What age do Beagles get fat
Beagle Growth & Weight Chart: Everything You Need To Know
Heres everything you need to know about Beagle size and growth:
Beagle Growth and Size
Unlike many dog breeds, Beagles do not vary much in size based on gender. However, the American Kennel Club currently recognizes two varieties of Beagles in size: the 13 inches & under size and the 13 to 15 inches tall size.
A Beagles adult height largely determines what their healthy weight should be, which can vary by about 10 pounds depending on their size classification. If you purchased your Beagle puppy through a breeder or pet store, reach out to them about the Beagle size group your puppy belongs to. If youre unsure which group your Beagle falls into, you can measure their height yourself.
Please remember that the following numbers are estimates and that all puppies grow at different rates. Dont worry if your puppy is slightly ahead or behind the following numbers. Consult with your veterinarian if youre concerned about your Beagles weight or size.
Pro Tip: Did you know that you could be reimbursed for up to 90% of your dogs veterinary bills? Compare Beagle health insurance options now.
Beagle Weight and Height Chart
AGE | Smaller Beagle (13" & Under) | Larger Beagle (13-15") |
---|---|---|
1 mo. | 2-3 lb. | 3-4 lb. |
2 mo. | 3-5 lb. | 4-7 lb. |
3 mo. | 7-10 lb. | 8-11 lb. |
4 mo. | 8-11 lb. | 9-12 lb. |
5 mo. | 9-12 lb. | 10-13 lb. |
6 mo. | 12-17 lb. | 14-18 lb. |
7 mo. | 14-16 lb. | 16-20 lb. |
8 mo. | 16-20 lb. | 18-22 lb. |
9 mo. | 16-20 lb. | 20-26 lb. |
10 mo. | 16-20 lb. | 20-28 lb. |
11 mo. | 16-20 lb. | 20-30 lb. |
12 mo. | 16-20 lb. | 20-30 lb. |
How big should a Beagle be at six months?
A six-month-old Beagle will be approaching their adult height and could stand anywhere between 10 and 13 inches tall, weighing around 12 to 17 pounds.
How much bigger will my Beagle get?
There are a few ways to estimate how much bigger your Beagle will get.
Most Beagles reach their adult height by eight months old and their adult weight by a year and a half of age. If your Beagle is less than a year and a half old, they are likely still growing. Reference our growth chart above for estimates on your Beagles final size.
You can also take a look at your Beagles paws. Do they look large next to their body and legs? This is a classic puppy feature showing that your Beagle pup is still growing into them!
If you purchased your Beagle through a breeder, you could contact them for a more exact estimate of your Beagle puppys final size and height based on previous litters by their parents. What size group they fall into based on their expected adult height can provide a lot of clarity on how much they will eventually weigh.
Pro Tip: Download a new puppy checklist for a complete list of safety procedures, training tools, parenting tips, and more!
At what age is a Beagle fully grown?
Beagles reach their full height around eight months old and their adult weight around 18 months old. Thats not to say they wont get any heavier, however. Beagles are particularly prone to obesity.
These chowhounds tend to over-eat and should have their food carefully portioned out, as theyll continue to eat well beyond the point of being full. As a Beagle owner, its vital for you to closely monitor their weight and diet to help them avoid the dangers of obesity.
(Image Source: Unsplash)
What is the size of a full-grown Beagle?
The American Kennel Clubs Official Standard for the Beagle breed states that an adult Beagle standing at 13 inches or less should weigh less than 20 pounds, while an adult Beagle standing at 13 to 15 inches tall should weigh between 20 and 30 pounds. As adults, Beagles will look like miniature foxhounds with a solid, balanced body that allows them to last in a long chase.
(Image Source: Unsplash)
How do I make sure my Beagle is healthy?
According to the Veterinary Centers of America, Beagles are more prone to specific genetic health problems, such as cervical intervertebral disk disease. This disease occurs more frequently in dogs with long backs and short legs between three and six years old.
Watch out for symptoms like neck pain, a change in their gait, or lowered head, possibly with muscle spasms in their shoulders, neck, and head area. If you notice your Beagle experiencing these symptoms, immediately contact your veterinarian for the next steps in treating your pup.
Regular veterinary care is the best thing you can do for your dogs long-term health. A veterinary professional can regularly screen your Beagle for common health problems, like diabetes, and work with you to prevent and treat any health concerns that arise.
Veterinary care can become expensive, especially for emergency or unexpected treatments. Only 19.44% of pet parents surveyed said they would be able to pay for a $5,000 veterinary expense out-of-pocket, leaving many pet parents in a dangerous position should anything happened to their beloved dog.
Pet insurance is the answer to this dilemma. Pet insurance works by reimbursing you for up to 90% of out-of-pocket veterinary care so that you can provide your Beagle with the best care. Like humans, dogs are living longer lives and require top-notch health care to enjoy their happiest and healthiest lives.
Pet insurance provides you with a safety net so that you can give excellent veterinary care to your dog, no matter the cost. Set up a safety net today so that you can provide your pup with exceptional care throughout their entire lifetime. Pet insurance wellness plans also offer help with routine care, such as dog dental cleanings.
Final thoughts
Beagles are wonderful, warm dogs that take up a large part of our hearts despite their small size. Give yourself peace of mind and provide your Beagle with a safety net should the worst happen. Use Pawlicy Advisor today to compare pet insurance plans side by side from the top Beagle pet insurance providers today!
Pawlicy Advisors personalized recommendations can help you save up to 83% on insurance costs over your dogs lifespan.
Obesity in beagles is a life-altering situation that can be remedied and controlled. Up to 60% of all dogs are considered overweight, with nearly 50% of those being obese, which is considered more than 30% above their ideal weight range. Which leads us to the question: Why Do Beagles Get Fat? Lets discuss this.
Wait My Beagle is Fat?!
Does your dog look like they just consumed a football? Hate to tell you this they may be fat. Lets talk more in-depth.
General Weight Guidelines
- Adult beagles that are 13 inches or less [from the top of their shoulder blades to the floor], should be under 20 pounds.
- Adult beagles that are 13 to 15 inches, should be between 20 to 30 pounds.
Now dont be remiss if your beagle doesnt fit into these parameters. Some beagles may be slightly taller or have a larger-than-average bone structure, or maybe their breed is mixed with another larger breed.
The other thing to keep in mind is not to be too concerned about an overweight beagle puppy. Mainly, because they dont really exist. Puppies carry additional fat resulting in a fuller, rounder look. Its used to regulate proper body temperature and is used to help fuel their rapidly growing physiques. Most beagle puppys physiques are considered fully grown once theyve reached the 1.5-year mark.
Now If your adult beagle has gained [excluding a growing beagle puppy] or lost weight rapidly, and or you feel that something is off about your beagles weight, consult your veterinarian. Better to be safe than sorry.
Observational Weight Guidelines
- Underweight: Ribs, spine and/or pelvic bones are clearly visible, even from a distance.
- Ideal Weight: Can feel ribs upon gentle petting. Their waistline is obviously thinner than their upper body when viewed from above.
- Overweight: Ribs cannot be felt upon gentle petting. No difference is observed between the size of their upper body and the size of their waist when viewed from above.
- Obese: Ribs felt only with pressure. Their waistline is the same size or wider than the upper body. Abdominal distention.
Ideal Weight Detailed
- View from above: You should be able to observe an inward curve between the ribs and their rib cage.
- View from the side: There should be a gradual but evident up-curve, where the abdomen meets the rib cage.
- Feel the tail: You should be able to feel where the base of their tail meets their spine.
- Feel the ribs: Can you feel defined ribs. Your dog is clearly overweight/obese if you cannot feel the ribs at all.
What Are The Health Risks For An Overweight Beagle?
Canine obesity is a silent killer. Its up to you to help your little buddy maintain a healthy and full life. Some health ailments that are attributed to obesity are:
- Shorter life span [potentially years less]
- Increased strain on the cardiovascular, muscular and respiratory systems
- Damage to internal organs
- Bone and joint damage
- Arthritis
- Renal disease
- Muscle loss
- Liver disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Canine diabetes
- Heat intolerance
- Increased risk of some cancers
- Lower immune system function
- Slower recovery from surgery
Why Do Beagles Get Fat?
Just like their human counterparts, obesity can be brought on by both medical and non-medical variables.
Age
As beagles age, they are more likely to become overweight, as they tend to naturally tend to lose some muscle mass and tend to be more sedentary as they age.
Gender
Female beagles have a higher propensity to become overweight than their male counterparts. Spaying further increases the odds.
Overindulging
This really falls on us. Heck, your beagle can even look to eating more when theyre stressed, bored or anxious or depressed; just like we do. Bottom line: If your beagle has access to an unlimited supply of food or treats throughout the day and night, what do we expect could happen? Yes, an occasional treat never hurt anybody. But they dont need a treat for everything.
Aww, Skyler blinked. How cute. He deserves a treat. Dont be like that.
Lack of Activity
This falls back on us too. Sure, we humans all want to be able to lounge about lazily like Garfield the Cat and not have a care in the world. However, that doesnt mean we should actually apply that careless logic onto ourselves or onto our beagles. A sedentary lifestyle will have them super-sized in no time.
Sterilization/Surgery
For the average beagle owner, having your pup spayed or neutered is a preferable and healthier option for your pet. One thing that results from their subsequent sterilization is their hormones change. This biochemistry alteration in their body results in their increased appetite and a slower metabolism.
Medications & Diseases
Biologically, medicine and diseases can widely alter many aspects of a beagles mind and bodily functions.
Food-Related Issues Regarding Your Overweight Beagle
Here are some tried-and-true recipes for success, for getting your beagle to a healthy weight. Remember, if its just you and your beagle its easier to control their weight.
If you have a family, make sure they are on the same page as you, because otherwise there may be unintended self-sabotage that will happen.
Dont allow your beagle to start a begging behavior. They can become master manipulators with those puppy dog eyes. Dont fall prey to this tactic. Realize that in nature, wild dogs engorge themselves because they dont know when their next meal will be. In a domestic environment, that coping mechanism isnt necessary for them with responsible dog ownership.
Commercial Dog Food
A general rule of thumb regardless if you feed your beagle, canned or dried dog food, that you should follow would be:
- High in protein
- Moderate in fats
- Low in carbohydrates
Most commercial dog foods use a disproportionately higher amount of carbohydrates and/or bulking agents, not to mention enough additives to make your head spin. I mean, really? Why does dog food need coloring? Clearly, its not for your dog. Its all consumer-driven. You should try to deviate from corn, soy, MSG, fillers or body-products. Ideally, the product should be manufactured in the United States or your respective country.
If you want to ensure that your beagle remains or becomes full of energy and enthusiasm, it wont hurt to provide them food products that are made with a complete nutritional profile.Yes, with that being said Im all for a great deal just like anybody else. Higher quality dog food does tend to be more expensive. However, this is an investment in your beagles health and future, so its more than worthwhile.
Simply put: Its better to spend a little more being proactive, then to spend a lot more being reactive.
Home-Cooked Dog Food
Are you one of those types that makes their beagle their own food? Much respect is definitely given. Dogs are in fact omnivores with a carnivorous bias. That being said: Make sure to include an abundant supply of meats + vegetables while curbing the number of grains and starches.
Dont worry about the energy aspect of the grains/starches. The vegetables will provide an ample source of energy. Not only that, but they contain a plethora of vitamins and minerals that will fortify your dogs immune system, rendering them less susceptible to other issues.
When choosing grades of meat, you should try to gravitate toward lean cuts of meat. Fish is great, just be mindful of any mercury content. Protein will help build and maintain strong muscles, which will accordingly burn fat. How? Because just like humans; the more muscle we have, the higher their basal metabolic rate [BMR]. This essentially means the more muscle they have, the more calories they burn at rest and during activity.
Finally, when concocting your beagles dishes, it would be beneficial to add a small amount of fat, such as fish oil, into their food. Recent studies have shown that beagles can benefit from a healthy oil such as that, as it is chock full of omega-3 fatty acids, that can help curb hunger, combat inflammation and improve mobility.
If you seek additional insight into this topic, we discussed it in a previous article here: Beagle Home Cooked Food: A Culinary Guide
Food Quantity and Scheduling
Not only is the type of food that you feed your beagle important, but the quantity and how their food is scheduled also plays a big impact. Dont allow the never-ending love in your heart, equate to a never-ending supply of food. That also means dont let them get comfortable with table scraps. Remember, your beagles daily caloric intake is exponentially less than yours.
Speaking of calories: Food labels on packages arent standardized in terms of their portions. Youd be much better off calculating calories and then adjust it accordingly to the measurement.
Automatic Food Dispenser
Your beagles food intake should be fed to them in 2 to 4 smaller portions daily. If your work schedule doesnt allow you to feed them that many portions daily, you may wish to consider an automatic food dispenser that you can control when the food is dispensed on a timed schedule or even remotely via your smartphone.
If youre needing some help with spacing out your beagles meal portions (like I did), a WestLink Automatic Dog Food Dispenser can work wonders.
Slow-Feed Bowl
Another way to control their portions is to encourage moderated eating through different means. Ever heard of a slow-feeding bowl? It works on the principle that by having their food displaced instead of all in one mound, it makes it more difficult for your beagle to scarf their food down.
If youre looking for a highly-rated one, Amazon has one: Outward Hound Fun Slow-Feeder Bowl
Be sure to keep in mind that most commercial dog food labels are notoriously bad in terms of their feeding guidelines. Why? When doing the calculations, the dog food manufacturers generally figure that your dog is an un-spayed and un-neutered active dog in their prime. In that sense, you may be overindulging your beagle by over 20% over the amount they actually need.
Generally, assuming your beagle is healthy overall with no pre-existing conditions, you will generally be able to self-regulate their consumption and be able to keep their weight in check, based on their age, size, and the amount of physical activity. If you are in need of additional guidance or your beagle has health-related issues that have to be taken into account, your best bet is to consult your veterinarian.
Mitigate the Munchies
Did your beagle just go to the bathroom outside, and you or your family is compelled to give them a treat? That might be all well and good when youre first housebreaking them, but do they really need that treat 3 years later after potty training has finished, and they are 5 lbs overweight. Absolutely not.
Not to say that treats shouldnt be given. Of course, they can. Just be sure to provide more nutritious treats to your pup is all we ask.
Some examples of healthy, wholesome treats that you may wish to give a bite-sized amount can be:
- Apples [no seeds or core]
- Bananas [No peels]
- Broccoli
- Blueberries
- Carrots
- Celery
- Melon
- Sweet potatoes
- Salmon
- Tuna
Exercise That Beagles Body
Beagles that have become fat are part of a minority since intrinsically they are a very active breed. As such, they rarely become overweight, as long as there are no existing health conditions or the other predominant issue that leads to their obesity: lazy owners.
Keeping your beagle moving and grooving has many benefits, as they will for you undoubtedly if youre exercising with them. Some mutual benefits include:
- Helps promote weight loss or healthy weight maintenance
- Limit anxiety and depression
- Lowered bad cholesterol + heightened good cholesterol levels.
- Mitigated risk of diabetes
- Stronger joints and greatly flexibility/mobility
- Greater cardiac health
If your beagle is obese, be sure to consult your veterinarian to produce an effective weight loss plan that will be specially made for your beagle to minimize overexertion or risk of injury. Walking is an excellent exercise for most dogs, it tends to have a lower impact on joints, and doesnt overstress the cardiovascular system.
As your beagle starts a new exercise plan, youll want to build up their strength and endurance slowly; starting with leisurely walks to eventually for 5-10 minutes to eventually gradually upping the time duration, then subsequently the exercise intensity through speed and/or terrain. 3 to 4 times per day daily is a healthy start and maintenance point.
The key is to make the exercise enjoyable for them. Toys, treats, encouragement and most importantly your time, are all great rewards to your beagle.
Final Thoughts
A beagle is a very fortunate breed with relatively few health concerns and loves activity. Ensuring that your beagle is kept within a controlled weight range, will ensure their happier, healthier and longer life.
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