One of the more frustrating things to find in your beagle’s poop is human hair. This is a huge problem for owners and their pets because it’s one of the many ways your pet could be ingesting something harmful such as a hair tie, twig, or other types of debris. This is an issue that must not be taken lightly and should be treated with as much care as any other big problem.

The Problem

Hair in anything and everything is an issue that is difficult to avoid because it’s everywhere. It doesn’t matter where you live; hair is almost always present. Because of this, it’s even more dangerous for your pet to be ingesting it. Your dog’s mouth, throat, and stomach can get clogged over time and this can lead to hairballs, choking, and even infections in the long run.

The article will go through causes and solutions to this problem, so if you find hair in your pet’s poop it can help prevent any harm from coming their way.

Why Is There Human Hair in My Beagle’s Poop?

There are many reasons why you might find hair in your pet’s stool.  These are three of the most common causes, though there could be several other reasons as well:

1. Your Beagle Is Eating Hair Off The Ground

   If you don’t vacuum every single day, it’s completely normal to anticipate a certain amount of your own hair to be on your ground. It can be even harder to see if you have carpets, but that doesn’t mean that your beagle isn’t eating it right out of the rug. Dogs tend to do this out of boredom or lack of entertainment, but they can also do it because beagles are notorious overeaters.

2. Your Beagle Is Drinking Toilet Water

   Beagles like to drink water from the toilet, which if left open while blowdrying your hair, can accumulate some hair that can get into their digestive tracts after enough time unsupervised.

3. A Lack Of Fiber In Their Diet

   If your dog isn’t getting enough fiber in their daily diet, they can be desperate to get it from other sources such as your carpets. This is especially bad if you have hardwood floors or only vacuum once a week because the hair that collects on the ground will easily be picked up by a dog’s snout.

   Feeding them more vegetables and fruits can help solve this problem, but if they’re not interested, then make up for it with a high-quality fiber supplement. I prefer to use Glandex Fiber Chews because they are affordable, easy to use, and my beagles actually love the flavor.

   However it’s not just a lack of fiber from the hunger side. A lack of fiber will also make hair harder to process when your dog does ingest too much hair. If your dog has enough fiber in their diet, they should be able to pass hair with no problem, to the point where you likely won’t even notice it.

   Though if they are running on a low fiber diet, you’re more likely to see those concerning bowel movements that contain human hair, which can be a mess for your yard, and a real danger for your dog’s digestive health.

Is Human Hair Safe for Beagles to Ingest?

This is a question that must not be taken lightly because human hair can cause serious health problems for your pet. By no means should you stop feeding your dog as usual, but if you see regular cases of your dog having hair in their poop, then it helps prevent any future issues and saves you tons of time from having to clean up after them.

Human hair, by itself, is not going to hurt your dog if they ingest it. Hair is just a common piece of debris that gets ingested and passes regularly without any issues at all. The danger comes from the fact that hair accumulates in your dog’s system and can lead to all sorts of problems over time.

If you have a dog with a sensitive stomach, then it’s even more important to prevent them from eating human hair because they are more likely to get sick from it. Of course for every dog on a surface level, ingesting some human hair in an isolated incident is generally harmless.

Side Effects from Beagles Consuming Human Hair

If you find hair in your dog’s poop, there can be several different side effects. Dogs can get some pretty serious issues from just a small amount of ingested human hair. The most common negative side effects include:

1. Choking Hazards

   Hairballs are a common problem for many dogs because they accumulate on their throats and tracheas. This can lead to breathing disorders, which is why you should address any issues as soon as possible to avoid major damage.

2. Bloating Hazards

   In case you have ever tried to take a hair out of your dog’s throat or off of their breath, you know how difficult it can be. If they swallow that hairball up whole, then they’re going to get that object stuck in their stomach. Eating hairball-like objects can cause bloating and gas, and can even cause severe pain for your pet if not dealt with properly.

3. Gastrointestinal Disorders

   Some dogs are more sensitive to ingested materials than others, and if you have a dog with a sensitive stomach, they might get upset easily. This can cause distress and discomfort in your dog, and may even lead to blockages in the long run.

4. Stomach Blockage

   Dogs are constantly eating things that aren’t food and most of the time they manage to digest them without issue. However if your dog happens to be eating things that are too big to process, then they can cause real problems. If your dog is having trouble passing hairball-like objects or anything else for that matter, then they are at risk of a stomach blockage. The worst part is that this blockage will only get worse over time because they’re not getting rid of it.

5. Infection Risks

   If your dog is not healthy enough to safely digest hair, then they are more likely to get an infection from it. This can be a serious problem because the unprocessed hair could lead to bacteria or other pathogens in the long run. These serious side effects should not be taken lightly. Beagles are known to have sensitive stomachs, so they are more likely to suffer from the negative side effects of consuming human hair than other breeds. If you notice a pattern with your dog having hair in their stool, then it’s time to do something about it.

How to Prevent Getting Human Hair In Your Beagle’s Poop

If you have a regular issue with human hair in your dog’s poop, then fixing it is important for your dog’s health and safety. It can be a difficult problem to solve because the problems come from a variety of different factors, but most of them can be addressed by the correct steps.

Step One: Examine Your Dog’s Diet

The first step is to examine your dog’s diet to see if it can contribute to the hair-eating behavior. It’s not uncommon for larger breeds to struggle with hairballs, so you can revamp their diet to prevent this from occurring in the first place. If you don’t want your dog eating human hair, then you have make an effort to make sure your dog isn’t going too hungry or has any reason to be sniffing through for hair to eat.

Step Two: Clean Your Home More Often

Most of the time, dogs that have experienced hair in their poop are scent hounds. This means that they are more inclined to smell things and try to eat them. If you’re cleaning your home more often then you probably shouldn’t be encountering issues with hairballs. Of course this is just a temporary solution and as soon as your dog starts going back to their old habits, then you’ll need to do more drastic measures.

Step 3: Feed Your Beagle A High-Fiber Diet

Dogs that have sensitive stomachs can be more prone to these kinds of problems so it’s important to make sure they feed a high-fiber diet. This way they can better digest hair, which prevents any serious health or safety issues from taking place. As mentioned above, high fiber treats like Glandex can be a great way to help supplement the fiber in your beagle’s diet.

Final Thoughts

There are many different ways that dogs can ingest human hair, and the problems caused by it can be surprising. Of course the most common issue is hairballs on the throat and in the stomach, but there are several other serious side effects that can take place. Dogs with sensitive stomachs are more likely to suffer from these consequences, but even otherwise healthy dogs can be at risk for some of them. This is why you should try to fix any issues as soon as possible before your dog suffers any serious side effects or damage.