Image Credits: Pixabay
The beagle is a medium-sized breed of dog. The
modern beagle that everyone recognizes today made its debut in England in the
early 1800s. It is quite a popular choice for pet owners around the world
because of its calm demeanor. In fact, many hunters adopt beagles because they
possess a sharp sense of smell.
There's a lot to love about beagles, and while the
breed is overall quite a healthy one, it can experience health problems. Let's
take a look at some of them.
- Allergies
– Beagles
can develop allergic reactions to many things. Some of the symptoms of
allergies in beagles include long-term ear infections and scratching.
Treatments include changes in the dog’s diet as well as antihistamines.
- Hypothyroidism
–
A dull coat, loss of hair, extreme intolerance for cold weather, tiredness,
chronic skin disorders, and weight gain are all signs of a dysfunctional
thyroid. Thankfully, this condition is easily treatable with a daily thyroid
hormone supplement.
- Idiopathic
epilepsy – This one is quite a common condition in beagles.
It’s so common that many believe it to be a genetic issue with beagles. A
beagle experiencing a seizure can do any of the following. The dog might fall
down, open his/her mouth wide, extend his/her limbs, arch his/her head and neck
or shake in a jerky manner. The dog will usually go to sleep after the seizure
is over. Seizures last for a couple of minutes.
- Intervertebral
disc disease – This happens when the cushion between
the vertebras (the disc) is injured, which makes it leak or swell. The
following symptoms require an immediate visit to the vet.
- Refusing
to get up and play even when offered food
- A
beagle yelping when you try to pet him/her or pick him/her up
- Shivering
in combination with inactivity which is unusual for your beagle
- Limping
- A
rear-end which moves but doesn’t look like it’s in control
- Dragging
of the hind legs
- A
strange position especially a pulled-in head or arched back
- Beagle
dwarfism – Dwarfism or chondrodystrophy is a
genetic disorder in beagles. The disorder results in cartilage which doesn’t
develop properly. Beagles with dwarfism suffer from short legs. In addition to
this, the intervertebral discs in their spines degenerate prematurely when
compared to their peers.
It’s always worth a
visit to the vet if you notice any strange behavior from your beagle. Your dog
looks to you for solutions to any problems that he/she faces. Ignoring
symptoms, no matter how small they are, is asking for trouble. The best way to
avoid issues entirely is to visit your vet every six months. Remember that
prevention is better than cure.
