Best Dog Food for Dachshunds in 2023

11 of the Best Dog Foods for Dachshunds

1. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food - Best Overall Dog Food for Dachshunds

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, lentils, peas
• Nutrient Content: 36% protein, 16% fat, 5% fiber, 10% moisture
• Life Stage: Adult

The small-breed formula from Wellness CORE is one of the best choices for Dachshunds.

While it doesn't cater to this breed specifically, it's a universally good product that can fulfill all your dog's dietary needs.

The protein content is impressively high, surpassing AAFCO minimum standards. Most of that protein comes from high-quality meat sources like deboned turkey and chicken meal.

The turkey meal and chicken meal also act as valuable sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, supporting your Dachshund's joints as they get older.

Another perk is the omega fatty acids. 

This formula contains flaxseed and salmon oil. Not only do the fatty acids support joints and heart health, but they also keep your dog's coat in good shape. 

Pair all that with the bevy of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and this formula is a top-notch choice that can help any Dachshund maintain good health.

2. Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food - Best Affordable Dog Food for Adult Dachshunds

• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, ground white rice, grain sorghum
• Nutrient Content: 27% protein, 16% fat, 3% fiber, 10% moisture
• Life Stage: Adult

This option from Diamond Naturals proves that you don't have to break the bank to give your dog a high-quality diet.

Diamond Naturals is a respected brand that uses high-quality domestically and globally sourced ingredients. This formula geared toward small breeds like the Dachshund is no different.

The main ingredient is wholesome chicken to build and maintain muscles. The kibble also has fantastic superfoods like blueberries and oranges.

They provide a boost of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to keep your dog going for years to come!

One great thing about this formula is that it contains a healthy strain of probiotics. They help support gut flora, keeping your dog regular while decreasing the chances of stomach upsets.

Overall, this product is a worthy choice. You can save money without sacrificing quality.

3. Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Dachshund Adult Dry Dog Food - Most Tailored to Dachshunds

• First 5 Ingredients: Brewer's rice, chicken by-product meal, brown rice, wheat gluten, oat groats
• Nutrient Content: 26% protein, 12% fat, 4.1% fiber, 10% moisture
• Life Stage: Adult

Want a food tailor-made for your Dachshund? This kibble from Royal Canin has you covered.

Royal Canin specializes in breed-specific dog foods. This one addresses the many unique needs of the Dachshund, taking their stature and common health issues into account to encourage better overall health.

The protein content is excellent. It's just the right amount to support the small breed's muscles. Royal Canin also adds L-Carnitine, which helps turn fat into energy and maintain muscle mass.

The formula also has a good amount of calcium and phosphorus to keep your small dog's joints and bones in good shape. They keep those short limbs and long backbone strong, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal issues.

Royal Canin also uses a decent amount of fiber and a mix of digestible proteins to encourage better gut health.

4. Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy Dry & Canned Food Bundle - Best for Dachshund Puppies

• First 5 Ingredients: Kibble- deboned turkey, chicken meal, oatmeal, salmon meal, barley | Canned - chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, salmon, ground barley
• Nutrient Content: Kibble - 28% protein, 19% fat, 4.25% fiber, 10% moisture | Canned - 9% protein, 6% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture
• Life Stage: Puppy

5. Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food - Best for Senior and Older Dachshunds

• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain sorghum, whole grain oats, whole grain brown rice
• Nutrient Content: Kibble - 26% protein, 13% fat, 4% fiber, 10% moisture
• Life Stage: Senior

Your Dachshund's needs will change once they reach senior status. This formula from Nutro fulfills those needs and supports your dog's health as they reach this new stage of life.

The protein content is just right, and this particular recipe utilizes three primary sources of protein. Chicken is the most prevalent, but there's also lamb and salmon.

The high-quality blend provides all the amino acids your dog needs to maintain their muscles as they age.

But that's not all. The recipe also contains an impressive collection of superfoods! Ingredients like coconut, kale, and blueberries give your dog a much-needed nutrient boost.

Throw in the glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, and this product is an excellent choice for your senior Dachshund.

6. American Journey Active Life Turkey & Garden Vegetables Recipe Canned Dog Food - Best Canned/Wet Food for Dachshunds

• First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, turkey broth, turkey liver, carrots, peas
• Nutrient Content: Kibble - 8.5% protein, 6% fat, 15% fiber, 78% moisture
• Life Stage: Adult

There's nothing better than wholesome food mash! The America Journey canned food is a worthy wet product that your Dachshund is sure to love. Not only is it tasty, but it also has many excellent ingredients you can see with your own two eyes.

The food comes in the form of a stew-like mash. It's super soft, making it easy for any dog to eat. It's also full of flavor and ready for mixing if you want to use it as a topper.

Turkey and turkey liver are the primary sources of protein. They make up most of the mash, but you can also see little bits of carrots and peas in the mix.

The blend of nutrients and antioxidants can do wonders for your dog's health. The formula supports the immune system, enhances heart health, and keeps the coat in good shape.

7. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Lamb & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites - Best for Dachshunds with Food Allergies

• First 5 Ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, brown rice, brewers rice, rice bran
• Nutrient Content: Kibble - 22% protein, 12% fat, 4% fiber, 10% moisture
• Life Stage: Adult

Fulfilling the dietary needs of a Dachshund with food allergies isn't easy. However, formulas like this one from Natural Balance can simplify your life and keep your dog healthy without sacrificing a thing! It's a limited-ingredients formula that doesn't contain any unnecessary extras.

You're not going to find unnecessary fillers like soy or artificial flavors. Instead, you'll see novel protein sources, wholesome plant-based ingredients, and plenty of extras to keep your dog healthy.

The formula is highly digestible and caters to dogs that suffer from a wide range of allergies. 

Whether it's skin problems or an aversion to common proteins like chicken, this product has you covered. It has a good amount of fiber for some regularity, a crunchy texture for better oral health, and balanced nutrition.

8. Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula Dry Dog Food - Best for Sensitive Stomachs

• First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, rice, barley, canola meal, fish meal
• Nutrient Content: Kibble - 28% protein, 17% fat, 3% fiber, 12% moisture
• Life Stage: Adult

Does your Dachshund have a sensitive stomach? It's relatively common for this breed.

This small-dog formula from Purina Pro Plan checks off all the boxes and fulfills your pup's unique needs to a tee. 

It's specifically formulated for small dogs like the Dachshund. It also caters to dogs that regularly suffer from skin and stomach sensitivities.

Digestible carbs and a healthy fiber supply keep things moving while maintaining regularity in the digestive tract. Meanwhile, live probiotics supports healthy gut flora.

Probiotics make a big difference, ensuring that your dog's gut has the good bacteria to avoid stomach upsets.

Overall, this recipe is fine-tuned to avoid as many stomach upsets as possible. Regular consumption can improve gut health and cover all your dog's dietary needs moving forward.

9. Purina ONE Natural Weight Control +Plus Healthy Weight Formula Dry Dog Food - Best for Weight Loss

• First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, rice flour, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal
• Nutrient Content: Kibble - 27% protein, up to 12% fat, 5.5% fiber, 12% moisture
• Life Stage: Adult

Weight issues are common for Dachshunds. Thanks to their healthy appetites, obesity is a big concern for the breed.

The weight control formula from Purina ONE aims to make mitigating that risk a little easier. 

Whether your dog is already too heavy and needs to lose weight or you want to avoid potential gains, this product can serve you well.

It has a high protein and fiber content. Both help to make your dog feel fuller after every meal. The protein content also promotes muscle growth and maintenance, encouraging your dog to be more active.

Other ingredients can benefit other aspects of your dog's health. 

For example, the antioxidants boost the immune system while glucosamine maintains healthy joints and alleviates pain.

The formula has a lot to offer, and it's a good choice if you're looking to have greater control over your dog's weight.

10. Now Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Adult Recipe Dry Dog Food - Best Premium Dog Food for Dachshunds

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned turkey, whole dried egg, peas, potatoes, potato flour
• Nutrient Content: Kibble - 27% protein, 17% fat, 4.5% fiber, 10% moisture
• Life Stage: Adult

For the dog you want to spoil, there's this grain-free kibble from Now Fresh. This product is a premium offering, and its high quality is evident with one look at the ingredients list. The grain-free formula contains several amazing ingredients.

The protein comes from deboned turkey, salmon, duck, and more. The array of amino acids can make a noticeable difference in muscle condition.

Now Fresh also included more than 20 superfoods! 

The recipe has apples, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, squash, and more. They all help to give your dog vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and all the biological support they could ever need.

Pair that with premium complex carbs like squash and sweet potato, and you'll notice a difference in their health and energy levels. This formula has it all, and it's an impressive choice if you want to go the premium route to keep your dog healthy for years to come.

11. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food

When to Feed Your Dachshund

While many dogs will do just fine with getting a single meal at the end of the day, Dachshunds are a completely different story. With their high metabolism levels, these pups will burn right through their energy supply long before the day is done.

As a result, you may want to consider splitting up your pup's meal into three separate portions. An extra meal in the middle of the day is the perfect pick-me-up to keep them going.

It's important that you don't add any additional calories to their daily intake. Instead, you should figure out how many calories they need and split it up into smaller portions. Free-feeding is not recommended with this dog breed either.

While it may be tempting to let them eat until their full, Dachshunds are notorious weight-gainers. You need to stay on top of their diet to keep them healthy.

Protein

Protein is one of the most important things to look for. It acts as the building blocks for your dog's muscles. Your canine companion needs a healthy dose of wholesome animal protein every day. Look out for high-quality sources like chicken, turkey, beef, and lamb.

These ingredients come from the animal's meat. Meat meals are also a suitable ingredient as long as the animal source is clearly labeled. It's best to stay away from unhealthy byproducts and mystery meats.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are found in nearly every dog food. In a dog's body, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose and delivered throughout the body for energy. Needless to say, carbohydrates are important for Dachshunds. However, not all sources will benefit your dog.

As mentioned earlier, sources like corn, wheat, and soy should be avoided. These are simple carbohydrates that break down very fast. The energy they provide burns up quickly, which will ultimately cause your dog to feel lethargic in the middle of the day.

Instead of those simple sources, go for complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, peas, beans, and whole grains. They take much longer to break down, providing your pooch with a slow and steady supply of energy.

Fat

Fats are essential for any dog. Not only do they add flavor to the food, but they can keep your dog's fur supple and avoid any skin irritation. Fat can also provide a good boost of energy. Luckily, Dachshunds don't have long fur that you need to take care of.

They also don't have a problem with energy. Most commercial dog foods will have plenty of fat to get the job done. However, it's important that you avoid foods with excessive fat.

Fat has more calories than carbohydrates and protein. Too much of it can lead to excessive weight gain. A healthy Dachshund will do well with anywhere between 5 and 8 grams of fat each day. Look out for foods that have natural sources of fat. 

Animal fat from the protein source is a good option. Another great source is flaxseed or fish oil. They contain Omega Fatty Acids that can help keep your dog's heart and brain healthy.

Dachshunds are at risk of experiencing a number of health conditions thanks to their unique body shape.

Many of these problems are unavoidable due to genetics. However, a healthy diet filled with all the things they need can affect the severity of the condition and when they suffer from it.

Obesity

Obesity if fairly common among Dachshunds. It doesn't take much for them to gain weight despite their relatively active lifestyles. As an owner, you need to do your part to control their weight.

Stick with a diet regime that works and hold off on giving them too many fatty treats. If you start to notice that your pup is packing on the pounds, it's imperative that you adjust their diet accordingly to help them lose the weight and avoid any lasting issues.

Invertebral Disk Disease

This condition affects the spine. Dachshunds are at risk because they have a longer spine and deeper chest. About a quarter of all Dachshunds will suffer from the disease at some point in their life.

If can be painful and affect everything they do. Obese dogs are at the highest risk of the disease. The best thing that you can do to help them avoid it is to keep their weight in check with a healthy diet.

Bone and Joint Problems

While joint issues are often associated with larger dogs, Dachshunds can also suffer from these painful ailments. They're known for having relatively brittle bones that can easily break. To combat these issues, give your dog a healthy supply of calcium, glucosamine, and chondroitin.

Glucosamine and chondroitin can be added to your dog's diet through supplements. Many manufacturers throw these nutrients into their recipes as well. The sources of calcium are plentiful. They include fish, greens, beans, and much more.

• Best Dog Food for Beagles
• Best Dog Food for Border Collies
• Best Dog Food for Fox Terriers
• Best Dog Food for Schnauzers
• Low Sodium Dog Food - 5 Healthy Formula's