There are things that can be changed that can affect how long a beagle lives. Not only that, but a lot of the leading causes of death can be stopped by themselves.
We do get to spend a lot of time with our beloved dogs, which is great. The average life span of a beagle is between 12 and 15 years. I can say for sure that every beagle I’ve ever taken in has lived longer than that range. Let’s talk about the things that can affect how long your beagle lives.
Things That Affect A Beagle’s Lifespan
When you want to know how long your dog will live, you should think about many things. Health is, of course, the most important thing. Problems with health can be:
- Acute
- Genetic
- Long-term
Acute difficulties occur just once. This could be caused by an infection or something else. Genetic problems come from either or both of the parents. You may avoid this by acquiring a dog from a reputable breeder that tests its dogs for the majority of hereditary disorders. The price of the Beagle might go up because of this, but it will be worth it.
Chronic health problems don’t have to be caused by genes, but they do last a long time. One good example of this is diabetes.
Any of these problems can shorten the life of your Beagle puppy. The health of a Beagle doesn’t depend that much on its breed or family tree. Blue Tick Beagles do not appear to live any longer than regular Beagles, at least not yet. The same is true for gender.
Health Problems with Beagles
The majority of beagles are healthy dogs. But, like other dog breeds, they are prone to a number of health problems. These things are:
- Canine epilepsy
- A disease of the intervertebral disc (IVDD)
- Factor deficiency (FVII)
- Neonatal cerebellar cortical degeneration (NCCD)
- Steroid responsive meningitis (SRM)
- Canine distemper
- Obesity
We’ll talk more about how these things affect the length of a Beagle’s life.
Beagles can also get a few other health problems that rarely affect how long they live, such as:
- Ear infections are prevalent in floppy-eared breeds.
- Infections of the eyes, including glaucoma and cherry eye
- Problems with the joints, like arthritis and hip dysplasia
Things You Can Change
Many dog owners are glad that they can control many of the things that affect how long a Beagle lives. Even though everyone dies, you should do everything you can to make sure your dog lives a long, healthy life.
Here Are Some Ways You Can Help Your Dog Live Longer
1. Avoid Overfeeding
As was already said, your Beagle’s weight can cause a lot of health problems. It’s fine to give your dog table scraps once in a while. But you have a problem if he eats them as much as you do. Yes, it’s hard to say no to those puppy eyes. But if you want to keep your dog for a long time, you’ll have to.
Beagles are the kind of dog that always wants to eat. If you let them eat as much as they want, you’ll soon have an overweight dog. Stick to the schedule, and if you’re not sure how much food your Beagle needs, ask your vet.
2. Feed Your Dog Only Healthy Food
Only buy the best things for your dog. If you feed your dog high-quality food, he won’t get too fat, and he may also be less likely to get diseases like cancer. On sites like PetSmart and Amazon, you can find a lot of good food brands. Don’t think that all of them are expensive just because they have a high price tag. Instead, carefully read the list of what’s in it.
There Are Also Many Healthy Treats You Can Give Your Beagle
Instead of buying him sweets, give your Beagle paprika-flavored fig newtons or tuna. For him, this will be a healthy and tasty treat. Don’t feed your dog table scraps or anything spicy. Avoid foods like whipped cream, sour cream, and blue cheese as well.
1. Spay and Neuter
Your pets can live longer if you “fix” them. Spayed or neutered Beagles live 1–3 years longer on average than intact Beagles, according to research. One reason for this is that getting your dog spayed or neutered can protect it from cancers of the reproductive system. This includes cancers of the breast, uterus, testicles, and prostate.
Spaying and neutering your dog remove some of the areas where a tumor could grow. It also changes your dog’s long-term hormonal balance, which makes it less likely that your dog will get cancer in general.
2. Keep Their Teeth in Good Shape
Having healthy teeth is one way for a Beagle to live a long time. A dog’s mouth is the entrance to its lungs and stomach. Also, they are full of bacteria.
While the majority of these bacteria aren’t dangerous, if you don’t keep your pup’s mouth clean, the harmful bacteria might multiply, leading to infections, gum disease, and tooth decay.
If you don’t think this is a big deal, you might change your mind after reading this: By the time they are 2 years old, it is thought that around 80% of all breeds of dogs have some kind of gum disease.
The first step in maintaining the health of your dog’s teeth and gums is to provide him with plenty of water.
Brush your Beagle’s teeth as least once a week. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and only toothpaste that is made for dogs. The toothpaste we use can hurt them.
