BEAGLE: A COMPLETE GUIDE WITH TIPS FOR CHOOSING THEIR IDEAL DIET

Beagle: Specific Dietary Needs

Like all dog breeds, Beagles have specific features that should be taken into account when selecting their kibble. If your dog's diet is not adapted to these criteria, they run the risk of developing various pathologies, such as obesity or digestive issues.

These are some of the factors that you should consider when choosing the right food for your Beagle:

• Beagles are particularly prone to obesity: They're well known for their huge appetite; they will simply never refuse food and will even steal it when given the chance. So, be careful not to leave any food in sight and to provide them with balanced dog food that promotes a healthy weight.

• Beagles have fragile joints: This breed is known for recurring joint problems. Their kibble should therefore take this factor into consideration.

• This dog has sensitive skin: Beagles are regularly subject to skin problems, such as dermatosis. An unsuitable diet can exacerbate these issues. Therefore, it's important to give your Beagle puppy food adapted to their specific requirements.

Vets often recommend a dry food diet for many different reasons. On the one hand, it's much more affordable than homemade dog food, for example, and allows you to ensure that your dog receives everything they need, provided of course that the dry food you choose is high quality and distributed in appropriate quantities.

What type of food should I give my Beagle?

There's a huge variety of dog food on the market, ranging from more to less specialised according to your dog's needs. In addition to the basic nutritional needs of every dog, your Beagle's dog food also needs to meet all the aforementioned requirements of the breed.

Therefore, when considering your Beagle's diet, you should look for:

• Food that helps maintain a healthy weight: A sufficient amount of protein is very important for maintaining a healthy weight. In addition, high L-Carnitine helps preserve your dog's muscles while limiting weight gain, and therefore the risk of obesity. Please note: It is essential that you exercise your Beagle daily in the form of walks or games.

• Food that helps strengthen their joints: Chondroitin and glucosamine promote healthy joints and cartilage. This is very important to prevent your pooch from developing health problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia, for example.

• Food that promotes healthy skin and coat: Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids strengthen the protective function of the skin and guarantee a healthy cutaneous barrier and a soft, shiny coat.

When and how should I feed my Beagle?

Once you've chosen the perfect dog food for your Beagle, you also need to learn when and how best to feed them. There are certain guidelines to help you feed your dog optimally and, in particular, avoid digestion issues. Good dog food is one thing, but how you feed your pooch is also very important! Poor food intake can cause feelings of discomfort, such as gas or other digestive disorders.

Here we outline some recommendations for feeding your Beagle in the best way possible:

• Give them their meals at the same time each day and, if possible, in the same quiet place: This helps to establish a feeding routine, which is important for facilitating digestion, as well as promoting a balanced diet.

• We recommend that you split your Beagle's daily food ration into two or three small meals: The idea is to distribute their food throughout the day, to prevent them from ingesting too much at once, which can cause digestive problems, such as gas or even a twisted stomach.

• Give them the correct amount of dog food: Determining the right amount of food for your Beagle can be tricky. This will depend on different factors, such as your dog's breed, age, weight, activity level (normal or sustained), and reported illnesses. Your vet or an animal nutritionist specialist can help you determine the appropriate amount of food for your dog.

• Treats: In addition to their regular food, you can certainly offer your furry friend a healthy treat from time to time. Little pieces of fruit or cooked vegetables are a great healthy, balanced option! However, be careful not to overdo it with fruit if your dog tends to gain weight easily.

• Forbid certain foods: Of course, some foods are toxic—even fatal—to dogs. Sugar, or even garlic and onion… there are many foods to avoid, so be sure to do your research! If in doubt, ask your vet for advice. This is even more important when your Beagle is still a puppy.

• Finally, make sure your dog is drinking enough water. There should always be one or more bowls of fresh water available to your dog, both in the house and outside if they go out. If you want to encourage your pooch to drink more water, try placing ice cubes in their water bowl.