You will agree that out of all dog breeds known; beagles are famously blissful, cordial, and delicate.
They make the ideal ally for the whole family and form close companions to the single owners, too, as they are calm and non-fussy.
Yet, similar to all other doggies, a beagle can gain excess weight if not thought about appropriately regarding diet.
Beagles can be inclined to gorging and related weight issues which, if not observed appropriately, can wind up wild and lead to medical problems later on throughout their life, which no one would want.
So, read this article to know more about whether your beagle is overweight or not!
How To Know If Your Beagle Is OverweightIs? Here Are Some Ways
Before going deep, a simple go-to technique to know whether your beagle is overweight or not is by locating and feeling their ribcage below their chest.
For this, apply a slight press on the beagle’s chest. If you can barely feel the ribcage, there are chances of your beagle being overweight. Besides, below are other ways to ascertain this.
1. Appearance
As talked about above, one dependable approach while evaluating the weight of a beagle is by feeling their ribs.
If your beagle is overweight, you shouldn’t be able to detect their ribs, though you may feel them (through some pressure), as they naturally ought to have a thin layer of fat over them.
The same goes with their spine, shoulders, and hips as well, i.e., if you can’t see any of these easily, that implies they’re excessively weighed than usual.
Additionally, a healthy beagle will have an obvious midsection that is marginally more modest than their chest, and the base of their tail ought to have a little layer of fat that is smooth to the touch.
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2. Non-Athletic Body With No Shape
All beagles should have a slender and muscular body shape. This way, you have the option to feel their ribcage and spine, as referenced above.
Hence, if your dog is looking somewhat thick or you can’t feel their ribcage or spine under all that fat, you need to put them on a careful nutritional plan.
3. They Get Worn Out And Overexerted Easily
At the point when beagles are in the wrong way and overweight, they ought to feel weary after only a couple of steps or needing to stop just minutes into their regular walk.
On the off chance that this is, by all accounts, happening more frequently than it should, the time has come to counsel your vet about an eating routine and exercise plan for your beagle’s gaining weight.
4. The Problem In Grooming Themselves
Dogs love grooming themselves all day long.
On the off chance that your beagle can’t reach behind his ear to tingle any scratch or don’t appear to have the adaptability important to chomp or prep themselves, this is an unmistakable sign that they need to start eating better due to being slightly overweight.
What Is The Healthy Weight For A Beagle?
For a male beagle, the healthy weight lies in the range of 10-11 kgs (or 22-24 pounds), while that for a female breed is 9-10 kgs (or 19-22 pounds).
Apart from your beagle’s gender, height also plays a vital role in his/her weight. For beagles growing up to 13 inches, the weight can fall between 22-30 pounds, and if the height is between 13-15 inches, 25-35 pounds looks decent.
Remember, maintaining a healthy weight for your beagle can be challenging; it’s equally fruitful for both of you in the long run.
How Much Should A 3-Months Old Beagle Weigh?
A cute 3-months beagle should weigh anything between 4.3 to 4.7 kgs (or 9.5 to 10.4 pounds), and the same for a 6-months old can be 7.8 kg (or 17.3 pounds).
Are Beagles Prone To Weight Gain? If Yes, Why Is It So?
Most dog breeds know pretty well when to stop taking in meals to have enough stamina for their day-long activities.
However, then there is one unique breed, beagles, that doesn’t possess this ability. It’s also said that if left to eat on their terms, they might end up overeating!
Beagles love their food and will eat practically anything served to them.
However, they don’t have the foggiest idea when to halt, making their proprietors keep a keen eye over their meals to guarantee that they don’t overindulge and wind up oppressing themselves due to being overweight.
For this, you, as the owner, can limit serving them two to three times per day with a regulated and restricted proportion of food to safeguard your canine’s prosperity in the long run.
Just as other dogs, beagles, when they touch a more senior age, will, in general, be much less active, which in turn requires regulated mealtime with proper care.
Hence, when left on their terms, they will go around and play much, not precisely as sound for them (for dogs), the absence of which adds to them putting on weight.
Are Fat Beagles Unhealthy?
Beagles are famous for their attractive eyes, friendly demeanor, and stocky bodies. But one thing that ruins their image is OVERWEIGHT.
As said above, beagles are one such breed that loves food the most, and due to overeating, they gain excessive weight and become fat.
Now, the question that arises in most of their owners is that fat beagles are unhealthy, and it ought to! So, let’s understand this.
Yes, being overweight isn’t healthy for anyone, be it humans or animals, especially dogs. The reason being that fat dogs or beagles stay at risk of inviting several severe health problems, as listed below.
- Arthritis,
- Diabetes,
- Ragged ligaments and tendons,
- Frequent breathing problems,
- Wheezing,
- Heart disease,
- A shorter life expectancy (than usual 12-14 years), and so on.
If the above illnesses can occur due to weight gain, it’s also a possibility that an underlying disease might be a cause for your beagle’s drastic weight gain.
Be it any case, a fat beagle is unhealthy. Two of the most widespread underlying illnesses are:
- Cushing’s disease: Condition in which the body develops excessive cortisol.
- Addison’s disease. Just the opposite of Cushing’s disease, in this condition, the body develops insufficient cortisol.
Both of the above diseases mark uneven changes in the dog’s weight, sometimes weight gain or weight loss.
Conclusion
No doubt that beagles are a human’s best and most adoring companion for their whole life; however, it’s equally valid that their care isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Even though beagles are more inclined to weight gain to different varieties, this doesn’t need to be an issue.
Given their keepers are watchful in their mind and consistent in surveying and checking their hound breed for indications of weight pick up (even slight) if any.
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.