Recognizing Common Health Issues in Beagles
Your Beagle will probably stay pretty healthy throughout most of his life but every dog can experience health problems. By recognizing common Beagle health issues, you can get your dog the right treatment right away. When treated promptly, most conditions can be treated successfully.
As a breed, Beagles are predisposed to certain conditions, but that doesn't mean that every Beagle will get one of these illnesses. But if you recognize any of these symptoms, call your Vet immediately.
Beagle puppy problems
Beagle puppies are usually in the best of health, but occasionally, a Beagle under the age of 1 year may encounter one of the following conditions.
Cherry eye: This condition results when the tissue that holds the tear gland in the third eyelid weakens, causing the gland to pop out of place and become visible.
The symptom of cherry eye is the visible gland — it looks like a cherry: round and bright red. The tear gland can become infected or even cease to function. Call to your vet as soon as possible so that surgery can be schedule to repair the condition.
Chondrodysplasia: A relatively rare disease that causes a Beagle to be very small and can result in deformed vertebrae and legs, and joint pain.
Symptoms appear around 3 to 4 weeks of age. The puppy won't develop as quickly and will have trouble moving. By 6 months the puppy will move better but might be deformed. There is no cure but there are medications that can help with pain or discomfort.
Puppy pyoderma: This is a skin condition that looks like mild acne on the abdomen but is actually a bacterial infection.
Puppy pyoderma can be treated with a medicated shampoo and sometimes antibiotics.
Adult Beagle Health Problems
Until old age sets in, most Beagles are very healthy, but there are some conditions that can affect their health.
Allergies: Like people, Beagles can develop allergic reactions to a number of things. Symptoms include constant scratching or long-term ear infections. Common treatments include antihistamines and changes in diet.
Hypothyroidism: If your Beagle's thyroid isn't functioning properly, you may notice a dull coat, hair loss, lethargy, extreme intolerance for cold weather, weight gain, and chronic skin disorders. This condition can be treated with a daily thyroid hormone supplement.
Idiopathic epilepsy: A fairly common condition among Beagles that is believed to be genetic. When a seizure occurs a dog might fall down, arch her head and neck, open her mouth wide, extend her limbs and shake in a jerky manner. Seizures usually only last a couple of minutes after which the dog ill probably sleep.
The vet will want to check her out and run some tests to see if there is something else causing the seizures. If there is nothing else going on, the vet will give you medicine to help control the seizures.
Intervertebral disc disease: This condition occurs when the disc (the cushion between the vertebras) is injured causing it to leak or swell.
If you notice your dog exhibiting any of the following symptoms, call the vet immediately.
Shivering, especially when combined with unusual inactivity
Refusal to get up and play, even for food
A yelp when you pet your Beagle or try to pick him up
A pulled-in head, arched back, or any other strange position
A refusal to bend down to the food or water dish to eat or drink
Limping of any kind
A "drunken" rear end, which moves but looks as if it isn't completely under control
Dragging of the back legs
Dogs Glossary
A-B-C assessment
Checking a dog’s airway, breathing, and circulation.
Dogs Glossary
animal shelter
1. An animal control agency run by local government to protect people from animals, take in strays, and manage animal issues and problems within the community. 2. A privately run shelter managed by individuals who want to protect, advocate for, and find homes for animals.
Dogs Glossary
BARF diet
A method of feeding dogs as closely as possible what they would eat in the wild: raw flesh and bones, along with vegetable matter from the stomachs of their prey. The acronym stands for either Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
Dogs Glossary
blow out
A twice-yearly shedding of a dog’s undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
blue slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
breeder
A person who raises, sells, and often shows dogs of a specific breed. Reputable breeders screen parent dogs in an effort to produce healthy dogs that conform to breed standards.
Dogs Glossary
castrate
The removal of a male dog’s testicles to render him infertile.
Dogs Glossary
clicker
A small hand-held device that makes a sharp cracking sound when pressed. Paired with a food reward, an effective dog-training tool.
Dogs Glossary
cohesive bandage
A stretchy wrap that clings to itself used to cover and secure gauze bandages without tape.
Dogs Glossary
come into season
The advent of a female dog’s term of fertility.
Dogs Glossary
dead ring
The stationary ring on a training collar that pulls on the collar, not the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
double coat
Two layers of fur — a top coat of stiff guard hairs and an undercoat that serves as insulation.
Dogs Glossary
dropped ears
The term for hanging or drooping dog ears.
Dogs Glossary
Elizabethan collar
A wide, cone-shaped plastic or cardboard collar that prevents a dog from being able to scratch her head. Used to prevent further injury or hasten healing.
Dogs Glossary
euthanize; put to sleep
To kill an animal to relieve suffering.
Dogs Glossary
fall
Hair that extends over a dog’s eyes.
Dogs Glossary
feathering
Long hair that runs from armpit to paw on the backs of a dog’s legs.
Dogs Glossary
free-feeding
Keeping a constant supply of dog food available so that the dog can decide when and how much to eat. It works best in single-dog households where there’s no competition for food.
Dogs Glossary
heartworms
Parasites that live in dogs’ hearts and cause heart failure. They’re transferred through mosquito bites.
Dogs Glossary
heat
The period when a female dog is fertile.
Dogs Glossary
heel
A command and position in which a dog walks at your left side staying with you as you change direction or pace.
Dogs Glossary
hip dysplasia
A painful malformation of a dog’s hip socket. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to the condition.
Dogs Glossary
hot spot
A localized area of skin infection. It’s usually round, red, and warm to the touch.
Dogs Glossary
live ring
The floating ring of a training collar. Attach a leash to this ring for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
neuter
A general term to describe either spaying or castrating a dog to render it infertile. Neutering and castrating are often used interchangeably.
Dogs Glossary
pantaloons
The tufts of hair on the backs of a long-haired dogs legs that make him look like he’s wearing bloomers.
Dogs Glossary
pedigree
A diagram of a dog’s ancestors for three or more generations that lists the registered names of the dogs and the titles they earned.
Dogs Glossary
pinch collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
praise
A verbal reward for a dog , such as an enthusiastic “good dog!”
Dogs Glossary
prong collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
pulse
Normal dog pulse is between 70 and 120 beats per minute. The pulse of a puppy ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute.
Dogs Glossary
puppy mill
A place that supplies puppies to pet stores, usually without screening for possible genetic defects or properly socializing the puppies.
Dogs Glossary
registration certificate
The paper certifying a dog’s registration with an accredited organization.
Dogs Glossary
registration slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
release word
A word that lets a dog know that she is free to move.
Dogs Glossary
rescue group
A network of animal lovers who rescue and find new homes for their favorite breeds or animals.
Dogs Glossary
reward
To give a dog a treat for a correct response while he’s still in the desired position.
Dogs Glossary
ruff
The long, thick fur around a dog’s chest, shoulders, and neck.
Dogs Glossary
separation anxiety
A condition in which your dog becomes anxious and stressed when you leave him.
Dogs Glossary
shed
A twice-yearly process of casting off the undercoat in a double-coated dog.
Dogs Glossary
single coat
A single layer of hairs that comprises a dog’s fur.
Dogs Glossary
spay
To remove of both the uterus and the ovaries of a dog to render her infertile.
Dogs Glossary
stripping
Plucking the dead hairs from a dog’s coat.
Dogs Glossary
titer tests
Tests that check a dog’s immunity levels to determine exactly which vaccinations are needed.
Dogs Glossary
top coat
The top layer of a double-coated dog composed of stiff guard hairs that tend to be naturally water-repellant. The top coat protects the dog’s skin and undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
training collar
A collar that enables you to guide your dog and to check her as necessary — a brief, sharp tug tightens the collar around the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
treat cup
A plastic container filled with small treats or dog food. Shake it and give treats from it as a reward as you train a dog.
Dogs Glossary
undercoat
Fleecy or downy fur shorter than the top layer of a double-coated dog. The undercoat serves as insulation.
