Are Beagles hungry dogs

Why Do Beagles Eat So Much? Greedy or Hungry?

If youve ever watched a Beagle devour its meal, you may have found yourself asking, why does my beagle eat so much, why are beagles so greedy and is there something wrong with my beagle? This seemingly insatiable appetite is common amongst Beagles, but what drives this behavior? In this article, we discuss why beagles eat so much, explore the reasons behind their apparent greed and provide practical tips to ensure they stay healthy and dont become obese.

Why Do Beagles Eat Everything?

The beagle dog breed has a keen sense of smell and were originally bred as hunting dogs and used in large packs to track game and other small animal and wildlife. The only food a beagle likely got on a hunt was the food they scavenged themselves and the odd bit of food scraps thrown away from the human members of the hunt. Each beagle would compete against each other for food, so eating quick and as much as possible was high on the agenda for each dog.

If it looked like food, theyd eat it. Even to this day, Beagles will eat anything and everything; its just part of their instinct to eat whatever they can, whenever they can.

The modern beagle breed still displays the scavenger and opportunists instincts of its hunting ancestors. When I got my first beagle, i wasnt prepared for these traits, so learning to recognize, understand and manage these behaviors was a steep learning curve for me.

Why Are Beagles Always Hungry?

So while a beagle is a natural scavenger and a beagles instincts is to eat as much as it can when it can, doesnt fully explain why your beagle appears to always be hungry.

There could be other reason as at to why your beagle is always hungry, these include;

• Medical conditions can cause an increase in appetite leading to issues like obesity.
• Behavioral reasons include learning to beg when you are eating knowing you will give them a treat.
• Food related reasons include giving your dog a poor quality diet, for example feeding them a dry kibble with poor quality ingredients.

Medical conditions

Medical conditions can have an effect on your beagles appetite, so its best to rule these out before presuming the over-eating is behavioral in nature.

Some of the medical conditions that can cause an increase in appetite include;

1. Diabetes
2. Cushings Syndrome (Hyperadrenocorticism)
3. Malabsorption Conditions

If you think your beagle has an increase, or decrease in appetite book an appointment with a qualified veterinarian so they can check out your dog for any potential health problems.

Obesity in Beagles

As already discussed, beagles are notorious for their love of food and their insatiable appetites. Unfortunately, this voracious appetite often leads to a high level of obesity in the beagle breed.

Health implications of overeating and weight gain

Overeating and weight gain in beagles can lead to a plethora of health problems. Obese beagles are at a higher risk for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and respiratory issues.

Excess weight puts strain on their joints and organs, impacting their overall quality of life. It is essential to address obesity in beagles to ensure they have a long and healthy life.

Prevention and management strategies for weight control

Preventing and managing weight control in beagles requires a combination of healthy eating habits and regular exercise, starting from an early age as a puppy.

First and foremost, beagles should be fed a balanced diet that is appropriate for their breed and size. Portion control is key, as feeding too much can easily lead to weight gain.

In addition to a proper diet, regular exercise is essential for beagles. Daily walks, interactive playtime, and mental stimulation can help burn off excess calories and keep them from becoming sedentary.

Owners should also be mindful of using food as a reward or source of comfort. Instead, try using non-food rewards and providing plenty of love and attention or use low calorie treats such as vegetables.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure when it comes to obesity in beagles. By being proactive and mindful of their diet and exercise, we can help our dogs live healthier lives.

Beagles and Food Nothing is Safe

From the moment i bought my first beagle (Bracken) home I realised I had to change some of my habits around the house in regards to food. I had to look at our home differently, through the eyes of a beagle so to speak.

Our house had become my beagles hunting ground. We had to Beagle proof everything, ensure food was out of reach at all times, cupboard doors closed and locked, and no food was left unattended.

Guests, adults, and kids alike would be asked not to leave food anywhere a Beagle could be.

We had to take this over-cautious approach even when outside with our dog. We were always scanning and assessing the surroundings to make sure our beloved beagle wasnt able to get into trouble.

We had trained Bracken to be off the leash; she had a good recall (for a Beagle). However, she often sniffed out food. She wouldnt hesitate to help herself to a family picnic, her recall training conveniently forgotten. She once stole a childs ice cream right out of his hand!

Some beagles are know to eat feces. While eating feces is gross and a terrible habit for any dog, its not as uncommon as you may think amongst dogs. The terms for poo eating is Coprophagia, and you can learn more about why beagles eat poop and how to stop it. Dogs eating feces can causue them issues with diarrhea, sometimes leading to vomiting and or infection.

Good Quality Food Will Help Keep your Beagle Full For Longer

Feeding your Beagle with a varied and healthy diet is crucial. Too often, people feed their dogs poor-quality canned food or cheap kibble biscuit.

Cheap wet dog food doesnt always contain the nutrients your dog needs, and poor quality dry biscuit can contain bulking agents.

Feeding a dog with quality food can increase the cost of ownership of a beagle, but thats a commitment we make when we decide to get a dog. You owe it to your beagle to provide him with a varied diet that gives it all the nutrients they need.

We recommend a fully raw food diet. If raw food seems inconvenient (its not), a high-quality kibble (biscuit) can be used and fed at two intervals per day.

We gave our first Beagle quality dry kibble from the start. We followed the exact guidelines from the manufacturer for the correct amounts for her ideal weight. She kept a stable weight, her coat looked shiny, and all seemed well.

Over time we started to hear much more about a raw dog diet. We researched, listened to others, and eventually took the decision, putting Bracken and our other Beagle, Baylee, on a 100% raw food diet. When changing a dogs diet, it is always better to gradually make the change over a few weeks so as not to cause any issues. I wont go into why raw is best here as thats a broad topic by itself, but needless to say, we wish we had done it earlier; our dogs thrived on it!

How Much Should a Beagle Eat a Day

By feeding your Beagle with good quality food and the correct quantity, you can be sure to keep your Beagle at a healthy weight. Feeding twice daily may help your dog feel less hungry as they are less likely to have an empty stomach for long.

Ready-prepared raw foods, such as Nutriment Raw or quality kibble, will guide you on how much food to give your Beagle based on your dogs ideal weight.

If you are buying fresh raw food items from a butcher or online, finding the best quantities is a little trial and error.

As a starting point, feed your Beagle about 2-3% of his ideal adult weight; if your dog is active, feed him a little more if hes a couch slouch, then a little less.

The best way to check if you feed the right amount is to run your hands over your beagles ribs. If you can feel but not see them, they are at a good weight.

Beagles come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on the breeder, some Beagles are naturally smaller than others, and ideal weights vary accordingly.

Strategies to Slow Down Your Beagles Eating Pace

Beagles eat fast, so its best to try and slow down how quickly they eat. Eating slower will cause them to chew food and be kinder to a beagles digestion system.

There are different ways to slow down how quickly your Beagle eats. Rather than a regular round bowl, you could use a dish like the one below. This kind of design means that your dog cant just take the food in one mouthful. He has to dig food from around raised sections of the bowl, which slows down how quickly they can eat their food.

Another way is to feed them by hand. By feeding by hand, you control the rate of the food and how quickly they get to eat their meal. Just remember to clean your hands after hand feeding as a dogs saliva contains all kinds of germs.

You could also use mealtime as a chance for obedience training or any other training. Work on things such as leave and recall and use their food as a reward. Break the food down into smaller parcels; this turns a 20-second fast feast into a few minutes worth of valuable training for your Beagle.

If feeding by hand suits you, then great, but for most, its inconvenient and messy, but it can be fun and rewarding!

6 Ways to Help an Extra Hungry Dog

To satisfy dogs cravings without packing on the pounds, the doctors recommended introducing more vegetables into their diets.

Vegetables like carrots and green beans can be added to dogs meals to bulk up the foods fiber content and make the pups feel more full without adding a lot of calories, says Morgan. Grind the vegetables and cook them lightly before serving to your dog.

Veggies can make great snacks between meals, as well, she says.

Just be careful about introducing too much fiber too fast. This can lead to flatulence, constipation, or diarrhea, she says.

Boosting your pups vegetable content may also help curb her hunger in other ways. Chromium, a mineral found in ingredients like broccoli and sweet potatoes, has been shown to help reduce hunger in humans and may also help dogs, Morgan says.

Why Are Beagles Always Hungry?

When watching a Beagle scarf down their meal as if its the first time they have seen food in ages, one could easily think that there is something wrong with them. Are they getting enough food? Do they have worms? Why on earth are Beagles always so hungry?

Beagles cannot regulate their own appetite. Their digestion process only begins when the food hits their stomach, so it takes longer for them to feel full and stop eating. Beagles have been bred as hunting dogs, so they are opportunistic feeders. They will always jump at any opportunity to eat.

Beagles are highly prone to overeating and becoming overweight. It is vital to control the amount of food they get and to feed them at specific meal times. Free feeding does not work for Beagles! In this article, we explain the root causes of Beagles obsession with food and how to manage their appetites.

Why Do Beagles Act Like They Are Starving?

One thing that all Beagles have in common is their insatiable hunger. Beagles will eat as much food as they can find and then some. They have almost no ability to regulate their own appetite. But what is the reason for this?

Beagles digestive systems work differently from many other dog breeds. For humans and many dog breeds, the process of digestion begins in the mouth. Enzymes in the saliva start breaking down food as it is chewed.

This helps speed along the digestion process, and consequently, the feeling of being satiated sets in a short while after the appropriate amount of food has been consumed.

For Beagles, digestion does not begin in their mouth. Their bodies only start breaking down food once it enters their stomach. Because of how much time it takes for the food to move through the esophagus and get to the stomach, it takes much longer for Beagles to feel full.

Experts theorize that it can take as long as three days for a Beagle to feel satiated from a meal. Its no wonder that these dogs behave as if they are perpetually hungry!

Beagles Have The Appetite Of A Hunting Dog

A Beagles voracious appetite is a by-product of what this breed of dog has been bred for. Beagles are hunting dogs. A characteristic of a good hunting dog is a constant craving for food because if they are always hungry, they are always focused on tracking down food.

Because Beagles have been bred to hunt in packs, it has made them opportunistic eaters. The competition for food between dogs in a large pack causes them to eat very fast, and it means they will feed on whatever they can get their paws on.

Beagles are always in hunting mode, even if they have never hunted down an animal in their lives! Beagles have very strong hunting instincts in their genes.

Beagles Will Eat Themselves To Death

Because of their never-ending appetites, Beagles are prone to overeating, especially when their access to food and their portion sizes are not controlled.

Beagles are one of a handful of dog breeds that will quite literally eat themselves to death because they just do not have the ability to regulate their appetite.

If Beagles overeat consistently and do not get enough regular exercise, they will start to suffer from obesity. This causes secondary health problems, like joint issues and heart disease, that can significantly shorten their lifespan.

To prevent a Beagle from becoming obese, owners must carefully control their portion sizes and feed them at set meal times. Free feeding is simply not an option for Beagles. It is also critical to exercise Beagles regularly.

Low-Quality Dog Food Can Cause Perpetual Hunger

It is important to feed a Beagle (or any dog, for that matter) a high-quality diet. Cheap, low-quality dog food contains lots of filler ingredients, like corn bran, oatmeal, corn gluten, brewers rice, and potato by-product.

These things have little to no nutritional value for dogs. As obligate carnivores, their digestive systems are adapted to a diet of protein, not carbs.

So, you may be feeding your Beagle the right amount of food, but because their bodies cannot absorb the nutrients they need from low-quality food, they will remain hungry.

Always opt for the most expensive, highest quality food that your budget can afford. The label should contain the words complete and balanced, and the dog food must contain at least 18% crude protein.

Medical Reasons Why Beagles May Be Hungry All The Time

Sometimes the reason that a Beagle is hungry all the time is that they have internal parasites, like worms. These parasites take up all the nutrients a dog eats, leaving them malnourished and hungry.

If your hungry Beagle is losing weight, despite feeding them in the correct quantities, their coat is looking scraggly, and they are shedding a lot, they may need to be dewormed.

It is good practice to deworm a dog on a regular basis. It is cheap and easy to do and will keep your Beagle healthy (albeit a little hungry).

How To Feed Beagles

Owners of Beagles should calculate the portion of food their dog needs based on age and size and weigh out individual portions. Feeding small portions multiple times per day is better than large portions once or twice a day.

Beagles should be fed at set meal times. They should not have access to food 24/7. Treats should be restricted to 10% of their daily calorie intake.

To slow down how quickly they eat their food, you can feed Beagles in a slow-feeding container. These discourage them from scarfing down their meal and then vomiting it up. A slow-feeding bowl also engages their brain because it is like a puzzle for a dog.

Conclusion

Beagles behave like they are hungry all the time because of the way their digestive systems work. They do not have the same ability as other dog breeds to regulate their appetite. As hunting dogs, it is in Beagles genes to constantly be on the lookout for food.

Resources

https://wagwalking.com/behavior/why-do-beagles-eat-so-fast

http://www.beaglepro.com/beagle-always-hungry

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/best-dog-food-choosing-whats-right-for-your-dog/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kale-chips-beagle_n_6437668