 that will give your doxie’s health a boost. They are grain-free and will help with the coat, joints, immune system, and heart while also being a nice little treat for your dachshund. They work for dogs of all ages and are MSC-certified as well!
Unlike the other Omega products on this list, this is not a chew or a gel but just pure oil that you can put on your dachshund’s regular food – convenient! The oil comes from wild pollock and has both Omega 3 and 6. It works great for senior dogs and has all the benefits of Omega fatty acids such as healthy joints, skin and coat, and immune system and heart. There’s also a salmon oil in the formula for extra health benefit.
Multivitamins for Dachshunds
Just like us, your dachshund needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. Because of this, most products will have a whole bunch of ingredients rather than just one or two vitamins. In addition, they often contain various nutrients for healthy joints, skin, digestion, and general health, so they might be a good option if your dog needs more than just a particular vitamin. Make sure you’re not doubling up on supplements, and you’re good to go!
Rx Vitamins Essentials for Dogs
This handy product contains all your dog will ever need and more! It has vitamins & minerals, Omegas, prebiotics and amino acids. The chews also contain vitamins, such as A, several Bs, D3, and C, among others. Add calcium, iron, magnesium, and folic acid, and you have a neat cocktail of nutrients! A perfect option to add to your supplements for dachshunds!
This is another multifunctional product with ingredients for the joints, coat, digestion, and heart. It’s also packed with antioxidants and vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and E. It also has both cod liver oil and probiotics for a happy belly, as well as Kaneka Q10, which is a powerful antioxidant. It’s a great product if your pup needs a bit of everything and comes in several equally yummy flavors!
PetLab Co. Multivitamins for Dogs
This fantastic supplement contains a whole lot of goodies for a healthy and happy pooch! These supplements are great for dachshunds of any size, and contain 13 essential vitamins and minerals. Each delicious chew is packed with a blend of Folic Acid, and Vitamins A, E, D & B12, which can all work together to support your canine’s health and promote overall vitality. On top of that, this product is vet-approved and flavoured with delicious pork flavour – we wonder if they make human vitamins as well?
Best Antioxidants and Probiotics for Dachshunds
Antioxidants are very good for both you and your dachshund since they prevent or slow down damage to cells in the body. You can find them in a whole bunch of different foods and supplements, but you can also get products where antioxidant-rich substances are the main ingredients.
Similarly, probiotics can also be found in many other supplements and also come in their pure form. We all need probiotics since they help with digestion and a healthy gut.
GetNaked Antioxidant Sticks for Dogs
If it’s antioxidants you’re after, then this is a great product! It is a blend of antioxidant rich super fruits and veggies and supports conditions such as ear conditions and respiratory infections. It also promotes a healthy ageing process, which we all want for our dachshunds.
NUSENTIA Probiotics for Cats & Dogs
With 7 different probiotic strains, this product is as clean and effective as it gets! Besides millions of good bacteria (which is what probiotics are, did you know?), it also has prebiotics that feed these friendly bacteria and keeps the microbiome in balance. So your dachshund’s gut flora will definitely thank you – so will your dachshund after he gets a taste of this delicious powder! Just sprinkle it over the food, and you’re done!
Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites Digestion
These chewy bites are filled with six different probiotics that help your dachshund’s tummy be as healthy as possible. They promote digestion and help prevent stomach issues like constipation, bloating, and occasional diarrhoea. They are pumpkin-flavoured, work well for small dogs, and even help your pup’s immune system!
Conclusion
To summarise, the breed-specific supplements by Breedology are our all-time favourite as they tick all the boxes when it comes to supporting your dachshund’s overall health and well-being. The active ingredients in the formula are of organic & natural origin and target all of the dachshund’s breed-specific health needs, including joints&cartilage, skin&coat, vision, digestion and immune system!
Alternatively, you can shop for supplements for dachshunds that target a specific health condition according to your weiner dog’s needs.
Remember that if you’re unsure about a product or what your dachshund might need, talk with your veterinarian for more information.