Anyone know about dachshunds?

[TheFirstMrsDV]

Hello. I could do with some advice please. l’m an experienced little dog owner. But all of mine have been crossbreeds.
I have four. All mixtures and doing well.
very sadly my mum died suddenly last week and I’ve bought her 9 year old mini dachshund home to live with me. He’s pretty big for a mini
he is a nice boy, clingy, terrible breath and not house trained!
luckily he isn’t overweight and hasn’t had any issues I know of.
he has settled in really well with my others, particularly my mini pin/chi
I’m just really worried I’m going to break him. It’s the long back that scares me. My mum has lost a few of her dachshunds to back injuries over the years ( don’t have a go, I’ve only just lost her)

of course I’m going to do my research but would really appreciate any wisdom from sausage lovers out there.
its all a bit raw and upsetting and I’m desperate to do my best for him.

thanks

I have two mini dachshund - how can I help you?

Mine have terrible breath and one is clingy, your boy is probably bewildered and wonders where is mum! They're very loyal dogs. I know if I were to die one of mine would be very upset.

Awe. I'm sorry that you lost Ur mum. Hope you take care of yourself....I have a mini dashound and at least have something of hers to keep u busy.🤭🤭🤭. They are a crazy wee breed, they love love love cuddles and kisses, are hilariously mischievous and will do only what they want when they want. 😂😂😂. As for the toilet training mine will not go outside if it's wet, cold, windy or loud. Try and make a shelter where he can go under to go, and maybe he just needs to get his bearings. It's probably all new to him and he LL probably be missing Ur mum. Something you LL both have in common.🤗🤗🤗

I think I’m most worried about his back. Do you let yours go up and down stairs ?

omg this one loves a cuddle! He would snuggle all day if he could

I have two, and we don't let them use the stairs after one had IVDD last year. She has recovered but too worried about it happening again! We also have ramps for the sofa.

So sorry for your loss aswell

We've had standards - they did go up and down stairs (would have been quite hard to stop them). The second one did have a slipped disk but not till he was 14.5, had surgery from which he recovered well (though we had to carry him on the stairs from then on) and he lived till over 16.

I'd definitely try to avoid minis from stairs and jumping on and off the sofa as far as possible. And obviously when you're carrying them always make sure they're properly supported. But they're quite tough dogs, bred as hunters - ours could climb Lake District and Dales hills with only a bit of help on scrambly bits. Even the minis should be capable of a decent walk, and good muscles will help their backs.

I’m sorry about your loss.

Avoid stairs - coming down is worse than going up. Ramps for sofa, doorsteps etc if possible.

Don’t allow excessive jumping.

Don’t pick them up so they are “dangling”/stretching their back. I am useless at explaining myself but this is a great “guide” - https://www.wikihow.com/Hold-a-Dachshund-Properly

Blankets! Lots of blankets - the love nesting. Most importantly you’ll all be fine.

Can I just add here. I look after one. And no matter what we try he still leaps through the air with no thought for his own safety despite what we do. They are like ninjas!!! Slip right through ur fingers. So so so cute though. And the snuggles are amazing.

@TheFirstMrsDV lmao!, be careful if Ur like me, he LL flash his eyes, give a wee yawn and U LL end up cuddling him so much I sleep in.🤣🤣🤣🤭🤭🤭

@Teasie123 it’s very hard to get out of bed! Two of my others live to cuddle up, now there are three. 😁

Thanks everyone. I haven’t been in MN for years, it’s nice to know I can still pop in for advice

Sorry for your loss OP.
I've a 9 year old miniature dachshund, I have a ramp and a stair gate. He is on gabapentin for his back, that and laser treatment, for grumbling discs, no obvious symptoms on the treatment.

He had bad breath and it turned out to be bad teeth, the insides of his top canines had gone bad - couldn't be seen from the front. Bad teeth very common apparently. He's had a few out and had them scaled a few times. I recommend a yearly dental inspection!

@TheFirstMrsDV well missus, U let them cuddle you. Pets, in their own wee way will,slowly but surely, help u heal and recuperate. You've been through the worst time., believe me I know from losing my mum, so U deserve all the cuddles I want ATM.🤗🤗🤗

@Kleptronic I’m planning a vet check
and will ask for a quote for dental . My others are with PDSA (things have gone a bit pear shaped recently) but don’t feel I can add a 5th dog . There is a bit of money from mums estate for vet stuff . That was my main worry about taking him

Yes I let them go up the stairs. In fact one of them jumped out of our motorhome last week, I nearly had kittens, but she was ok.

I have a lady local to me who cleans their teeth, half hour sessions costs me £25

Another mini dachshund family here.
she goes up the stairs (like a bloody rat up a drainpipe - especially at bedtime as she’s a lazy toad and loves bed) but we don’t let her come down.

she jumps up and off sofas, the main thing is to be make sure they are building up muscles and don’t get too overweight. Also as above don’t “dangle” their back when you pick up.

but truthfully the main thing you need is really really good insurance with at least £10k cover and lifetime as if IVDD does hit, the last thing you want to be worrying about is paying for it.

but they are amazing little dogs, funny, intelligent, loving snuggle monsters . I have two children and a cat and she absolutely completes our family. Simply can’t imagine life without her

Another mini owner.
i have a stair gate at the bottom to prevent him from going up on his own, but he will sit and wait to be carried down. He uses steps for the sofa and I try not to let him jump as much as possible.
support his bum if you lift him and walking on a harness is better for his back than a collar.

my Dd also has a mini that had an IVDD flare last year, he was fortunately fine after a little crate rest so I’d suggest getting him comfortable with a crate too if he isn’t already, just in case.
A lot of them struggle with house breaking, mainly because they don’t like the wet weather. Some owners have had better success creating a sheltered, outside pee area.

I’m so sorry about your mum.
I took in my mums dog in similar circumstances some years ago but it quickly became apparent he wasn’t compatible with my existing dog and he was making his life thoroughly miserable. In the end, with the help of a friend who ran a dog charity, we rehomed him with another older lady who doted on him. I still get updates and he’s much happier than he would have ever been with me. it broke my heart at the time though.

take care of yourself.

Hi. Thanks for everyone who posted. An update
little dude has settled in well but it’s apparent he has never been told no or taught even the most basic of manners.
he’s like a dog taken from he litter too soon.
most of the time he is affectionate and placid but he will bite if you try and get him to leave a spot or room.
I think I am experienced enough to handle it and hopefully improve this but it’s pretty hard going as I have 4 other dogs.
he’s great in lots of ways but this and the lack of house training are tiresome. Particularly if I’m not great health wise.
not bad enough to give up but I wish my mum had done a better job. I don’t think he is rehomable anyway!
it gets me down when I am feeling low but then I have a good day and I’m fine
tbh I think that’s pretty common after getting a new dog.
im open to advice and tips.
he’s going to stay. I don’t have small children and he is only snappy in that specific circumstance

I have a mini sausage she's unusual as she's an angel and toilet trained but my advice would be definitely get ramps for stairs and furniture and the highest insurance you can afford as backs can be an issue ,bad breath I'd swap food for a butternut box they are amazing and may help with weight issues and brush teeth his teeth , honestly lovely dogs , mine only walks when not raining can do a quick 30 mins and run the garden and be so happy or do 2 hours around a national trust they are so versatile x

I'm with nepo insurance I've never claimed but I'm sure they do multipet x

I have 16k lifetime insurance for £30 a month it was the best deal I could find , bit they do much less for less and 15% multi pet (I just checked for you ) sorry about your mum must be really difficult time for you sending love

"I’m just really worried I’m going to break him."
Don't stress too much..there is about a 25% lifetime risk of IVDD I think...and if their back's gonna go, it's gonna go. Great that he isn't overweight, if he does have any back problems, getting the slim ones up and going is easier than the fat ones. A lot of mild back problems can be managed with rest and painkillers but have a careful think about the potential for a surgical case and either get him insured up to the hilt or pre-decide and make peace with the fact that you would euthanase in this event (no shame in that, spinal surgery is expensive, hard enough on dogs and not guaranteed to work, you can spend £8-10k and still end up euthanasing or dealing with a paralysed or otherwise very mobility impaired dog).
Teeth notoriously dodgy especially the upper canines as a PP has found. Concentrate on handling these so once you have them scaled (under GA at the vets please not some charlatan who will do it conscious making the crowns look pretty and leaving god knows what pocketing and filth under the gumline so attachment loss continues...hello, oronasal fistulae!) you have a clean slate to work on with the brush.

So sorry about your mum x

Hello MrsDV - its good to see you on the boards again - you wont recognise this posting name but I still think of you and of Billie.

Sorry to hear that things have been tricky and that you have lost your mum. I wish you all the best