Category: Health & Welfare

When a coordinator receives a call about a dachshund “screaming and howling” and needing a new home alarm bells start ringing!! Not excessive barking but “screaming and howling”😔

Further discreet investigation suggested this particular three-and-a-half-year-old had recently undergone surgery, but firstly we need to tell you some of this little dachshund’s background.

We believe she had been imported from Eastern Europe. She had already undergone the incredibly painful procedure of having a number tattooed very close to her mammary gland and you can only imagine how horrendous this must have been for her😞 She had also been used for breeding despite her previous owner denying all knowledge that this had ever been the case!!!

A year ago she was advertised on a website and purchased by her current owner. At this point, we would recommend avoiding such websites where owners are under no obligation to declare behavioural and medical issues so you have no idea what you could be letting yourself in for!!!!

You would hope this dachshund would now be in a safe environment but her story becomes even more heart-breaking💔

She had fallen pregnant after an “accidental” encounter with a neighbour’s dog and no one knew until she went into labour. She needed a caesarean procedure and sadly lost her puppy. This is where the story becomes even more traumatic and disturbing.

We contacted the vets we were informed had performed the surgery and they had no record whatsoever of having treated her!! This was incredibly worrying.

We knew we needed to be very careful as we wanted to get this dachshund to a place of safety and make sure we didn’t lose her by asking too many questions at this point.

Our fears were reinforced upon collection. Our coordinator met with the owner on neutral ground and she would not disclose her address!!! She left our coordinator to go and collect the dog’s medication and wouldn’t allow her to go with her!! The medication she was on was in unmarked wrapping and in an envelope with handwritten instructions. Not usual veterinary practice!!😕 Clearly this raised some difficult and very worrying questions!!!

Where had this dachshund had her surgery? What had happened to her puppy during the procedure? What were the “painkillers she was taking? What horrific trauma had she been through emotionally and physically?

The reasons for her “screaming and howling” were becoming very clear. This poor little girl was in serious pain and mourning the loss of her puppy. The harrowing treatment and suffering were too much to bear and too upsetting to think about.

She is now safely in the hands of very experienced fosterers who will give her all the love and care she needs. She is now on the right medication and antibiotics to ease her pain and to reduce her heavily distorted teats which are full of milk and extremely swollen and painful.

One of our coordinators went to see how things were, and when asked could only say that this beautiful dachshund was just looking “sad” which you can see in her eyes in the picture😔

We make no apologies for sharing this troubling story with you. It is extremely concerning that medical procedures may be taking place in places without the necessary care that should prevail and we believe it is something animal lovers need to be aware of!!!

We were able to rescue this wonderful dachshund who, in spite of all the horrendous treatment she has received, has shown the sweetest temperament and settled down into her new safe environment.

It is through your help we can turn sad stories into happier endings and we continue to need your support. Please donate and enable to allow us to continue helping dachshunds who desperately require our help.

Thank you so much. Everything you send goes directly towards the welfare of our dachshunds💙

Dog Poo – What can it tell you about your dog?

I know that this is not the nicest of subjects but did you know that, just as it is with us humans, there are things we can learn about its health, from looking at our dog’s droppings?

The colour of your dachshund’s poop can give a very good indication as to the state of your dog’s health and well-being.

Ideally, your dachshund’s stools should be a nice “milk chocolate ” colour. Anything other than that, i.e. other colours and shades, may not necessarily be a cause for concern but may need further investigation.

So it’s worth getting into the habit of noticing these things about dog poo when you’re dog is out for its regular ablutions.

If it is very dark or even black in appearance then there is a possibility your dog may be showing signs of having an ulcer or a bleed within the stomach which would be an obvious concern.

Red streaks can be a suggestion of colitis, an anal gland problem or even a rectal injury of some description.

If the dog poo is looking purple or like strawberry jam, it is recommended that you collect a sample and go to your vet for further investigation.

Would you believe that greasy grey poo is also a possibility? Here your dachshund may be struggling to break down fats within its diet. a slimy consistency would support this.

White specks may be a sign that your dachshund has worms!! If the specks are long and skinny and look like “rice” this is probably the case.

Note though that this is only a concern in fresh poo as worms can enter the stool if left for a while on the ground.

A yellow colour could be telling you that your dachshund might be having some issues with food intolerance. Consider whether anything new or different has been added to their feed. You may need to change their diet and see if there is something specific that can be omitted from future meals.

The colour orange may also be sending out a message. In this instance, your dachshund may be processing their food too quickly and there is not enough time for bile to help break the food down to give the poo a more normal-looking appearance.

Green poo could be that too much grass is being eaten. However, it could indicate the presence of parasites or even poisons!! You will need to keep a close eye on your dachshund if this is the case. Any weight loss or sickness may require treatment.

Hopefully, you will find this helpful information and you are able to use it in the future to help your understanding of your dachshunds’ health and diet.

….. and finally, remember whatever the colour always clear it up after!!!!!!

Now go and wash your hands 🙂

If you’re considering surrendering your dachshund, feel free to chat with one of our regional coordinators. You’ll find their contact details here.

Sleeping Dachshunds

If you own a dachshund, you’ll know that they love a good sleep. They can happily spend up to 16 hours a day snoozing.

But did you know that their sleeping positions can tell us a great deal about their emotions and well-being? Even how they settle down to sleep can tell a story!!!

Does your dog walk round in circles before dropping to the ground?

This is a result of the dachshund’s deep-rooted history. As pack animals, they are marking their territory and ensuring the safety of their chosen spot. I bet after you have carefully arranged their blankets and bedding, they dig around and rearrange everything. Again, this is instinctive of their need for security and warmth.

So, what can we learn from their actual shape and position whilst asleep?

Your dachshund may curl up in a tight ball despite having a lovely large bed to lie in!! This goes back to feeling safe and having greater protection from predators in the wild. It is also a reflection of being a pack animal and snuggling up to other dogs for warmth.

If your dachshund sleeps in a sprawled-out position then they are probably a little warm and stretching out can help them to cool down.

Dogs can sometimes be very restless or fidgety whilst sleeping. They can be padding their paws or even growling. Unbelievably they are like humans and in the REM phase of sleep which means they are dreaming!!

You can only imagine what visions are going through their minds!!!

Try not to awaken them whilst this is happening as this can be unsettling and scare them!!

So, onto the question of our beloved dachshunds sleeping in our beds. People have different views but is there something positive to be learnt from this behaviour?

It is seen to reflect the strong bond established between you and your dachshund. Also, your dachshund is going back to its natural pack instinct and looking for warmth and security. Digging under the blankets and quilt is for the same reasons of finding heat and safety.

As you know dachshunds can be very needy. So next time you are curled up in the corner of your bed whilst your dachshund takes over all the space you understand why!!!

How cute is it when your little friend sleeps on their back with their paws in the air? This is the best way for them to regulate their body temperature. Their paws contain sweat glands so when exposed to the air heat can escape.

You will also be thrilled to know that sleeping in such a vulnerable position is a sign of their complete trust in you as their owner. If your dachshund is sleeping in this position the likelihood of snoring increases!! This is because the tongue can fall back and slightly obstruct the airways.

If you are lucky enough to have more than one beautiful dachshund you will know how lovely, it is to see them snuggled up together. This is as mentioned previously their pack instinct and need for feeling safe. When apart it is usually because they have become too warm and not the result of an argument!!

So next time you are watching your dachshund sleeping you may have a clearer understanding of how their positioning tells us about their welfare. Enjoy observing!!!

If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of needing to rehome your dog, for whatever reason, feel free to reach out to your local Dachshund Rescue coordinator. We have a UK-wide team. You’ll find their contact details here