Alice White
The Beagle is a medium-sized hunting dog that lives for about 13-15 years. But with proper care and careful attention to changes in the pet’s well-being, this period can be extended.
Let’s figure out how to save the dog from premature death.
Beagle Lifespan
Representatives of this breed are medium-sized dogs. The height of an adult male is 36-40 cm, of a female – 33-38 cm at the withers with a weight in the range of 8-13 kg.
Thanks to such dimensions, these dogs will delight their owners longer than their large counterparts.
The average life span of a beagle varies from 12 to 15 years. But with proper care, 2 more years can be added to the upper indicator.
How Do I Know the Age of a Beagle?
Some beagles do not come to another house as puppies, and the new owner often has no idea about the dog’s age. In such cases, it is almost impossible to determine exactly how old the dog is. And the approximate age can be determined by muscle tone and by the condition of the coat and eyes:
The coat of a young animal is shiny. With age, it becomes duller and rougher. From 6-7 years old, beagles have gray hair.
Puppies and young dogs have clear eyes. In older beagles, the look becomes extinct. The eyes of older individuals become cloudy.
A young and energetic beagle spends a lot of time in motion. Therefore, his muscles are well developed. With age, the activity of the dog decreases. Elderly individuals sleep a lot and walk little. Because of this, their muscles atrophy, and obesity appears.
You can more accurately determine the age of the dog by the condition of its teeth:
Milk hooks and canines are cut on the 20-25th day. The incisors come out by the age of 30-35 days. By 1-2 months, the puppy already has a full set of teeth.
By six months, the beagle ends the change of milk teeth to molars. And by 12 months, all the notches are visible on the incisors.
At 1.5-2 years, the dog’s tooth enamel begins to turn yellow. At the same time, the erasure of the tubercles on the lower toes occurs.
By the age of 4, the enamel becomes dull, the first problems with the gums appear. At the same time, the notches from the upper toes disappear.
By the age of 5, the beagle’s fangs become dull and the enamel noticeably turns yellow. At this age, all irregularities and notches are erased on the dog’s incisors.
By the age of 6, it is almost impossible for an animal to determine the correct bite. This is due to a change in the shape of the incisors.
By the age of 8-10, the dog’s canines noticeably shorten and become dull. Teeth wear out and turn yellow.
In older dogs, tartar is clearly visible and there are signs of caries. Teeth lose and fall out.
How to Prolong Beagle’s Life?
The Beagle is a hunting dog with good immunity. But to maintain health and increase life expectancy, he needs:
- regular walks and physical activity;
- good nutrition;
- hygiene;
- timely treatment and treatment for parasites.
Beagle Diet
The beagle is unpretentious in food and eats everything that is offered to him with an appetite. Therefore, the owner will have to take care of the full and high-quality nutrition of the animal.
The easiest way to provide your dog with proper nutrition is to purchase ready-made foods that contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
When choosing a brand, it is recommended to give preference to products of well-known manufacturers who have managed to prove themselves well in the world market.
Drying feeding makes it easier to control the dog’s nutrition and prevents the formation of calculus on its teeth.
On a note. The daily allowance is calculated based on the age and weight of the dog. It is always indicated on the food carton.
Another way is to feed your dog natural food. Since the beagle belongs to the category of hounds, special requirements are imposed on its diet:
65-70% of the daily value should be raw, lean meat (beef, poultry, or rabbit) and offal (stomachs, heart, and liver);
15-20% should be in cereals (oatmeal, rice, or buckwheat);
10-20% should be vegetables (squash, pumpkin, and carrots) and fruits.
Also, in the dog’s menu, it is necessary to introduce low-fat sea fish, eggs, and dairy products.
To prolong the life of a beagle, tubular bones, sweets, pastries, chocolate, smoked meats, pickles, sausages, legumes, fatty, and fried foods must be excluded from its diet.
Important! Representatives of this breed are unfamiliar with the sense of proportion in food. Therefore, the size of their portions must be strictly controlled. Dogs that are not restricted in their diet develop obesity and other health problems over time, which reduces life expectancy.
Beagle: Walks and Games
Beagles are hardy and active dogs. They can easily tolerate long walks and jogging. It is advisable to lower the dog from the leash outside of settlements or in specially designated places.
In the city, it is advisable to keep the beagle on a leash. Otherwise, the little hound can get carried away in pursuit of imaginary prey and risks being under the wheels of a vehicle.
Important! For safety reasons, the dog should be weaned from picking up food from the ground. Otherwise, she may become a victim of dog hunters.
In order for the dog to realize the hunting instinct, it is recommended to give tasks to search for objects. Also, the beagle should be able to play not only with the owners but also with their relatives.
Timely Treatment and Deworming
Beagles have good health and good immunity. But they have a predisposition to certain diseases:
- glaucoma;
- obesity;
- hypothyroidism;
- epilepsy;
- lymphoma;
- chronic hepatitis;
- diabetes.
Small hounds’ heavy drooping ears impede proper ventilation. As a result, they often develop ear infections, which, in the absence of qualified care, lead to otitis media and meningitis. Therefore, at the first suspicion of the onset of the disease, the dog needs to be shown to the veterinarian.
You cannot postpone the visit to the clinic if your pet has:
- the temperature has risen;
- lack of appetite;
- shortness of breath, weakness, and apathy appeared;
- disturbed stool (diarrhea or constipation);
- vomiting began;
- convulsions.
To prevent the beagle from becoming infected with deadly infections, it must be vaccinated:
- from leptospirosis;
- rabies;
- plague of carnivores;
- parvovirus enteritis.
Vaccinations are carried out according to a schedule drawn up by a veterinarian. And in front of her, the dog needs to do an antiparasitic treatment. Since helminths have a bad effect not only on digestion but also on other organs, it is advisable for the beagle to regularly give anthelmintic drugs.
On a note. It is recommended for adult animals to take medicine for worms twice a year, for puppies – once a quarter.
In addition to removing worms, the pet should be treated for fleas and ticks. The former can cause flea dermatitis, the latter carries piroplasmosis and Lyme disease.
Beagle: Care and Hygiene
Beagles are unpretentious dogs who are equally comfortable in a private house and in a city apartment. The care and maintenance of this breed do not present any particular difficulties. The main thing is to make sure that the pet is always clean and neat.
Representatives of this breed have a short self-cleaning coat. Beagles do not need frequent shampooing. They can arrange “bath procedures” no more than 2-3 times a year.
If the dog gets dirty during a walk, it is enough to wipe the contaminated area with a damp sponge. It is necessary to comb out the animal 1-2 times a week, and with the onset of molting – every other day.
The dog’s claws are shortened as they grow back with the help of special nippers. And after each walk, the beagle’s paws are washed and examined for injuries and cuts.
The most vulnerable place of the representatives of this breed is the ears. They must be cleaned of dust and dirt once a week with a cotton pad dipped in a special lotion.
The dog’s eyes need to be wiped daily to remove secretions that accumulate in the corners. For this, it is advisable to use a tampon that has been moistened with chamomile broth.
Beagle: Causes of Premature Death
Although beagles live long enough, there are factors that lead to the early death of the dog:
- untimely provision of veterinary care;
- poisoning with pesticides;
- hunting injuries and traffic accidents;
- infections and lack of vaccination;
- infestation with parasites;
- malnutrition;
- congenital pathologies.
Beagles: Signs of Aging
The final beagle is formed by the age of 3. Immediately after this, the aging mechanism is triggered in the dog’s body. External signs become noticeable by the age of 5-6 years. The animal has gray hair and teeth are erased.
And although the Beagles in old age retain an interest in the world around them, their activity is no longer the same as in their youth.
With age, the animal has a decrease in immunity. The pet becomes more susceptible to various infections. Some older dogs have some or all of their hearing loss. Older dogs need more attention and care.
Beagles are naturally endowed with good health and good immunity. But the duration of their life depends on the conditions in which they are kept.
With quality nutrition and proper care, the dog will live up to 13-15 years.
In the absence of veterinary care and non-compliance with the rules of keeping and walking, the animal may die much earlier.
