Our Nutrition Program
I am not a veterinarian nor a dog nutritionist. I have done my own research and have come up with the diet that works best for our pack and our lifestyle. As a dog owner, you are responsible for doing your own research to find what fits best for your pet, your lifestyle and your budget. I can help you with some of your choices, but you should always discuss your food selection with your veterinarian.
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I am currently working with 1 food manufacturer (Farmina) on pre-made dog food with ingredient decks that I personally feel very comfortable with. I also offer my dogs a raw mixture including many whole foods and Natures Diet Pet Bone Broth (Amazon) for additional hydration to their food. They start their day with air-dried chicken feet (Amazon) for calcium and tarter control. My protein choices are organ meats, fish, beef, chicken, along with 100% canned pumpkin, raw fruits and raw vegetables. They also have a small amount of sugar free Greek yogurt with their morning meal and a small portion of pumpkin with their afternoon meal. Before feeding my pack anything new, I always check the AKC website to make sure that what I am feeding them is not poisonous to dogs as many common whole foods are.
I have many friends who have chosen a raw food diet, which is excellent as long as you do your due diligence and know how to carefully balance your dogs’ diet. However, as nutritional as that may be, I did not take that route. I personally prefer to give my dogs both varieties providing them with the best nutrition possible for our lifestyle. We need our food choices to be convenient for traveling to and from dog show events. There are many great food choices currently on the market, but my choices and selections are in my opinion perfect for my pack!
One Size Does Not Fit All:
Veterinarians recommend that you consider your dog’s stage of life when choosing his diet. A puppy has different nutritional needs than an adolescent, a pregnant or lactating female, or a senior dog. There are safety requirements for dog food. Making sure your dog’s food has the necessary ingredients is very important, but you also need to find out where those ingredients were sourced, how they were prepared and stored, and whether the final product was checked for safety.
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It is extremely important that a Dachshund not be allowed to become overweight. This is not only because of general health reasons, but also to avoid strain to the Dachshund's long back, which can lead to slipped or ruptured (herniated) discs. Ignore the pleading eyes and give only the recommended amount given by the manufacturer of the quality dog food of your choice. Give table scraps very sparingly, if at all, especially avoiding cooked bones and foods with high fat content. Remember that the Dachshund's nose can get him into trouble, and always keep food well out of his reach.
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Note: For my breeding program, I DO NOT USE ANY FOOD THAT CONTAINS PEA'S, SWEET POTATOES, OR LEGUMES OF ANY KIND!
Farmina Pet Foods
(the information below was found within the Farmina website)
https://www.farmina.com/us/eshop
Discount Code: US435906MXDGLQ​
Farmina is nature and science in perfect harmony. Their mission is to develop the best all-natural, nutritious, and scientifically validated food that your dogs will love. That’s why they mix and cook only the finest raw ingredients following strict guidelines set by nutritional experts. With their expertise, we have designed a scientifically validated diet specific to a carnivore’s nutritional needs.
Whole Food Ingredients:
Whole-food ingredients are minimally processed so they deliver the nutrients, vitamins, and fiber that pack the most value. The best diet for your dog is composed of whole-food ingredients – including fresh and raw meats, fruits, and vegetables — as opposed to powdered or synthetic ingredients.
Nature:
Nature is their biggest source of wealth, which is why they preserve our food’s characteristics using tools and methods Mother Nature gave.
Only Natural Antioxidants:
Farmina uses Tocopherol rich extracts as a natural preservative for our products.
No Genetically Modified Organisms - GMO:
Farmina excludes any potential GMO ingredients from our products and instead use only
GMO-FREE ancestral cereals (spelt and oats).
Preserved Under a Protective Atmosphere:
Another way Farmina naturally preserve their food is by using nitrogen during the packaging process. By introducing nitrogen into the food bags, they can displace any oxygen that is present to eliminate the potential for fat oxidation and, therefore, rancidity. This technique is also widely used in human food packaging.
Science guides their actions, which is why Farmina established a working relationship with the Chair of Animal Nutrition at the University of Naples Federico II. Clinical findings are developed and led by public entities to ensure scientific validity and are the basis for their formulation. During the collaboration, many of their lines of research were published in high bibliometric scientific journals.
​​How to Store Your Dog Food:
​1. Once you find the right food for your dog, you want to keep it fresh and safe. The Food and Drug Administration offers store dry pet food in its original bag with the top tightly folded down.
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2. If you want to store dry pet food in another storage container, put the entire bag into the container.
3. Keep pet food in a secure location where your pet can’t get to it.
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4. Store dry food in a cool and dry place at a temperature less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
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5. Wash pet food bowls and scooping utensils with soap and hot water after each use.
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6. Throw out old or spoiled pet food by placing it in a securely tied plastic bag in a covered trash can.
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(All opinions expressed are solely the opinions of DiamondDachs)