If your Beagle is not in the best shape, maybe it’s time to consider a new diet. A lot of pet foods are marketed as weight loss foods but for some reason, they don’t always work.
Beagles might be chubby because they eat too much food, or they may have medical conditions that cause them to gain weight. It could even be attributed to a lack of exercise and daily walks outside.
Whatever the case, it’s important to make sure that your Beagle is in a healthy weight range. In this article, I’ll go in detail on the causes and signs of weight problems for beagles, and will share some of the best one’s I’ve found and personally used.
If you’re in a hurry, here are some of my standout top picks. For more details, keep reading below.
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Healthy Weight
- Purina Pro Plan – Weight Management
- Pedigree Healthy Weight
Why Are Beagles Prone To Being Overweight?
There are several reasons why Beagles may not be in the best of shape. Some of the main reasons include:
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Beagles Tend To Eat Quickly
Beagles are notoriously fast eaters. They typically eat fast enough that they don’t even get a chance to chew. This can cause them to overeat which will lead to weight gain.
Eating fast also comes with a variety of harmful side effects, including bloat, and even permanent damage to their digestive tract. To avoid this, I try to moderate my beagles’ portion sizes, and love to use my slow feeder bowls to help them eat at a normal pace.
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Beagles Take Longer To Feel Full
Another problem with beagles is that they take a longer time to feel full. This means that they tend to practically inhale the food in their dish and then are hungry again soon after.
It’s important to practice moderation control with this breed, and to not give them too many treats when training.
It may feel like you’re not feeding your beagle enough, but their hunger will dissipate once their bodies have had enough time to feel full.
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Beagles Require A Lot Of Exercise
Beagles were bred as hunting dogs that require a lot of exercise, which can be hard to provide while living in an apartment or in busy households. With the excessive amount of walking they need to burn off their food intake, it’s important that you help them have enough space to run around.
This will let them burn off a lot of their extra energy while also helping them stay trim and healthy. If you do keep them in an apartment, it’s important to provide them with a lot of mentally stimulating entertainment inside, and still take them on regular walks.
Most vets recommend at least one 30 minute walk each day, but for apartment beagles you may want to opt for two.
How To Tell If Your Beagle Is Overweight
It’s important to know if your beagle is overweight, because the more they are overweight, the higher the chances of them developing a range of health issues are. These signs can include:
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Uneven Gait
Beagles tend to walk somewhat uneven when they are overweight. Their weight pulls down their front legs, which causes the back legs to lift up. It’s also possible for their front legs to become stiff, causing them to drag along the ground and lose balance.
This can lead to falling down or stumbling when they try to walk or run, which can cause injuries. You’ll be able to tell if this is happening, as their gait will look a little wobbly and unbalanced.
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Reduced Energy Levels
Overweight Beagles tend to have reduced energy levels. They don’t have the stamina they once had, and it’s a lot harder for them to jump and quickly move around the house when they are not fit.
This will lead to them being more sedentary than they should be, which leads them to gain weight in a very unhealthy way. If you notice that your beagle’s energy levels are low, it could be a good indicator that they’re overweight.
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Weight Gain Around The Tummy and Abdomen
If you’re looking at your beagle’s tummy or abdomen, you may want to take note of how much weight they gain in this area. The majority of the excess weight will be around their belly because this area is most central and accessible to the body for fat storage.
As the fat accumulates in this area, it will put a strain on the muscles and ligaments surrounding the abdomen. This will make it more likely for them to develop injuries, such as slipped discs or arthritis.
What To Look For In Weight Loss Food For Beagles
With so many weight loss foods out there, you’ll need a good idea of what qualities to look for. It’s important to find a weight loss food that has the following qualities:
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Highly Digestible
The first thing you’ll want to ensure in your beagle’s diet is that the food has high digestibility. This means that it will digest quickly and efficiently, providing your dog with a lot of energy and making them feel full afterwards. Foods high in fiber are perfect for this need.
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Organic Ingredients
You’ll also want to make sure that all of the ingredients are organic, which will provide them with a lot of essential nutrients.
This means it’s going to provide your dog with lots of energy and make them feel healthy overall. Alternatively, over-processed foods can cause digestive discomfort, and food allergies in a lot of dog breeds, including beagles.
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Low In Calories
The best way to ensure that your beagle maintains a healthy weight level is to buy food that has fewer calories in it. This will help them burn off the excess calories so that they don’t gain weight as fast.
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Contains Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Finally, you’ll want to invest in a high quality food that contains a range of essential vitamins and minerals. This will help their body function properly, including their digestive tract and the way that they move around.
Some of the most important vitamins and minerals for maintaining a healthy weight include beta carotene, vitamin A, and magnesium, among others.
10 Best Weight Loss Dog Foods for Beagles
1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Healthy Weight
When it comes to Blue Buffalo’s adult dry dog food, I’d recommend opting for their “Healthy Weight Chicken & Brown Rice” formula.
This recipe comes in three convenient sizes (6 pounds, 15 pounds, and 30 pounds), and is packed with nutrients geared toward supporting weight loss in most dog breeds, including beagles.
Some highlights include:
- Formula with reduced calories from fat, while still being satisfying to eat
- The main ingredient is real chicken, alongside healthy whole grains, vegetables and fruit
- This formula comes with a rich blend of antioxidants and minerals that can support immune system health, promote hydration, and keep your beagle active.
2. Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight
I’ve been using Hill’s dog foods for years, and their Science Diet variants are formulated with your dog’s weight management in mind.
These come in 4 pound, 15 pound, and 28.5 pound variants, and are conveniently made for all breed sizes.
Some highlights include:
- A proven track record: over 70% of adult dogs have lost weight within 10 weeks of starting this food
- Made with natural ingredients, composed of lean protein from chicken
- Includes heart healthy whole grains, with brown rice as one of the other main ingredients, along with oat fiber and flaxseed
3. Natural Balance Fat Dogs Low Calorie
Natural Balance’s weight loss formula is unique in that it has special ingredients uniquely designed to target weight loss and feeling full for longer, something beagle’s will really benefit from.
Additionally this formula can be used for all sizes of dog breed, which can be great for beagles, who as a breed tend to toe the line between small and medium.
Some highlights include:
- Targeted nutrition formula including chicken and salmon, geared toward managing hunger and keeping dogs in a caloric deficit
- Uses specific levels of L-carnitine to help your dog maintain a healthy body weight
- Supplemented with whole grains and fiber for improved digestion, along with a blend of vitamin E, C, and zinc
4. Purina Pro Plan – Weight Management
Purina’s Pro Plan for weight management is based on a shredded blend of chicken and rice, purposed for all breeds.
As an owner of two beagles, I enjoy using this one because you can get more bang for your buck with a 34 pound bag as their biggest option.
I’ve also found that my beagles LOVE the crunchy texture of this formula.
Some highlights include:
- High protein formula geared toward building muscle and keeping dogs in a calorie deficit
- Fortified with live probiotics to include digestion, immune system support, and gut health
- Kibble texture that dogs love, with a unique “shredded” formula giving a crunch and chewiness that dogs love
5. IAMS Adult Dry Dog Food For Healthy Weight
IAMS is a staple of the pet food world, and for good reason. Their Adult Dry Dog Food For Healthy Weight formula is intricately designed with weight management in mind.
It has 17% less fat than their leading generic formula, and is recommended by veterinarians across the United States.
Some highlights include:
- Promotes weight loss and muscle growth through tasty chicken and egg formula
- Uses a combination of L-carnitine and whole fibers to promote hunger management and healthy digestion
- Contains no fillers or artificial ingredients; only whole foods contribute to this formula
6. Hill’s Prescription Diet Weight Management
While this one tends to be on the more expensive side, it has science to back it up.
Hill’s Prescription Diet is one of the most effective weight management dog food formulas available today. And while the brand is called Hill’s Prescription, anyone can purchase it with ease via Amazon.
Some highlights include:
- Impressive results: 88% of pets that use this food found that they lost weight within the first ten weeks of switching formulas
- Additionally, the formula has been proven to help dogs lose an average of 13% of body weight within the first two months
- Formulated with natural ingredients and fibers, aimed toward reducing hunger by keeping your beagle fuller longer
7. Nutro Ultra Weight Management
Nutro is a relatively new and lesser-known dog food on the market today, but they are definitely worth your attention.
This Ultra Weight Management formula is packed with a nutrient dense combination of vitamins, minerals, and natural ingredients that both help with weight loss, and help with joint health to promote an active lifestyle in your beagle.
Some highlights include:
- Trio protein blend of chicken, lamb, and salmon to support weight management and promote heart health via omega 3 fatty acids
- Sourced directly from farmers to guarantee high quality, healthy ingredients
- Made with whole foods high in antioxidants like blueberries, carrots, apples and pumpkins.
8. Pedigree Healthy Weight
Pedigree’s Weight Management formula is a tasty canned mix of chicken and rice, prepared with meaty juices that all dogs will love.
I don’t normally opt for canned food, but when trying to get my beagles to slim down, it was definitely an easy way to get them to eat healthy when they were refusing other options.
Some highlights include:
- Highly digestible ingredients, making for better nutrient absorption
- Hearty texture that dogs really enjoy
- Low in both fat and calories to help with less active dogs, while still being a good source of protein
9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein
Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness formula is an excellent blend of high protein ingredients that comes in both wet and dry varieties.
Both varieties are packed with real chicken that will help your dog maintain lean muscle mass, while keeping them in a calorie deficit.
Some highlights include:
- High quality whole grains to satisfy hunger cravings and support digestive systems
- Excellent source of antioxidants that help with immune system health and oxidative balance
- Packed with calcium and magnesium to support bone and teeth health for your beagle
10. Merrick Real Meat Dry Dog Food Healthy Weight
Merrick’s Real Meat blend of dry dog food is a unique recipe that is mostly made from deboned fish and poultry.
They are a great grain-free alternative, as a lot of beagles have been known to have allergic reactions to other formulas that include grain.
Some highlights include:
- Packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support a healthy skin and coat
- Leading levels of glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints, especially hips and legs
- Grain-free option features low calorie sweet potato that is both tasty and high in fiber
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to help your beagle lose weight, it’s important that you provide them with a high quality food that is low in calories. This will ensure that they are able to burn off the extra calories in a healthy way, while also providing them with the nutrients they need to stay fit and healthy.
We hope this list gives you enough options to help your beagle take the first step in the right direction toward a long, fulfilling and healthy life.
For more measures to protect their health, you’ll want to take a look at how much exercise they’re getting both indoors and outdoors. Adding just an extra 20 minutes of daily exercise can make a great deal of difference when it comes to weight loss. With these tips and tricks you’ll be able to help your beagle achieve a happy and healthy weight!