Beagle Obesity Navigating Weight Related Health Issues

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

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Beagle Health Issues: 7 Common Diseases to Look Out For

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Beagles are generally considered to be a healthy dog breed that does not have many health issues if they are cared for properly. Most health issues that a beagle may acquire will depend on their genetics, diet, and care.

The beagle may be hardy, but there are still some common health issues that this dog breed has been known to get, which we will discuss in this article.

The 7 Common Beagle Health Issues

1. Obesity

Beagles can become obese quite easily which puts them at risk of developing other health issues such as joint problems. The beagle has short legs with a long, rounded torso which means that the beagles legs take a toll with all the extra weight on their bodies.

This dog breed is also known for having a hearty appetite, which makes it important to feed your beagle a healthy and balanced diet suited to their lifestyle. If your beagle does become obese, a veterinarian can help you take the right measures to get your beagle back into shape and help manage their weight with the correct diet and exercise.

2. Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

This is a painful condition that occurs when part of a beagles spinal disc ruptures or slips out of place and presses on the spinal cord. This affects a beagles mobility, and they may show a lot of discomfort even when completing basic tasks like walking around, getting up out of a resting position, or going up and down stairs. A beagle may also yelp when performing activities and may present a variety of symptoms. IVDD is usually a degenerative condition of the spinal discs but signs may appear to come on suddenly.

3. Cherry Eye

Cherry eyes occur when the third eyelid gland prolapses (pops out), and it can be caused by a weakened or broken attachment. It is most common in beagles that are younger than 2 or 3 years of age and if the condition is left untreated, it can progress to other health issues such as conjunctivitis. The third eyelid gland is usually secured at the eyes inner rim with a fibrous attachment, however, if the tissue deteriorates it can lead to cherry eye, which looks like a circular red bulge in the middle corner of the eye.

This condition is uncomfortable, and your beagle may paw at their eye and have difficulty closing and opening their eyes fully.

Image Credit: SERMSAK RATTANAGOWIN, Shutterstock

4. Canine Hip Dysplasia

Beagles are prone to hip dysplasia which happens when the beagles hip sockets and ball do not develop properly or are damaged from high-impact activities. The ball and socket will have some laxity and fit poorly together, eventually resulting in arthritic pain and poor mobility of the hind legs. This health issue can be caused by a combination of environmental factors, obesity, or genetics where the parent beagles have passed on the hip dysplasia gene to their litter.

5. Canine Otitis Externa

Since beagles have long, droopy ears, they are at risk of developing ear infections and problems with their ears. There are many different causes of otitis externa in beagles, whether from a disease of their ear from parasites to infections and inflammation of their ear.

This condition causes your beagles ears to look inflamed, and swollen, and infections may cause a yellow discharge to leak out. This can cause the Beagle to shake their head in discomfort, which can cause further issues to develop from the constant head shaking, pawing, and rubbing of their ears.

6. Hypothyroidism

This is caused by a dysfunction of a beagles thyroid gland which affects their metabolism, activity levels, and heart rate. An idiopathic thyroid gland disease or lymphocytic thyroiditis (immune-mediated illness) can cause hypothyroidism in beagles.

It is believed that genetics play a role in the development of this condition, with lymphocytic thyroiditis being the main cause of hypothyroidism in dogs when the immune system sees the thyroid as foreign in the body and fights it.

When it comes to idiopathic thyroid gland atrophy, the normal tissue in the thyroid is replaced with adipose tissue. This condition can be managed with the help of a veterinarian; however, it cannot be cured. Treatment typically includes hormone therapy replacement or chronic medication that will need to be administered to your beagle daily.

7. Epilepsy

Epilepsy in beagles is usually a hereditary condition; however, it can also be caused by certain illnesses such as distemper, toxins, trauma, and blood chemistry issues. This is a chronic disease that causes repeated seizures and can greatly lower your beagles quality of life. Beagles suffering from a seizure brought on by epilepsy will shake, drool, lose consciousness, and suffer from muscle twitching.

It is important to take your beagle to the veterinarian right away and take the correct measures to ensure your beagle is not at risk of being injured while seizing.

Image Credit: Melianiaka Kanstantsin, Shutterstock

Conclusion

All dog breeds are prone to developing health issues. However, these are the most common health issues that have been identified in beagles. By ensuring that your beagle is kept healthy with a good diet, regular exercise, and routine veterinarian check-ups, then you can help keep your beagle healthy. Genetic conditions may be difficult to prevent, but most can be avoided by getting your beagle from a trustworthy breeder.

Featured Image Credit: Nestor Rizhniak, Shutterstock

7 Most Common Beagle Health Problems: Causes & More

Are you a beagle owner, or you are looking for beagle health problems? In this article, I will outline all the common beagle health problems you should know and how to handle them.

The Beagle is a lovely pet that gets along well with kids, and this is one of the pros and cons of having a beagle.

Because Beagles are prone to certain ailments, its crucial to keep a close eye on your pets daily routine.

Because of its size and placid demeanor, the Beagle is a popular option for pet owners, and its keen sense of scent makes it useful for hunters.

Beagles are one of the most popular dog breeds for pet owners.

They were developed specifically for hunting small wildlife such as hares, rabbits, foxes, and birds.

Pains are one of the factors that can cause a beagle to bark unnecessarily.

Common Beagle Health Problems

Here are some of the common health issues associated with beagles:

Beagles are prone to cherry eye

Cherry eye is a disease in which a gland that regulates one of the three eyelids prolapses or slips out of place, causing a reddish-colored substance to cover part of the eye.

This gland is normally invisible, but when it protrudes from its usual location and gets red and swollen, it appears as a cherry in the corner of the afflicted eye.

This glands main job is to generate tears, which makes them uncomfortable and causes them to paw at their eye even if it isnt unpleasant.

Cherry eye is not painful, but if left untreated, it can develop to infections.

Symptoms of cherry eye in beagles

Here are some signs of cherry eye in beagles to look out for:

Constant pawing at the eye.
large mass covering a significant portion of the eye.
The prolapsed gland will appear as a reddish swollen mass on the lower eyelid.

Causes of cherry eye in beagles

Here are some causes of a cherry eye in beagles, even though it has not been completely understood;

Congenital weakness in the glands attachment.
Exerted cartilage in the third eyelid.
Abnormal cells in the third eyelid.
Prolapse of fat in your beagles eye

Treatment of cherry eye in beagles

Treatment of cherry eye in beagles depends on how severe the case is:

Topical anti-inflammatory medications, which can be highly helpful in decreasing gland swelling in moderate instances, can be used.
Severe instances necessitate surgical intervention in which the gland is attempted to be replaced in its original location. The gland will revert to normal within a few weeks in surgical situations that do not require removal.
There are no proven treatments to stop cherry eye in beagles, so get to the doctor before things become too severe.

In the case of a cherry eye, I strongly urge that you see a veterinarian, to ensure that your beagles quality of life is preserved.

Beagles are prone to hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a dysfunction of the thyroid gland in beagles that can have a significant impact on the dogs metabolism.

It can affect beagles of any age, although it is most prevalent in those that are older.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism in beagles

Here are some common symptoms of hypothyroidism in beagles:

Gaining weight without increase in appetite
Sleepiness and a lack of motivation to engage in physical activity
Intolerance to the cold
Hair that is dry, lifeless, and prone to shedding
Hair coat that is very thin to practically bald
Darkening of the skins pigmentation
Skin and ear infections are more likely to arise as a result of the increased vulnerability.
Hair that doesnt come back after being clipped or shaved
High cholesterol levels in the blood
Heart rate that is low

Causes of hypothyroidism in beagles

Lymphocytic thyroiditis or idiopathic thyroid gland atrophy are the most common causes of hypothyroidism.

Lymphocytic thyroiditis is considered to be an immune-mediated illness and is the most prevalent cause of hypothyroidism.

The immune system recognizes the thyroid as aberrant or unnatural and fights it.

Its unknown why this happens; but, because its a heritable characteristic, genetics is likely to play a part.

Normal thyroid tissue is replaced by adipose tissue in idiopathic thyroid gland atrophy. This is likewise a poorly understood disorder.

Treatment of hypothyroidism in beagles

Hypothyroidism can be managed, but not totally cured. Thyroid replacement hormone is used orally to treat it.

This medication may be administered to the beagles for the remainder of its life.

Oral synthetic thyroid hormone replacement, often known as levothyroxine (brand names Thyro-Tabs Canine, Synthroid), is the most usually prescribed therapy.

In the case of hypothyroidism, I strongly urge that you see a veterinarian, to ensure that your beagles quality of life is preserved.

Beagles are prone to epilepsy

In beagles, epilepsy is becoming more common. It can range from moderate to severe, and in rare circumstances, it can result in death.

A beagle can get epilepsy in one of two ways: through heredity or by an incident-like illness (including distemper), blood chemistry issues, toxins, or trauma.

Its crucial to ask a possible breeder whether any of the dogs in your family have had epilepsy and to ensure that your puppy has had all the necessary vaccinations, as epilepsy may also be caused by a viral infection.

Epilepsy is a chronic disease marked by repeated seizures, which is why beagles shake, and beagles are prone to it.

Causes of epilepsy in beagles

Here are some causes of epilepsy in beagles:

Electrolyte problems
Anemia
Head injury
Eating poison
Liverdisease
Low or high blood sugar
Encephalitis
Strokes
Brain cancer

Symptoms of epilepsy in beagles

Here are some symptoms of epilepsy in beagles;

Collapsing
Jerking
Stiffening
Muscle twitching
Loss of consciousness
Drooling
Chomping
Tongue chewing
Foaming at the mouth.

Treatment of epilepsy in beagles

First and foremost, strive to maintain your composure.

Slide your beagle away from anything that might injure them, such as a piece of furniture or the stairs.

Keep your distance from your beagles jaws and head, as they may bite you. Dont give them anything to eat.

Your beagle is in danger of overheating if epilepsy lasts more than a few minutes.

To cool down your beagle, turn on a fan and splash cold water on their paws.

In the case of epilepsy, I strongly urge that you see a veterinarian, to ensure that your beagles quality of life is preserved.

Beagles are prone to patellar luxation

Patellar luxation arises when the patella (kneecap) of a beagle is displaced from its natural anatomic location in the thigh-bone groove (femur).

When the kneecap is dislocated from the thigh bones groove, it can only be restored to its original place after the animals quadriceps muscles relax and stretch.

Most beagles with the disease will raise their rear legs for a few minutes as a result of this.

Symptoms of patellar luxation in beagles

Here are some symptoms of patellar luxation in beagles:

Limping.
Carrying a leg or legs abnormally.
The knee is unable to bend.
When moving the leg, it causes pain.
Will not be able to sprint or leap.
Refusing to work out.
Swelling.
Legs that are weak.

Causes of patellar luxation in beagles

Here are the common causes of patellar luxation in beagles:

Genetic malformation
Trauma
Injury or accidents
Damages the knee ligaments
Hereditary deformity

Treatment of patellar luxation in beagles

For severe occurrences of patellar luxation, medical therapy is ineffective; surgery is the primary treatment option.

Surgery can repair both the damaged structures and the mobility of the kneecap itself, freeing the beagle from lameness and dysfunction in 90 percent of instances.

To keep the kneecap from slipping inside, it can be secured to the exterior of the bone.

Alternatively, the thigh-bones groove might be deepened to help retain the kneecap in place.

Patellar luxation in beagles can sometimes be treated with steroids, NSAIDs, and opioids.

Supplements such as glucosamine, vitamin C, vitamin E, and collagen injections may also be beneficial in the treatment of pain.

In the case of patellar luxation, I strongly urge that you see a veterinarian, to ensure that your beagles quality of life is preserved.

Beagles are prone to glaucoma

Glaucoma is a frequent eye disease that affects beagles when the inner eye is under too much pressure.

It can lead to canine blindness if left untreated. The excess liquid in the eye, known as aqueous humor, causes the eye to expand, causing pressure.

When this naturally occurring liquid builds up in the eye and cannot drain, it causes a lot of pressure.

Symptoms of glaucoma in beagles

Here are some symptoms of glaucoma in beagles:

Tearing
Appearance of vessels in the white of the eye.
Squinting
Bulging/swollen eye
Cloudy cornea

Causes of glaucoma in beagles

Here are some common causes of glaucoma in beagles:

Injury
Genetic predisposition
Infection
Inflammation
Tumor
Lens luxation

Treatment of glaucoma in beagles

Antiglaucoma medicines are used to lower inner eye pressure, which is subsequently stabilized to avoid future rises.

Additionally, anti-inflammatory medications for topical application will be recommended to clear out any irritation that may be exacerbating glaucoma.

Your best choice is to consult a veterinary ophthalmologist, who has specialized tools and equipment for determining the core cause of eye issues.

Glaucoma can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Complete blindness can develop in as little as 24 hours in catastrophic situations if the ocular pressure is exceedingly high!

Even in milder situations when the pressure is modest, blindness can develop over weeks or months.

In the case of glaucoma, I strongly urge that you see a veterinarian, to ensure that your beagles quality of life is preserved.

Beagles are prone to ear infections

The big ears of a beagle not only add to its attractiveness, but they can also cause issues if not cleaned and cared for properly.

These ears are ideal candidates for ear disorders due to their enormous size.

These issues arise as a result of ear infections caused by germs that have collected in the ear canal.

Ear infections and issues may cause a lot of pain and, in the worst-case scenario, hearing.

Causes of ear infection in beagles

Here are some common causes of ear infection in beagles:

Ear Mites
Bacteria
Yeast
Allergies
Debris
Moisture
Parasite
Foreign Bodies

Symptoms of ear infection in beagles

Here are some common symptoms of ear infection in beagles:

Constant head shaking
Excessive scratching
Excessive rubbing of ear with paw
Reddening of the ear canal
Thick wax build-up
Swollen ear
Whinning or crying when ear is touched
Smelly ears
Brown or black discharge from ear

Treatment of ear infection in beagles

Ear infections in dogs are traditionally treated by flushing and cleansing the ear, as well as utilizing topical and oral antibiotics or antifungal medicines to kill the bacteria or yeast.

Anti-inflammatories like corticosteroids can also be used to relieve inflammation and irritations like itching.

In the case of ear infections, I strongly urge that you see a veterinarian, to ensure that your beagles quality of life is preserved.

Beagles are prone to hip dysplasia

The soft tissues that surround a puppys joints begin to develop improperly in hip dysplasia.

The bones begin to separate and are no longer kept together.

The two bones lose touch with one other as the puppy develops, causing a problem. Signs usually dont appear until the beagle is well into maturity.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia in beagles

Here are some common symptoms of hip dysplasia in beagles:

Stiffness or limping
Reduced activity
Range of motion has been reduced
Raise, leap, sprint, or climb steps with difficulty or reluctance
In the back end, theres a lot of lameness
The gait is swaying and bunny hopping.
During movement, the joint grates
Muscle mass loss in the thighs

Causes of hip dysplasia in beagles

Here are some common causes of hip dysplasia in beagles:

Genetic predisposition
Types of exercise
Excessive growth rate
Improper weight and nutrition
Hereditary

Treatment of hip dysplasia in beagles

Hip dysplasia in beagles can be treated in a variety of ways, ranging from lifestyle changes to surgery.

Your veterinarian may offer a nonsurgical treatment if your dogs hip dysplasia is not severe, or if your dog is not a surgical candidate for medical or economic reasons.

Here are some things your vet may recommend for treatment of hip dysplasia in beagles:

Weight loss to relieve tension on the hips
Restriction of exercise, especially on hard terrain
Physical therapy is a type of treatment that is used
Supplements for the joints
Medications that reduce inflammation (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids)
Modifiers of joint fluid

In the case of hip dysplasia, I strongly urge that you see a veterinarian, to ensure that your beagles quality of life is preserved.