The Best Dog Food for Beagles (Review) in 2020

You may have looked through all those different dog food products but still can’t make your mind up. Well, now we have the buying guide section, which will hopefully make things that little bit easier. To start off with, we have the ingredients that you should be looking out for, followed by some general information on beagle diet and nutrition. Next, we have some things that you should avoid feeding your beagle, before talking about a few common health issues that your beagle may be at risk of.

When you are searching for dog food for beagle, you should always check the back of the packaging to see exactly what is included. There are some ingredients that you should be on the lookout for, and others which you should be more wary of. Here’s a brief overview of some of the most important of these to help ensure that good health of your beagle.

• Meat Protein

Like all dogs, beagles thrive on a protein-rich diet – and it is best if this is coming from meat rather than another alternative. The best dog food for beagles will feature at least a couple of meat proteins in the first few ingredients. These could come in the form of whole meats or meat meals. The former refers to meat like fish, lamb, beef, or chicken. As for meat meals, these are a more concentrated form where the moisture has been removed. These contain a lot more protein than the former, but many dog owners and experts decide that the latter is better.

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• Fat

While you don’t want to risk your beagle becoming obese, fat should still form an important part of their diet. However, this fat should be coming from good sources. Like protein, not all fat is the same, so you should be wary of what you are offering to your pooch. Look out for a named fat source like chicken fat. Some fat sources such as fish oil can also provide some important nutrition such as omega-3 fatty acid, which is so important looking after the skin and coat of your hound.

• Fruit and Vegetables

Although meat should make up the number one ingredient, dogs are omnivores and can receive nutritional benefits from other things as well. Many of the foods above offer nutritional benefits from fruit and vegetables, so keep an eye out for these, as well as the specific nutrients and benefits that they provide. There is a growing trend towards using superfoods or superfruit for the antioxidants that they contain.

Not all dogs need the same nutrition, and beagles need a very specific diet, which it is important that you know more about. One of the most important things that you can do for your beagle is to help them maintain a healthy body weight, which should be around 20 to 25 pounds, dependent on their height. As we discussed in the intro, beagles love their food a little too much and can easily pile on the pounds if you are not careful. Traditionally, they would have been hunting dogs, which would have significantly helped them to keep their weight down. However, these days, they do not get so much exercise, so controlling your dog’s diet becomes even more important.

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If you want to count calories, most beagles should consume around the 1,000-calorie mark. Bear in mind that older dogs and those who have been spayed or neutered may require less. Activity level and metabolism rate are another two factors that can play a role in this. Puppies and young dogs will consume more to support their healthy development. Also, you will need to feed your puppy more often than your adult dog. Over time, you should be aiming to get them on a two meal a day regular feeding schedule – one in the morning and another in the evening.

Treats can also form an important part of your beagle’s diet, but you should avoid overfeeding them. They can also be a useful aid in training. If you have your dog on a regular two meals a day diet, you should be able to add the occasional treat without worrying too much. Treats can come in the form of those that are specifically formulated for dogs, but there is also plenty of human food that you can offer your pup. We will go into more detail about this later in the frequently asked questions section of the blog post, so scroll down the page if you are looking for some more information right now.

Related Post: Dog Treats

As well as the positive things that you should be feeding your beagle, there are plenty of harmful and problematic ingredients too. Here’s an overview of the main things that you need to be wary of.

• Fillers

Many cheaper dog foods contain fillers to make up their main content. These are empty ingredients that contain no nutrients and no calories. Essentially, they are just taking up space in your dog’s stomach. While they will pass through your dog’s stomach, they are also likely to lead to some gas problems and something similar. Look for dog food that specifically mentions that there are no fillers contained within.

• Artificial Colors, Flavors or Additives

As we have been mentioning in the product overview above, many of the choices that we have handpicked are without colors, additives or flavors. These can cause all sorts of problems to your dog including causing skin issues and gastrointestinal upset. Essentially, they are best avoided, if possible.

• By-Products and Rendered Meats

All dogs need some form of real meat in their diet as it gives them the best access to the protein that they need for healthy functioning. Meat by-products are considered unsuitable for human consumption including things like chicken beaks, stomach linings, and intestines. As you would expect, these contain a lot fewer quality proteins than real meat products. Again, we can come back to mentioning that you should look out for real meat as the primary ingredient.

• Poor Ratios of Healthy Fats, Protein and Carbohydrates

Low amounts of fat can lead to poor skin and coat, along with lowered energy levels. Not enough protein can make it difficult for your dog to properly contain muscle mass. Also, their energy levels are likely to be significantly lowered. On the flip side, too many carbs can cause weight gain. Often, grains and corns are added, which can cause stomach issues. If your pooch suffers from tummy trouble, look out for the grain-free label.

If you are thinking of adding a beagle to the family or you already have one, it is important that you have a better understanding of what health problems can strike them. This way, you can better understand some of the signs that all is not right. Of course, the old saying that prevention is far better than the cure rings true. And feeding them the right diet can go a long way towards the successful prevention of a host of issues.

• Eye Issues

A couple of the most common issues that can affect your beagle are closely linked to their eyes. One is known as cherry eye, which occurs when the gland of their third eyelid slips out of place. This prolapsing will cause it to swell and become red, which will also stop your dog’s eyes from producing tears in the way they should. Without this lubrication, this can lead to irritation and multiple other eye infections. Glaucoma is another common issue in beagles, which if left untreated, can end up leading to canine blindness. This is something that you will want to have checked out by the vet at the earliest possible opportunity.

• Diabetes

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are possible diseases that your beagle can suffer from. The first type is caused by a genetic defect, but the second type can develop over time, resulting in too much sugar in the bloodstream. A few symptoms that can point towards your dog suffering from this condition include increased tiredness, excessive urination, and a high level of thirst. You can manage the issue with insulin injections. Controlling diabetes is done through a combination of diet and exercise. While beagles are prone to type 1 diabetes, more and more are suffering from the latter due to overeating and becoming obese.

• Ear Infections

The big, floppy nature of beagle ears means that it is likely that air, debris, or even a parasite can become trapped inside them, resulting in an ear infection. One of the most common signifiers that all is not right is that your dog will continually keep shaking their head. Also, you may be able to detect an unpleasant odor coming from their head area. Like all disorders of this nature, it is better if you catch them early in order to start treatment and get your little hound better as soon as possible.

• Hypothyroidism

Another typical autoimmune issue that develops in dogs is hypothyroidism, which is manageable in beagles, but it is again best diagnosed at the earliest possible opportunity.

Returning to our number one choice of them all, we have this one from Taste of the Wild, which contains real salmon as the primary ingredient. But it is not just protein. There are also plenty of antioxidants and a fatty acid blend that helps their skin and coat. As well as being nutrient rich, everything is highly digestive, which helps to alleviate any issues that your dog may be suffering from. These are amongst the main reasons why we have chosen it as our top choice of the best dog food for beagles.