Dachshunds may be small, but they’re known for being sturdy, muscular, and surprisingly athletic.
So when your Dachshund suddenly looks thin, bony, or starts dropping weight for no clear reason, it can be worrying — and frustrating when you can’t figure out what’s happening.

This guide breaks everything down clearly, calmly, and vet-backed so you know exactly:

✔ What a healthy Dachshund weight should look like
✔ What counts as “too skinny”
✔ 8 real reasons why Dachshunds lose weight
✔ Warning signs it’s serious
✔ Proven tips to help your Dachshund gain healthy weight again

Let’s make sure your doxie gets back to their happy, sausage-shaped self. 🐾

🟤 How Much Should a Dachshund Weigh? (And What’s Considered Skinny)

Dachshunds come in three sizes, and healthy weights vary:

• Standard Dachshund: 16–32 lbs

• Miniature Dachshund: 8–11 lbs

• Kaninchen Dachshund: 11–15 lbs (not common in the U.S.)

Body Condition Score (BCS) is more important than numbers.
A Dachshund is likely too skinny if:

• You can easily see ribs or spine
• Hip bones appear sharp
• Waistline is extremely narrow
• They have low energy or appear frail
• Their appetite has changed

A healthy Dachshund should be:

✔ Firm
✔ Muscular
✔ With a visible waist — but not a bony one

If yours is looking slimmer than usual, let’s break down the real reasons.

🟤 8 Real Reasons Your Dachshund Is So Skinny

1. Stress, Anxiety, or Routine Disruption

Dachshunds are highly emotional dogs. Even small changes can affect their appetite:

• New baby or pet
• Moving homes
• Loud construction
• You returning to work
• Guests staying over
• Separation anxiety

Stress causes cortisol spikes → reduced appetite → weight loss.

Breed-specific insight:
Dachshunds bond extremely deeply with “their person,” making them more sensitive to emotional changes compared to many breeds.

2. Depression or Grieving

If someone your Dachshund loves is no longer around (human or animal), it can cause:

• Slower eating
• Eating 30–35% less
• Withdrawing
• Sleeping more
• Weight loss in weeks

Sensitive breeds like Dachshunds often lose weight first, before showing other emotional signs.

3. Poor Oral Health (A Big Hidden Cause!)

Dachshunds are very prone to dental disease.

Painful gums or infected teeth make chewing hurt, so your dog simply stops eating normally.

Signs include:

• Bad breath
• Drooling
• Pawing at mouth
• Dropping food
• Chewing slowly

Important: Over 80–90% of small dogs develop dental disease early.
If your doxie’s mouth hurts, weight loss is almost guaranteed.

4. Not Eating Enough Calories

Dachshunds burn more calories than people expect — especially active or young ones.

General calorie needs:

Healthy adult Dachshund: 350–450 calories/day
Active Dachshund: 450–600 calories/day
Senior (less active): 300–350 calories/day

If you’re feeding “1 cup twice a day,” it may still not be enough depending on:

• Brand
• Age
• Lifestyle
• Formula type (“diet,” “small breed,” grain-free, etc.)

Simply bumping calories and using nutrient-dense food can transform their weight quickly.

5. Sudden Food Change → Stomach Issues

Dachshunds have sensitive stomachs.

A quick switch in dog food can cause:

• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Poor nutrient absorption
• Loss of appetite

This leads to rapid weight loss.

A food transition must always be done over 7–14 days.

6. Intestinal Parasites

Parasites steal nutrients before your dog can absorb them.

Common ones in Dachshunds:

• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Whipworms
• Tapeworms
• Giardia

Symptoms:

• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Dull coat
• Worms in stool
• Increased appetite but still skinny

A simple fecal test fixes this fast.

7. Food Allergies or Sensitive Stomach

Dachshunds are known for:

• Chicken allergies
• Grain sensitivity
• Low tolerance for filler ingredients

If their body can’t digest food properly, nutrients pass right through → thin, bony appearance.

Signs of food-related issues:

• Soft stool or diarrhea
• Itchy skin
• Ear infections
• Vomiting
• Excessive licking

Switching to a limited-ingredient or sensitive-stomach formula usually helps.

8. Underlying Medical Problems

If none of the above match, weight loss may be a symptom of:

• Hyperthyroidism
• Kidney disease
• Liver issues
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Chronic GI inflammation

Red flags requiring a vet visit:

• Sudden rapid weight loss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea lasting more than 48 hours
• Bloody stool
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Extreme thirst

Early diagnosis makes treatment faster and easier.

🟤 5 Helpful Tips to Help Your Dachshund Gain Healthy Weight

1. Fine-Tune Diet + Add Gentle Exercise

Exercise boosts appetite.
High-quality, meat-first food helps build muscle.

Look for:

✔ Named proteins (chicken, turkey, salmon — not “meat meal”)
✔ High digestibility
✔ Omega-3s
✔ No cheap fillers
✔ Small-breed formulas

Exercise → more hunger → more eating → more weight.

2. Add Stability + Reduce Anxiety

To restore their appetite:

• Keep feeding times consistent
• Reduce loud noises
• Give a quiet resting area
• Use calming tools (Adaptil, calming chews, routine walks)
• Maintain predictable routines

Dachshunds thrive when life feels stable.

3. Identify the Stress Trigger

Ask yourself:

• Has anything changed in my home recently?
• Did someone move out, move in, or leave for a trip?
• Has my work schedule changed?
• Is there a new baby or pet?
• Has my dog been left alone more?

Once you remove (or desensitize) the trigger → weight naturally returns.

4. Try a Different Food

If digestion is the issue, test a new formula:

• Sensitive stomach
• Limited ingredient
• Salmon-based (great for allergies)
• Grain-free (only if allergy suspected)
• High-calorie puppy formulas (short-term weight gain)

Pro tip: Add toppers like boiled chicken, goat milk, pumpkin, or wet food for extra calories.

5. When in Doubt — Talk to a Vet

A vet can check for:

• Parasites
• Thyroid imbalance
• Organ issues
• Pain
• Hidden infections
• Malnutrition
• Dental disease

Catching problems early prevents long-term issues.

🟤 Final Thoughts

A skinny Dachshund isn’t always an emergency — but it’s always worth investigating.

Whether it’s stress, food issues, parasites, dental pain, or something more serious, understanding the cause early makes recovery faster and healthier.

Your little sausage dog deserves to feel strong, energetic, and well-fed — and with the right steps, they absolutely will.