Ask Me Help Desk - Over weight beagle

Over weight beagle

I am going to be adopting a beagle from a friend soon. She is quite over weight and was hit by a car last spring and ended up with a dislocated hip. She's doing very well but I want to take some weight after I get her. She is an average size beagle. I'd just like to have an idea of an approximate weight she should be. She also has some arthiritis and I think she'd get around a little better if she lost some weight.

The best person to tell you the appropriate weight for the dog and how to take weight off her is a Vet.

Congratulations on taking this special needs dog.

Beagle should weigh, full grown no more then 30 lbs. You are absolutely correct that weight off will benefit that hip injury and the arthritis. She may also benefit from a supplement called glucosmine/controiden which in itself doesn't do much for the arthritis but lubricates joints and keeps tendons, ligaments in good repair which do impact on the athritis.

You don't say how old she is, but no matter, they are a wonderful family dog, lots of energy, loves walks and as they are a scent hound, will always have the nose to the ground enjoying new scents.

We have a favourite neighbourhood Beagle called Daisy and she never forgets anyone who greets her while out on a walk.

Best of luck !

Tick

Thank u very much. Yes, I am quite familiar with this dog as she belongs to a close friend of mine. I actually took care of her after she was injured. Honestly I have not been very fond of beagles in the past, but she is exceptional. I believe she is about 8 years old. Can't be positive though because my friend got her from a shelter as an adult. He has 2 young labs who are very active and poor Macy (the beagle) just gets trampled over all the time so we decided she'd be happier with me since I just have a cat who absolutely loved having her here before. It's a win/win for alll of us.

I know beagles come in all sort of sizes. I have a friend with one that is tall and long and a second, shorter, not so long.

Which type is yours?

I'd say she's somewhere in between. Not real long but not too short either. Her legs are pretty short though. Rides pretty close to the ground. Lol

The breed that looks like a beagle but is very low, short legs, long ears is called a Basset Hound. Same markings as a Beagle but quite different. Is it a Basset Hound you have ?

Following up on JKTs question.

There is a picture on this website http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/...6/basset-hound

Tick

I'm not sure if you're talking to me but I worked in animal rescue. I know the difference between bassets and beagles.

AKC (I don't know what the Canadian registry is called) Beagles can be either 13" or 15" high at the shoulder with length to match.

Breeders are also breeding a smaller, almost miniature, but it's not recognized in the US.

Bassets and Beagles are both popular family dogs here (where I am). Bassets are low flung dogs, looking a lot like Beagles, Beagles look like miniature hound dogs except the ears aren't long, Judy.

US, olf course is American Kennel Club, Canadian is CKC, both breeds are recognized; basset or beagle, both were used in the UK over the last l00 years for different purposes, the Beagle used for small game hunting because they are scent hounds, the lower Basset used for the same purpose but for vermin because they could chase it down being shorter legged.

We still haven't found out which one OP has.

Tick

Kind of figured we were on the same page - and we are. Also Bassets are longer slung (at least in my neck of the woods).

Yes I know the difference between bassets and beagles too. Macy is a beagle

You can also try a weight management dog food. The glucosamine that Tickle suggested works wonders on old injuries. And of course pleanty of excersise, as long as it doesn't effect her injury! Poor little gal :(

Thank you. She's actually doing quite well. Pretty much back to normal other than the cold temperature here is affecting her more than I remember from last year. But otherwise, she's doing great. I got her last night. I'm going to try a weight control diet and cut down on the treats that I know her previous owner always gave in on. Lol. It's hard when she gives the sweet sad eyes though. She's such a sweetheart but I know it'll help her in the long run.

You can still giver her treats, just low calorie ones.
Some dogs LOVE vegetables, so a small piece of carrot could be used as a treat if she likes it ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

You can still giver her treats, just low calorie ones.
Some dogs LOVE vegetables, so a small piece of carrot could be used as a treat if she likes it ;)

Excellent idea. I buy the bags of baby carrots for Taffy. She likes them right out of the fridge. In fact she has liked them ever since she teethed on them all those many years ago. She considers them, I am sure, her best treat; other then milk bones, but not many of them.

Tick

I but liver at the grocery store, BBQ it and then cut it in chunck and freeze it. It's great for their teeth, and SO much cheaper then store bought ttreats, and no preservatives! I do it with heart, liver and kidneys. The liver is high in fat though, as is all organ meet, so you may want to watch out for that!