Beagles are marvelous dogs that are a joy to own. Just ask any beagle owner and you’ll get an earful on just how wonderful this pup can be! Beagles are known for being playful, affectionate, intelligent and curious – everything you can ask for in a dog!
Be forewarned though – they need lots of stimulation and supervision or they’re apt to get into mischief when left on their own.
When it comes to a beagle’s size and stature, it depends on the variety of beagle you own. The smaller variety grows to be about a foot in height up to the pup’s shoulder. The larger variety can reach anywhere between 13 and 15 inches tall.
A healthy beagle will have a robust, well-built body, not too skinny and not too fat, which will determine how much he should weigh, give or take a few pounds.
A healthy weight for a beagle that stands around a foot tall will generally be around 20 pounds. Larger beagles (13 to 15 inches tall) may weigh anywhere between 20-30 pounds.
Beagles generally have a good appetite, which puts them at risk of gaining too much weight and developing health problems. On the flip side, undernourished, skinny beagles aren’t much better as they’ll lack strength, energy and vitality.
How To Fatten Up Skinny Beagles!
If your beagle has lost weight due to age, sickness or poor nutrition, you’ll need to take measures to fatten him up.
There are numerous ways you can fatten a skinny beagle to help him look and feel his best. If your pup has health issues that’s causing weight loss, ask your vet how to keep him at a healthy weight during treatment.
Whether you’re new to pet parenting or an old pro, you can benefit from partnering with a trustworthy vet for handling weight issues with your dog.
A balanced diet and regular exercise are essential to keeping your pup at the appropriate weight for good health.
If you opt for commercial dog food, make sure it contains healthy ingredients like fish, poultry and whole meats along with fruits, vegetables and healthy carbs like brown rice for fiber.
Dog foods with ingredients that are easy to digest will produce less waste and help your pup put on extra pounds. Dog food like A Taste of the Wild is a good example of a quality commercial product.
Custom-made dog food offers another option for fattening your pup as it’s tailored to meet his nutritional and calorie intake needs.
Custom-made dog food should be rich in protein and fat to boost your pup’s weight levels. By adding fattening foods like pumpkin, sweet potato and peanut butter (yes, peanut butter!) to your beagle’s meals, and including whole food treats in his diet, your beagle will put on extra pounds in no time.
If your pup normally eats twice a day, make sure he gets a bigger meal at night so his body can store fat as he sleeps to help him gain the weight he needs.
How Thin Should A Beagle Be?
As the average beagle tends to eat a lot, there’s a greater tendency for beagles to be overweight as opposed to skinny.
If your beagle is thin, however, a nutritious diet coupled with a healthy lifestyle should do the trick in helping him fill out.
When developing a diet for your beagle, keep in mind the weight recommendations for a healthy, full-grown beagle pup so you don’t go overboard in feeding him too much.
On average, a 12 inch male beagle should weigh around 10 kg or 20 pounds, while a 13-15 inch male beagle can weigh up to 15 kg (30 pounds).
Female beagles are generally thinner in both categories. Of course, these are average weight limits to be used as a guideline to tell if your pup is overweight or too thin for his size.
By analyzing your beagle’s overall appearance, you can usually tell whether he’s too plump or too skinny.
When contemplating your pup’s weight and whether he’s too fat, too thin or just right, consider his current state of health. If your pup is energetic, happy and playful and has a healthy appearance, there’s probably no need to worry about his weight.
Dogs that are excessively overweight or underweight won’t have the energy to run and play and will probably show signs of lethargy, weakness and malnutrition.
Is My Beagle Skinny?
As a rule of thumb, a healthy beagle’s weight level is generally determined by his build.
If your beagle is extremely active, he may develop a muscular physique, which may put him a few pounds over the recommended weight level for an adult beagle dog.
Healthwise, a few pounds over or under shouldn’t make that much difference to your pup. If your beagle is extremely underweight, however, that’s cause for concern and you may want to have him checked by a vet to determine what’s wrong.
How can you tell if your beagle is skinny? Obviously, if his bones are sticking out to where they’re clearly visible, particularly around the rib cage, he’s thinner than he should be.
Your beagle is also too thin if you can feel his bones when petting, stroking or hugging his body. As your pup’s weight can directly impact his health, it’s important to ensure he’s getting the nutrition he needs to maintain a good weight level for his size and stature.
If you have doubts as to whether your beagle is at a good weight, you can always consult with your vet. A vet can provide valuable input into your pet’s dietary needs so that he doesn’t get too skinny or too fat.
As your pet grows older and less active, you may need to alter his diet to raise the level of proteins and reduce fat, as your pet won’t be burning as many calories in his senior years. This will enable him to stay at a healthy weight at this stage of his life.
Conclusion
Parenting a beagle is a responsibility as well as a joy. A nutritious diet, regular exercise and lots of love and attention will help your beagle live a happy, healthy life in your home. By ensuring your beagle has all he needs to live an active, healthy lifestyle, you can avoid the stigma of fat beagles and skinny beagles altogether and simply enjoy your loving, beautiful, healthy dog.
