Senior Dachshund Care | 8 Useful Tips You Need to Know
As your Dachshund ages, you may start to notice changes in their hearing, vision, and mobility. Keeping your senior doxie safe and comfortable at home is a loving way to support them in their late years.
Here are some simple senior Dachshund care tips to help them enjoy their golden years in happiness and health. Make sure to print out your “Senior Dachshund Proofing Checklist” at the bottom of the post.
This page contains affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of the links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Table Of Contents
At What Age is My Dachshund Considered a Senior?
Dachshunds are considered seniors between the ages of 8 and 10 years old.
That being said, your senior dog’s aging symptoms may not actually be noticeable until they are 13+ years old, dog depending.
Caring for Your Senior Dachshund
If you’ve noticed signs of aging in your Dachshund, don’t worry. Getting older is a natural part of life, not a cause for alarm.
A few simple adjustments to their diet and home environment can go a long way in keeping them safe and cozy as they become more fragile.
1. Mealtime for Senior Dachshunds
Private Dining: Your senior Dachshund can still enjoy some tasty kibble at mealtime, but at a much slower pace than before.
If you have other dogs in your home, provide a separate eating area for your senior. This will allow them extra time to eat and not have to compete for their food bowl.
Softer Food: If your senior pup is still able to eat their dry dog food, but you notice a slight struggle with chewing, try adding a little water to their food or consider changing to wet dog food.
My senior Dachshund, Bastian, doesn’t have many teeth left at this age, but he is still able to crunch down his dry dog food.
I add some water to soften his food during mealtime to help him chew a little easier.
Lift the Food: My dog, Bastian, is technically a Dachshund/Beagle mix. He is basically an extra tall Dachshund (pictured below).
Now that he is a senior dog, his legs have become weaker and tend to slide out from underneath him while he was eating.
So, I now use an elevated dog bowl stand to keep his food and water at a higher level, which has worked wonderfully for him.
2. Senior Dachshund Nutrition
Switch to Senior Dog Food:
Switch your senior dog’s kibble to one formulated for older dogs. Senior Dachshund food includes higher levels of protein to support stronger muscles, boost their immunity, and help maintain mobility.
How Often? Feed your senior dog 2 times daily. Splitting up the meals reduces anal gland issues and helps promote healthier digestion.
How Much? Feed your senior doxie the suggested amount of weight-based food on the back of your dog food bag.
Most senior dogs will do a lot more napping during the day, so they may start to eat smaller amounts of food than they used to.
Avoid Food Scraps:
Avoid giving your doxie food scraps at any age, as this can lead to major weight gain and health problems. Extra calories, especially during their senior years, can lower your dog’s quality of life.
Post You May Like: 3 Easy Ways To Keep Your Dachshund Healthy
3. Incontinence
As your senior Dachshund ages, they will need to go potty more often and may start having accidents in your home.
When Bastian turned 15 years old, my family and I noticed that every time we sat down for dinner, he would flood the kitchen floor with a ton of pee (even after just being let outside).
It unfortunately started happening more frequently throughout the day. It was such a huge mess to clean up. Despite Bastian going potty outside, he was still leaking a ton inside the house.
So, for the last couple of years, I have relied on male dog diapers to help combat the huge pools of pee, and they work great!
Here is the female dog diaper version.
Bastian can still go potty outside, but when he is inside our home, we put the diaper on him to help with his senior dog incontinence.
Nighttime Incontinence
Many doxie parents have noticed incontinence issues in the middle of the night while their senior dog is sleeping.
The doggie diapers mentioned above also work great for senior dog nighttime incontinence.
If you would rather not have your doxie wear a diaper at night, you can use large puppy pads or washable bed pads under their bedding to help with nighttime accidents.
4. Senior Dog Proofing Your Home
Time to refresh your puppy-proofing skills! Luckily, it’s a little bit easier this time around. Your senior Dachshund will need special accommodations around your home to stay safe.
No More Stairs: Create a safe living space for your doxie on the main floor of your home.
Painful arthritis and joint issues can develop at this age, which affects their mobility.
Have your Dachshund’s new living space located wherever you and your family hang out the most.
Use a dog playpen or some puppy gates to help block off any hazards like stairs and furniture, to avoid jumping or falling.
Dog Ramps: If your senior dog enjoys sitting with you on the couch or snuggling in bed with you at night, consider purchasing a couple of dog ramps to help prevent injury.
This wooden dog ramp is the real MVP for the bed. It’s designed for pups of all ages, up to 220 pounds. I like how this ramp’s rubber surface helps my Dachshund travel up and down with ease.
Budget Friendly Ramp: Here’s a similar wooden dog ramp that is slightly shorter on Amazon.
5. Senior Dachshund Exercise
Keep your senior dog moving! Continue to take your Dachshund on daily walks, just at a much slower pace and shorter length.
If walking is too painful or difficult for them, consult your vet for some help with arthritis pain and stiffness.
I walk my 17-year-old dog, Bastian, around our yard several times per day to help him go potty and to get his legs moving.
He doesn’t do a whole lot of exploring around our home anymore, just a lot of napping instead. So, to reduce any joint stiffness, I try my best to get him moving each day.
6. Mental Stimulation for Senior Dachshunds
Mental stimulation is like brain food for your Dachshund at every age and every stage!
Providing simple dog brain games each day, like an interactive treat-dispensing toy, works wonders for your older dog’s mental health and well-being.
I like to recommend the Bob-A-Lot dog toy for Dachshunds of all ages.
When your dog pushes the toy over, it dispenses a yummy treat.
My senior Dachshund loves playing with the Bob-A-Lot. It helps keep his brain sharp and he acts so happy when he is interacting with this toy (pictured below).
7. Keep it Calm and Familiar
Your elderly Dachshund may start to develop issues with their eyesight and hearing.
Approach Calmly: If your dog is hard of hearing or has some issues with their vision, always approach them calmly. Suddenly picking them up or touching them without warning can send them into a panic.
Gently offer your hand to their nose for a quick scent check to let them know you are near.
Don’t Move the Furniture: Some senior Dachshunds go completely blind or deaf and can become disoriented in the home when things are moved into new places. Keeping your furniture in the same place can help them navigate much easier.
8. Cherish Every Day
Even if your Dachshund doesn’t see or hear you as well as they used to, they still need you in their life.
Fill each and every day with love, attention, and cuddles. You will be so glad that you did.
Senior Dachshund care doesn’t have to feel stressful. I hope these senior Dachshund tips will help make things a little easier for you.
Bonus Senior Dog Care Tips:
Senior Dog Nails: Your senior Dachshund’s nails will become more brittle as they age and tend to bleed much easier. If you trim your doxie’s nails at home, consider using a Dog Nail Grinder instead of the traditional nail trimmers to avoid an injury.
Senior Dog Dental Care: Keep an eye on your senior dog’s dental health, learn the signs of dental problems, and discover the best foods for senior dogs with bad teeth from our friends at Furry Aging. Read thier post for more info: Comprehensive Guide to Senior Dog Dental Care.
Senior Dachshund Proofing Checklist:
Click on the image below to Print your Senior Dachshund Proofing Checklist (PDF File).
Do you have some senior dachshund health tips to share? Let us know in the comments.
Helpful Links
Thank you so much for this article! It’s amazing to read the comments from others too with their little dachshunds. My dog is 13 years old and she has lost some teeth in the front of her gums but she still eats pretty well. I actually try to slow down her eating as well. This breed is absolutely obsessed with food so to help with her eating I cut her food in half. Then with minutes in between I will give her the other half of her food. She started to gag and throw up because she would eat so quickly. So I learned this trick it does help. I give her a joint treats daily and she really loves them. I have noticed she gets gunk stuck in between her teeth so I clean them. Also she has developed a lot of eye boogies in her eyes. It’s mainly hair stuck with eye mucus it didn’t get better with eye ointment from the vet. So I clean that daily so she can see normally. My dog is content with cuddles more as she has aged and is playful like she was at her prime years. I hope others see your article and embrace their dachshund’s last moments. Thank you again.
Hi, thank you so much for sharing about your sweet girl. It’s wonderful how much love and care you put into her daily routine. Slowing down mealtime is so helpful, and I know many dachshund parents will appreciate hearing how you’ve managed her eagerness for food. It’s great that you’re so attentive to her dental health and eyes too. Thank you again for your kind compliments and adding your experience here. I know it will encourage others caring for their senior doxies.