prevention

[Timber]

Is there anything you van do diet wise to help prevent CIDD? Timber jumps a lot and I don't want him hurting his back.

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Tiffany
Future Badger Kennels
Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds

[Mark]

Hi Tiff,

If minimizing the jumping is not an option there are dietary means of strengthening and helping prevent (there are no guarantees, of course) troubles for our puppers.

We feed our furkids a 50/50 mix of canned food and kibble. The kibble we use has Glucosomine & Chondroitin in it. Since our two Dachsies have had back troubles, we also give the two of them a Glucosomine/Creatin supplement daily. I take Glucosomine myself (the kind for hoomans http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif ), so I know it is good stuff and really makes a difference.

Maybe some of our members with a more technical expertise are aware of other things that help.

Take care,
Mark

[loving two dachsie's]

I agree with Mark. I also take Gloucosomine (1000mg per day), my joints take a beating teaching fitness classes and this has realy helped. So why not for our dogs too. My in-laws sware by it for their two 12 year young poodleshttp://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/wink.gif

Linda

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by loving two dachsie's on February 06, 2001 at 03:50 PM</font>

[Krista]

I think the main thing to avoid back trouble is genetic.

If you buy a dachshund, you want to make sure that the breeder is doing their best to keep their lines IDD free. That means they are researching the lines of every dog they breed, and ceasing breeding lines where IDD has occurred.

Obviously breeders that breed several litters from a dog, and then the dog shows up with IDD need to also contact their puppy buyers and let them know that IDD has occurred.

Puppymillers/BYB NEVER do this research and they breed tons of litters before the dogs are 4 years old, and from what I have read most problems occur in dachsies ages 4-7. This is a serious problem and a major part of the reason IDD is becoming so prevalent.

Of course if you rescue, or if you already have dachsies, there is nothing you can do about the genetic aspect. I think that the next key part of defense is weight management and excersize. We need to keep our dogs fit and trim as much as possible. extra weight really takes its toll on the spine over time, and excerize helps maintain weight and flexibility.

When my boys are a little older, I might start supplementing with G/C and MSM as well. I would give it separately though, not in a food, since so many good things lose their potency when cooked quickly at high temps as most kibbles are.

[wireweiners]

The main thing is too keep them in good physical shape through exercise and keep the weight down. My dogs do stairs and jump on and off furniture all the time. I don't encourage it but I can't stop them all the time.

The chondroiten supplements along with vitamin C do seem to help.

[Timber]

Maybe I will give Timber some Vitamin C or Ester C.

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Tiffany
Timberland Kennels
Miniature Smooth Dachshunds