For the past year I cook the Dachshunds chicken and pumpkin dog food. It is extremely healthy for them and has enough fiber to help with the anal glads which Odie has a problem with.
It is a real simple recipe where I place two frozen chicken breasts purchased in bulk from Costco and add in a half-pound of frozen squash and cook on high for about 15 minutes.
The food comes out steaming hot and takes about 5 minutes for it to cool of before the dogs can eat it. So I prepare it and leave it out on the counter top to cool but Chloe starts barking and Odie starts whining and Molly eventually chimes in.
It’s not too bad of a dish if you add some salt and pepper for yourself.
We receive an email from a reader with a Dachshund that shivers:
Is it normal for a dashund to shiver? Not only when it is cold outside but when he’s on your lap. I heard it’s a sign of back problems. Thank you in advance.
Thanks for the question! First off, I’m not a Vet, and if you have any medical questions about your pet, you should seek the advice of a Veterinarian. Your Dachshund may have injured himself or may need other medical attention. Your Vet will perform an examination with perhaps an x-ray to determine if your pet has back problems.
However, from my experience with my Three Dachshunds, shivering is often an indication of pain or distress. It may or may not be related to a back problem.
Odie is a short-haired and the girls are long-haired. Odie frequently sleeps underneath a blanket because he is cold. It could be the middle of the summer and he still requires that extra warmth to keep from shivering. This is why we buy dog sweaters for him.
One hot summer night, Odie came out of the covers to lie on top of my chest shivering as if it was the middle of winter. It turned out that his stomach was upset because his dog food didn’t agree with him. After I took him outside to potty, he was back to normal.
Odie also shivers when he goes for a ride. He seems a little nervous and insecure. Most of his rides have ended up at the Vet due to his back problems so he tends to get scared when riding in a car.
On the other hand, when Chloe injured her back in the past, she shivered when you gently pressed along the side of her spine. She also gets very tense and tightens her back muscles when you pick her up. She does not shiver despite her problems when laying on my lap.
So is there a definitive answer why Dachshunds shiver? The most common cause is to illness or injury. But the only way to tell is to have your Vet examine your pet for the distress that is causing your dog to shiver.
You never know what’s going to happen when you’re minding your business and all of a sudden you’re broadsided by a SUV and its rear bumper is crunching down on the top of your hood. Miss June bug was lucky she was not hurt — other than her cute Lexus IS Station Wagon — but it hit close to home since Chloe usually has her head hanging out the window while we take our weekly ride traversing the same path MJB took.
The pleasant ride down Olsen Road, left onto Moorpark and through windy Norwegian Grade to get some fresh country air. (I know MJB is wondering how I safely navigate the Grade with a dog on my lap with its head out the window. Let’s just say it takes a lot of practice and slow driving.) You never would expect that an accident would occur in the peaceful suburbs of Thousand Oaks.
Chloe, our “riding dog,” truly is accustomed to and an expert at sitting on your left leg while taking in the 40 MPH breeze with her dog goggles on. The countless rides she enjoyed to her favorite Fast Food — always friendly to the Mc Donald’s cashier — may have to end because she just won’t ride buckled up.
We have a dog seat belt harness — somewhere — purchase because Odie was constantly jumping back and forth from the passenger seat to my lap when he was going to his weekly obedience training at PetSmart. Somehow he would manage to wiggle out of it by the time we were speeding along on the freeway making it impossible to readjust the belt before hopping onto me.
Odie is somewhat better now that he’s more obedient, but he still hates riding in the passenger seat. Molly simply likes to ride in the back seat running back and forth from window to window barking at every stranger. These two Dachshunds are not riding dogs.
But all you have to say is “are you a riding dog?” and she gets more excited than, well, you know what. I know that a seat belt may save her life someday, but I don’t think she will understand why.
We switched our dachshunds over to a new homemade pumpkin and chicken dog food recipe. Chloe – who is very finicky – just loves it.
The main reason we switched to this diet is to bulk up Odie’s poops so it will help him express his anal glands naturally.
It’s very simple to make. I just pick up frozen chicken breasts from CostCo and a small can of pumpkin. Two breasts are defrosted in a microwave for about 20 min and then cooked about 7 minutes on high until done.
I slice the breasts into small pieces and add a can of pumpkin. It makes about 6 servings for a small dog a miniature daschund. Total cost runs around $0.75 per serving which is cheaper and far better than normal dog food.
Saving a buck or two isn’t too bad especially when you have three Dachshunds. If you’re lick us, and have a few dogs, start cutting those coupons. Don’t have the time to cut coupons, let these people cut them for you:
Every six months or so, we stop in Solvang to pick up a few gifts, eat lots of Arnie’s Famous Aebleskivers and stop in next door at Berengaria to see what new Dachshund goodies to buy.
Besides the dachshund coffee cups, pillows, pictures, books, dachshund bank, they carry a really good line of women’s cloths. This is one store I don’t mind shopping at with my wife because I usually find something for me or the Three Doxies.
After spending the day shopping for gifts in town, we stopped by a market to get some fruits and veggies for dinner. Originally we thought it was a “Farmer’s Market” where we could pick up some local produce, but it was just a local grocery store.
Solvang must have tons of Doxie owners for a smaller grocery store to carry Royal Canin Dachshund 28 dog food. I’ve never heard of the brand before but Royal Canin has some impressive dachshund information on how to improve your dog’s health.
We picked up a bag and so far all our doxies like it! Chloe and Molly whom never eat dry food gobbled it up like they haven’t eaten all day. The only bad thing about food is that it hard to find in our area. Luckily, we can get Dachshund 28 online at PETCO.
Today we celebrated my birthday, 6 dog years young and I still feel like a young pup.
My wife took us out Hungry Hunter and had a really nice dinner and enjoyable evening. We’re “practicing” vegetarians so when you go to a Steak House, you know gets the meat — the Three Doxies. Of course we enjoyed the sides which was more than enough food for two meals.
I never seen three dogs enjoy such a good meal before. The couldn’t wait for me to cut it up into bite size pieces. They really like it when we bring home steaks for them, but they’re worth it!
I know this is a shameful pug for dog.com, but they are an excellent resource for getting the poop scoop on the dog food recall. If you don’t know if which dog food was recalled, just follow their links to the recall page.
Like all pet owners, the recent recall of dog and cat food really had us scared. Lucky for our three doxies, their favorite food (Ceasers) was not on the list of recalled dog food.
Over the past months we’ve been trying to “wiener our dogs” off the can food by cooking for them. As it turns out, the cost of preparing and cooking for your dogs is less expensive per ounce than store bought dog food. I’m sure it’s by far fresher and healthier than what comes in those cans.
To reduce the cost, we look for the “Manager Specials” where the date is about to expire. Usually, we’ll pick up 1.5 lb of Jenny-O ground turkey for $1.99 at Ralphs on Saturday and cook it up for our Dachshunds that afternoon.
It will feed them for two meals, three if we add rice.
Isn’t it strange how dogs associate things? For instance, I’ll go to the kitchen and pull out a plastic baggy and Odie will immediate run to the front door.
Either he’s reading my mind that we’re going for a walk or he’s associating the plastic bag with walking. He doesn’t do this when I get a bag out to put some food away. But perhaps he has something else on his mind … food!
Molly was sick for a few days with diarrhea and vomiting. It started the same night she grabbed a short-rib off my wife’s dinner plate when my wife got up to get a glass of water.
The 2×2x1-inch piece of meat was huge for a Miniature Dachshund. But Molly was too fast for a scolding and she hopped up onto my wife’s chair, two paws on the table and was gone in a red flash of light with the meat.
I made the mistake of trying to get it away from her and she managed to swallow the thing without really chewing. It was too much for her digestive track to handle and she started with the diarrhea that night.
Luckily, she’s more or less housebroken and she woke me up around midnight, then 1 AM, 2 AM, etc. to let here out. She did have an accident when I was too slow opening up the sliding glass door to the backyard.
She’s getting better now that it is out of her system. I’ve been feeding her a mixture of turkey and rice to keep her hydrated and mild on her soft doxie tummy.
¼ lb — Buddig Turkey Deli Cuts
½ c — white rice
1 c — water
Combine water and rice and bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low for 15 minutes. Cut Turkey into bite size pieces then stir into rice. Total preparation time about 20 minutes. Miniature Dachshund eat time about 1 minute.
(NC)-Recent research has shown that when pets and people exercise together, they achieve greater success and are more likely to stick with a weight-loss program. Pet owners can truly make a difference for their pets by involving them in The Pet Fitness Challenge, a joint initiative between Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). This summer, commit to help dogs and cats achieve a balanced life through proper food choices, exercise and visiting the veterinarian.
How to Take the Pet Fitness Challenge
Weigh-In
Determine the pet’s current and ideal weight. Visit a Veterinarian for a complete check-up.
Get Active
Dogs require 15 to 20 minutes of physical activity at least three times a day and cats require the same length of activity at least twice a day.
Make it Regular
Schedule a time each morning, afternoon and evening for physical activity. Developing a routine means greater success in sticking to it and seeing results.
Proper Food Choice is Key
Exercise alone can’t do it all which is why food choice is so important. Several products now offer “light” varieties to help a pet achieve and maintain desired weight loss. When selecting a “light” food, ensure the product meets the labelling standards outlined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). For dry foods, a true light formula should not exceed 3,100 kcal (canine formulas) and 3,250 kcal (feline formulas) per kilogram of food. For canned foods, the formula should not exceed 900 kcal (canine formulas) and 950kcal (feline formulas) per kilogram of food. Hill’s Pet Nutrition markets a variety of foods that meet these standards, and include formulas specifically designed for both weight maintenance and weight loss.
Follow the guide
Before feeding a pet, check the recommended serving amount listed on the package. Use this as a guide and adjust as necessary for proper weight management. Always measure the food carefully to avoid overfeeding. Be aware of snacking and never feed a pet junk food or table scraps.
Encouragement goes a long way
Pay extra attention to the pet, encourage them with praise and playtime.
Fun and Games
Take the time to get outside with dogs and play indoor games with cats. Play hunting is a great way to increase a cat’s level of activity.
Checking In
Keep on track with regular visits to the veterinarian and by keeping a log. Track the progress of both the owner and the pet, and keep the weight off together.
For more information please visit www.hillspet.com, www.petfit.com and www.animalhealthcare.ca.
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