Dachshund UK: IVDD, Health and Care Guide
Back disease is the big Dachshund health issue. In a breed survey quoted by the Royal Kennel Club, 21.1% of 1,173 Dachshunds over three years old had intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), and the risk differed between the six UK varieties. This guide covers IVDD, the RKC spine X-ray scheme and what to check before you buy or insure.
At a glance
- Kennel Club group
- Hound
- Size
- Miniature: Small. Standard: Medium
- Exercise a day
- Up to 1 hour
- Grooming
- Smooth: once a week. Long and Wire: more than once a week
- Lifespan
- 13.2 years (median, Standard); 14.0 years (median, Miniature)
Sources: Royal Kennel Club; Royal Kennel Club (variety pages); McMillan et al. 2024 (13.2 years (median, Standard)); McMillan et al. 2024 (14.0 years (median, Miniature)). Checked 21 October 2026. Full links are in the sources list.
Health
The UK recognises six varieties of Dachshund: Standard and Miniature, each in Smooth, Long and Wire coats. They share one breed standard; the Royal Kennel Club says Miniatures should preferably weigh under 5 kg (RKC breed page). Health tests differ a little between varieties, so check the page for the variety you want.
IVDD happens when the cushioning discs between the bones of the spine harden (calcify). The Royal Kennel Club says this can happen at a much younger age in Dachshunds than in other breeds, and a hardened disc can rupture and press on the spinal cord (RKC IVDD scheme page).
- 21.1%of 1,173 Dachshunds over three years old were reported to have IVDD (breed council survey, 2018)Source: Royal Kennel Club IVDD scheme page
- 29.9%of Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshunds in the same survey, the highest of the six varietiesSource: Royal Kennel Club IVDD scheme page
- 15.7%IVDD prevalence among 2,031 Dachshunds in the DachsLife 2015 surveySource: Packer et al. 2016, RVC
| Variety | Reported to have IVDD (dogs over 3, breed survey 2018) |
|---|---|
| Miniature Smooth Haired | 29.9%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades. |
| Smooth Haired | 16.8%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades. |
| Miniature Wire Haired | 16.5%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades. |
| Miniature Long Haired | 15.7%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades. |
| Long Haired | 9.4%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades. |
| Wire Haired | 8.6%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades. |
- Miniature Smooth Haired
- 29.9%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades.
- Smooth Haired
- 16.8%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades.
- Miniature Wire Haired
- 16.5%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades.
- Miniature Long Haired
- 15.7%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades.
- Long Haired
- 9.4%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades.
- Wire Haired
- 8.6%. Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades.
Health tests to ask a breeder for
- Spine X-ray under the KC/Dachshund Health UK IVDD screening scheme, taken at 24 to 48 months (RKC Good Practice, all six varieties)
- BVA/KC/ISDS eye certificate (RKC Best Practice, all varieties)
- Miniatures: DNA test for PRA (cord1) (RKC Best Practice)
- Miniature Wire Haired: DNA test for Lafora disease (RKC Good Practice)
What the IVDD evidence shows
Two owner surveys give the figures. The 2018 survey quoted by the Royal Kennel Club found 21.1% of 1,173 Dachshunds over three had IVDD, highest in Miniature Smooth Haired dogs (RKC). The earlier DachsLife 2015 survey of 2,031 Dachshunds, analysed by the Royal Veterinary College, found an overall prevalence of 15.7%, highest in Standard Smooth-Haired dogs (24.4%) and lowest in Standard Wire-Haired dogs (7.1%) (Packer et al., 2016). Both relied on owners' reports, and the varieties at the top differ between the two, so treat the variety figures as a guide rather than an exact risk.
In DachsLife, older dogs and neutered dogs had higher odds of IVDD. Dogs exercised for more than an hour a day had lower odds, and dogs exercised for under 30 minutes had higher odds. The authors call these lifestyle findings hypothesis-generating: they show an association, not that exercise prevents IVDD. Ask your vet how to exercise your own dog.
Signs the Royal Kennel Club lists include yelping or moving cautiously, wobbly legs, accidents in the house and being unable to move the legs. If your Dachshund suddenly shows back pain or weakness, contact your vet straight away. Some dogs recover with medication and rest; others need surgery and rehabilitation.
The IVDD screening scheme
The Royal Kennel Club and Dachshund Health UK run an X-ray scheme that counts calcified discs in the spine, so breeders can choose lower-risk parents. It is Good Practice for all six varieties. The dog must be 24 to 48 months old when X-rayed, and it only needs doing once. The RKC charges a £40 fee, and participating centres listed X-ray fees of about £240 to £600 when we checked (RKC IVDD scheme page). Ask a breeder for both parents' grades and look them up on the RKC Health Test Results Finder.
Pawwala is not a vet. If you are worried about your dog's health, speak to your vet.
What a Dachshund costs in the UK
Each line says how it was worked out. Where we have no dated figure for this breed, the line links to the page that compares prices instead of guessing.
| Cost | Figure | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Compare cost per day | Our dog food comparison works out cost per day from dated prices and feeding guides. Use the portion calculator for your own dog's weight. |
| Insurance | Get quotes | Premiums depend on age, postcode, excess and cover level, so we do not show a figure. Compare real quotes. |
| Flea and worm treatment | Compare subscriptions | Monthly prices for flea and worm subscriptions, compared against buying treatment yourself. |
Food
Our dog food comparison works out cost per day from dated prices and feeding guides. Use the portion calculator for your own dog's weight.
Insurance
Premiums depend on age, postcode, excess and cover level, so we do not show a figure. Compare real quotes.
Flea and worm treatment
Monthly prices for flea and worm subscriptions, compared against buying treatment yourself.
- Checked 21 October 2026. Prices change; confirm on the retailer's page.
Feeding a Dachshund
Dachshunds range from Miniatures of under 5 kg to larger Standards, so there is no single weight to price food against, and our dog food data has no feeding amount at those weights. Use the dog food portion calculator with your own dog's weight, and compare cost per day on our dog food comparison. Keep your Dachshund lean; ask your vet to check body condition at each visit.
Insuring a Dachshund
Pawwala is not authorised by the FCA. We explain how cover works and do not give advice or recommend insurers. Pawwala earns a fee when you get a quote through a link marked Ad. Always read the policy wording. How we make money
IVDD surgery at a referral centre costs thousands of pounds, so the annual vet-fee limit matters more than usual. Insure a puppy before any back problem appears: once IVDD is in the vet record, most policies treat it as pre-existing. Our pre-existing conditions guide and puppy insurance guide explain the timing.
- IVDD (spinal disc) surgery£3,500–£7,500
Published UK referral-centre prices, checked October 2026. See our average vet bill guidefor how these were sourced. Compare them with each policy's annual vet-fee limit.
| Check in the policy wording | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Annual vet-fee limit | Compare the limit with published IVDD surgery prices, plus scans, hospital stay and rehabilitation. |
| Policy type | Lifetime cover renews the limit each year, which matters if a back problem recurs. |
| Rehabilitation and hydrotherapy | Check whether physiotherapy and hydrotherapy after surgery are covered, and up to what amount. |
| Excess and co-payment | Many policies add a percentage co-payment once a dog reaches a certain age. |
- Annual vet-fee limit
- Compare the limit with published IVDD surgery prices, plus scans, hospital stay and rehabilitation.
- Policy type
- Lifetime cover renews the limit each year, which matters if a back problem recurs.
- Rehabilitation and hydrotherapy
- Check whether physiotherapy and hydrotherapy after surgery are covered, and up to what amount.
- Excess and co-payment
- Many policies add a percentage co-payment once a dog reaches a certain age.
Getting a Dachshund responsibly
Ask for both parents' IVDD scheme grades and eye certificates, plus PRA (cord1) DNA results for Miniatures and the Lafora DNA result for Miniature Wire Haired dogs. Look the results up on the Royal Kennel Club finder. Rescue organisations also rehome Dachshunds.
What were Dachshunds bred for?
The Dachshund comes from Germany, where it is called the Teckel, or badger dog. The Royal Kennel Club says it was bred to go to ground after badgers and rabbits and to track wounded game such as deer, and it is still used for both there (RKC breed history). Germany has three sizes, measured by chest circumference; the UK has two.
How long do Dachshunds live?
A 2024 study of UK dogs found median lifespans of 13.2 years for Standard Dachshunds and 14.0 years for Miniatures, both above the 12.0 years for crossbreeds (McMillan et al., 2024). The Royal Kennel Club gives over 12 years for every variety.
Dachshund exercise and grooming
The Royal Kennel Club lists up to an hour of exercise a day for every variety. Smooth coats need grooming once a week; Long and Wire coats more than once a week. For walking gear, see our dog harness guide, and our grooming guide for brushes.
Further reading
How we checked this page · checked 21 October 2026ShowHide
What we did
What we did not do
Prices and terms change. Confirm on the retailer's page before you buy.
Sources
- Royal Kennel Club: Dachshund (Smooth Haired) · checked 21 October 2026
- Royal Kennel Club: Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) · checked 21 October 2026
- Royal Kennel Club: Dachshund (Long Haired) · checked 21 October 2026
- Royal Kennel Club: Dachshund (Wire Haired) · checked 21 October 2026
- Royal Kennel Club: Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired) · checked 21 October 2026
- Royal Kennel Club: Dachshund (Miniature Wire Haired) · checked 21 October 2026
- Royal Kennel Club: IVDD scheme for Dachshunds · checked 21 October 2026
- Packer et al. 2016, DachsLife 2015: lifestyle and IVDD risk in Dachshunds (Canine Genetics and Epidemiology) · checked 21 October 2026
- McMillan et al. 2024, life expectancy of UK dog breeds (Scientific Reports) · checked 21 October 2026
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Frequently asked questions
What were Dachshunds bred for?
To go to ground after badgers and rabbits and to track wounded game such as deer, according to the Royal Kennel Club. The German name, Teckel, means badger dog.
Is a Dachshund German?
Yes. The Royal Kennel Club says the breed originates in Germany, where it is known as the Teckel.
Dachshund vs Miniature Dachshund: what is the difference?
Size. The UK has Standard and Miniature sizes, each in three coats, sharing one breed standard; Miniatures should preferably weigh under 5 kg. In a 2024 UK study, Miniatures had a median lifespan of 14.0 years and Standards 13.2. In the 2018 breed survey, Miniature Smooth Haired dogs had the highest reported IVDD rate (29.9%).