Top Tips for Your Beagles Diet
Top Tips for Your Beagles Diet
by Lisa Tilly
Beagles are amongst the friendliest and most playful dog breeds in the world. They are originally dogs used for hunting thanks to their superior sniffing and smelling sense and they are known for being full of energy. They are incredibly active and smart, and this is why you need to learn how to properly look after them if you want them to live a long and happy life.
Unfortunately, due to the same discriminating nose, Beagles often get in trouble, especially when it comes to food. They can sniff it in an instant and this is why they’ll often have problems maintaining a healthy weight. If you don’t want your pup to become overweight or obese in just a few months, you need to pay close attention to its diet. Here is everything you need to know about this aspect.
Top Tips for Your Beagles Diet How often should you feed your pet?
Beagles have different feeding requirements based on their gender, age, and even personality. Their diet changes as they grow older but during the first four weeks of their lives, they shouldn’t be fed anything else but dam’s milk. After one month they can be slowly introduced to solid foods that should first be mixed with milk.
After the sixth week of life, Beagle pups should have a purely solid diet. During the next few weeks of life, your puppy should be fed the same food brand to avoid stomach upsets and other changes that could cause digestive problems.
Keep in mind that Beagles like any dog will become overweight when you overfeed them. As a general rule, until the age of six months, Beagles should receive three meals a day.
If you opt for dry food or kibbles, make sure to check the brand’s feeding recommendations for the size, weight, and age of your pet. This is also the perfect time to set strict meal times so your pup can get used to eating at regular hours. A firm schedule won’t only keep your pup healthy and within normal weight limits but will also help you train it faster.
Adulthood
After your pet reaches adulthood, two servings of food per day should be enough to benefit from all necessary vitamins and nutrients to boost its energy levels and help your pooch live a long and active life.
However, if you have a busy schedule or you’re away for a couple of days, an automatic food dispenser or regular water dispensers for cats will do the trick. These devices detect motion and will release a preset amount of kibbles for your Beagle’s meal. Food and water dispensers are specially made to provide a measured amount of food and clean water to keep your dog hydrated.
Top Tips for Your Beagles Diet How many calories per day should your Beagle have?
Beagles range in weight from 25 to 30 pounds at adulthood. Food recommendations should be adjusted according to how active dogs are on a daily basis. Although most Beagles are energetic and active, this doesn’t mean that some individuals prefer relaxing on the couch.
As a general rule, dogs up to the age of seven years should receive anywhere between 675 and 920 calories per day. Older adults are typically less active and they should receive about a third less food than teenagers and young adults.
Which diet should your pet follow?
Beagles are known for not being picky when it comes to food. In fact, they’ll eat about anything, even if we’re talking about dry food, table scraps or raw meat. Beagles are excellent hunters due to their fine sense of smell. This means you’ll have to constantly find new places to hide your pup’s food stash.
Most dog owners prefer dry foods in the form of kibbles because they are easier to store and feed. They don’t make a mess and contain all necessary vitamins, minerals, and proteins for a healthy diet. However, some kibbles use low-quality ingredients which leads to a high-calorie diet rich in fats and low in proteins.
Over time, feeding the wrong foods or overfeeding can cause severe health issues. This includes liver failure, digestive problems, heart disease, and obesity. I combine kibble with home-cooked meals or food cans.
What foods should you feed your pet?
As a general rule, Beagles should receive at least one clean source of proteins daily. This includes dairy, poultry, fish or any other kind of meat. Choose organic or free-range recipes that don’t contain any preservatives or empty calories that might lead to overweight problems.
Essential fatty acids found in sunflower, safflower, and fish oil are essential for keeping your pet’s coat shiny and healthy. Make sure to combine these ingredients with daily intakes of fresh fruits and vegetables for a balanced diet.
Carbs are also necessary to boost your Beagle’s energy levels but we suggest feeding them in moderation. Avoid foods that are rich in empty calories such as corn, wheat or meat by-products. Instead, choose clean sources of carbs such as organic brown rice.
If you’re opting for over-the-counter foods, make sure to carefully read the ingredient list. The protein source should be the main ingredient and should come from clean, organic sources. Natural preservatives such as Vitamin C and E are preferable over chemicals, flavor enhancers, and other low-quality ingredients.
Beagles Diet- Creative feeding
As we previously mentioned, Beagles are natural hunters and they love spending as much time outdoors as possible. If ignored or kept inside for too long, they will develop destructive behaviors.
One way to prevent this is to make your pet work for its food, at least once in a while. The concept of creative feeding involves having your dog search for its own food or perform a task in order to receive a treat.
