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Beagles are medium-sized dogs that were initially bred for hunting hares. Now, they are primarily being used as detection dogs due to their superior tracking abilities. Nevertheless, many dog owners choose beagles as their family dogs due to their good temper and lack of hereditary health issues.
After spending days researching Beagle nutrition, I compared the various dog foods available in the market to determine the most suitable dog food for Beagles. Based on my research, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food is the best dog food for Beagles overall.
The Blue Buffalo kibbles are packed with proteins that can support a Beagle’s daily activity and antioxidants to support its overall health. Multiple formulas with both whole-grain and grain-free options are available for owners and dogs to take their favorite pick.
However, each Beagle is unique, and the needs will differ depending on their circumstances. That’s why I have selected a list of the best dog food for Beagles to keep you informed of the possible varieties your Beagle may benefit from.
List Comparison
- Best dog food for Beagles overall: Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food
- Best dog food for Beagle puppies: ORIJEN Puppy Dog Food (Grain Free)
- Best dog food for Beagle seniors: Open Farm Dry Dog Food Senior Recipe (Grain Free)
- Best dog food for weight maintenance in Beagles: ORIJEN Fit and Trim Dog Food (Grain Free)
- Best limited-ingredient dog food for Beagles: CANIDAE Pure Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food (Grain Free)
1. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food
- Key feature: High-protein dog food with antioxidant ingredients to support overall health
- First 5 ingredients: Varies depending on the flavor
- Caloric content: Ranges from 3592 kcal/kg to 3599 kcal/kg
- Guaranteed analysis: Min 34% protein, Min 15% fats, Max 6% fiber
- Best for: Adult Beagles in general
Blue Buffalo Wilderness dry dog food comes in multiple flavors (chicken, duck, and salmon) with both grain-free and wholesome grain options for owners to choose from.
The kibbles contain 34% protein, which falls within the optimal range for your Beagle. It also has 15% fats and approximately 3600 kcal/kg caloric content, which is just right for your Beagle’s healthy growth and development.
After switching to this brand, owners praised the excellent quality ingredients used to manufacture this dog food and mentioned the lack of allergies seen in their dogs. Most owners also recommend the duck flavor as their dogs are particularly receptive to this flavor.
However, some owners did report their dogs having digestive issues after consumption of this food. Do look out for any symptoms such as diarrhea and soft stools after switching to Blue Buffalo to ensure your Beagle’s digestive health.
2. ORIJEN Puppy Dog Food (Grain Free)
- Key feature: Protein-rich, grain-free dog food with its contents tailored for puppies
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, Deboned turkey, Flounder, Whole eggs, and Whole atlantic mackerel
- Caloric content: 3,940 kcals/kg
- Guaranteed analysis: Min 38% protein, Min 20% fats, Max 6% fiber
- Best for: Beagle puppies
ORIJEN makes it to this list because its quality is simply superb. The kibbles are made from real, fresh meat with complementary vegetables and fruits. As such, they are loaded with good nutrients without including any grains or questionable additions.
It is one of the few brands that offer more than 35% protein in the kibbles formulated for puppies. The high amount of calories also help in ensuring that your Beagle puppy gets enough energy to burn off without compromising its growth.
Owners are happy that their puppies are being fed the best ingredients with minimal fillers. Their puppies are also pleased with the taste and showed better overall health after consuming this brand of puppy food.
Pricing is still an issue for some owners. Also, the kibble size might be a bit big for small breed puppies to chew and digest. A way to solve this issue is to soak the kibble in water before feeding it to your puppy so that the kibbles will break more easily.
3. Open Farm Dry Dog Food Senior Recipe (Grain Free)
- Key feature: Limited ingredient and grain-free kibbles for dogs with probiotics and antioxidants for healthy digestion and immunity
- First 5 ingredients: Humanely raised turkey, Humanely raised chicken, Sweet Potato, Ocean whitefish meal, Field peas
- Caloric content: 3,600 kcal/kg
- Guaranteed analysis: Min 31% protein, Min 12.5% fats, Max 4.5% fiber
- Best for: Senior Beagles
Open Farm Dry Dog Food (Senior Recipe) is an all-natural formula that contains no grains, gluten, or soy. It is made with nutrient-rich, non-GMO local produce and cage-free poultry raised on Open Farm family farms in the United States.
This brand of senior food provides at least 31% protein and 12.5% fat, providing slightly lesser than the suggested food for adult Beagles. This is to adjust for the lesser amount of activity and nutrients needed by senior Beagles.
Owners said that their senior dogs who have lost appetite in other brands started eating normally again when served the Open Farm brand. They are also happy that their money is being used to fund humane and sustainable farms.
However, owners have also feedbacked that this food did not seem suitable for small breed dogs. Therefore, if you have both Beagles and other small breed dogs in the family, please avoid feeding the small breed dogs this food.
4. ORIJEN Fit and Trim Dog Food (Grain Free)
- Key feature: Fowl-based, grain-free dog food that helps to maintain weight
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, Chicken liver, Turkey liver, Cod liver, Eggs
- Caloric content: 3,530 kcal/kg
- Guaranteed analysis: Min 40% protein, Min 13% fats, Max 8% fiber
- Best for: Beagles on weight management
ORIJEN makes it to the list again due to its superb quality. The Fit and Trim formula uses fowl (chicken) as the primary ingredient for its protein sources, making the kibbles healthy and nutritious.
The kibbles contain 40% proteins and 13% fats, ensuring that the bulk of the caloric content your Beagle is getting is proteins and not fats or carbohydrates. It is also one of the formulas with lower caloric content (at 3530 kcal/kg) than other formulas.
Owners with overweight dogs said that their dogs slimmed down without side effects after switching to this brand. Most owners also reported that their dogs lived long, healthy lives when kept on this diet.
Again, the price may be a deterrent for owners on a tighter budget, but the price is worth it for a dog food of this quality.
5. CANIDAE Pure Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food (Grain Free)
- Key feature: Grain-free, limited ingredient kibbles to reduce chances of food allergy
- First 5 ingredients: Varies depending on the flavor
- Caloric content: 3,980 kcal/kg
- Guaranteed analysis: Min 32% protein, Min 18% fats, Max 4% fiber
- Best for: Beagles that are allergic to grains or have sensitive stomachs
A limited ingredient diet with real meat as its #1 ingredient. CANIDAE Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food contains no meat by-products and is free from grains like corn, wheat, or soy. Each recipe features a combination of deboned meats and whole fish to provide the nutrition your Beagle needs.
Nature’s Recipe dog food provides carbohydrates using sweet potatoes and pumpkins. There are a total of three flavors available – chicken, lamb, and salmon – offering your Beagle a choice.
The kibbles contain 32% protein, which is suitable for both adult and senior Beagles. This formula has a higher fat percentage and kcal per kg ratio than the suggested dog food for adults and senior Beagles (around 400 more kcal/kg and 3-5% more crude fat).
Owners with dogs who are allergic to grain or have sensitive stomachs reviewed that this formula worked for their dogs. Some owners also shared that their dogs’ stools went from watery to normal within a week of changing to this formula – it proves that the dogs’ health was getting better!
Some owners said that their dogs found the strong smell adverse, especially the salmon formula. Also, the price has risen quite a bit over the years, so you will have to be prepared to pay more in the future if you want to feed your Beagle with this food over the long term.
Beagles’ Dietary Requirements
Dietary nutrition for Beagles is not as strict and specific as some other breeds. Ensure that they get enough proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and you are good to go.
Protein
Dog food usually has a minimum of 18% crude protein, but that is way too little for Beagles. Veterinarians suggest that Beagles thrive on dry kibbles with 30-40% crude proteins. Adult Beagles will require less, about 30-35%, while Beagle puppies will need more due to their growth.
Good protein sources include fish, fowl, and grassland animals like cows and buffalos.
Some owners may be concerned about feeding excessive amounts of proteins with the surplus being stored as fat. For Beagles, owners do not have to worry as much as they need a high amount of proteins – you should be more concerned about whether they get sufficient proteins daily!
Fats
As being overweight is a relatively common issue for Beagles, owners are highly concerned about the fat content in dog food.
Healthy fats such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 are essential fatty acids that your dog will need. They can be obtained from most animal fats and fish oils, and in some occasional cases, vegetable oils. They are essential for skin, brain, and eye development.
Beagles will need at least 15% of healthy fats in their daily meals to keep themselves healthy.
Carbohydrates
Beagles, unlike some other breeds, are not particularly sensitive to grains. Therefore, you can feed your Beagle whole grains, which are easily digestible and have high fiber content to help weight maintenance.
If your Beagle is unfortunately allergic to grains, some alternative sources of carbohydrates that you can turn to are sweet potatoes, lentils, and peas.
Common Health Issues In Beagles
Beagles are generally healthy dogs with few lethal congenital diseases. However, there are still a few that you as an owner can take note of so that your Beagle may live a happier and healthier life.
Listed below are some of the health issues Beagles can have.
Joint Disorders and Problems
Overweight Beagles are more likely to experience joint disorders and problems such as:
- Hip dysplasia: A loose fit of the hip joint
- Intervertebral disc disease: Discs between the vertebrae press against the spinal column
- Patellar luxation: Improper alignment of leg joints
- Arthritis: Inflammation of joints in limbs
These joint disorders and problems will cause pain and discomfort to your Beagle, especially when it moves around. When your dog lacks exercise, it is more likely to gain weight and result in other health issues.
A way to reduce the likelihood of your Beagle having these issues is to monitor the type of food and how much you feed your dog. The food should be high-quality and should be provided in moderation, just enough for your Beagle’s daily needs, so that it remains at optimal weight.
Eye Disorders
Beagles are also prone to eye disorders such as cataracts (cloudiness in the eyes), cherry eye (eyelid gets swollen and becomes red), and glaucoma (too much pressure on the inner eye). Such issues can cause pain and discomfort to your Beagle every single second of the day.
Some eye issues, such as glaucoma and dry eyes, can be medicated using eye drops, oral medications, and e-collars. Others, such as cataracts and cherry eyes, will need surgery to recover completely.
You can reduce the likelihood of your Beagle having eye issues by ensuring that they are fed quality food free from allergens. You can also provide it with supplements (such as the Zesty Paws Eye Supplement) that promote eye health.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Feeding Beagles
We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions that Beagle owners have known to ask.
If you have a question not listed here, you can always contact us, and we will give you a reply.
When should I switch from puppy to adult food?
Beagles should reach maturity at 18 months old, with an approximate weight range of 20 to 25 lbs (9 to 11 kg).
If you feel unsure when to switch, it is best to start changing the diet after your Beagle puppy is over 18 months old. This is because puppy meals have more proteins and fats to support a puppy’s growth, and an early transition to adult dog food might result in inadequate nutrition.
Are there specific diets for Beagles?
Beagles are a breed that does not have particular nutritional needs, unlike some other breeds like Huskies, which thrive on different types of meat depending on the season.
This is also why Beagles are an excellent choice for first-time dog owners – they are relatively easier to take care of.
How much should I feed my Beagle?
How much you feed your Beagle depends on the brand of food you choose to provide and your Beagle’s weight.
While there is no hard and fast rule to follow, here is a general outline (per day) that you can base off:
- Active Beagles – 45 kcal per lb
- Inactive/Senior Beagles – 40 to 42 kcal per lb
- Beagle puppies – 50 to 55 kcal per lb*
*Younger puppies will need more calories because they are growing fast and need the nutrition to support their growth.
If you have a Beagle puppy, we strongly recommend you seek advice from the veterinarian as he will have a better idea of how much nutrition your puppy needs at the different growth stages.
Do Beagles struggle with weight gain?
Some Beagles may struggle with weight gain, and for them, it will be better to serve a weight-control recipe such as the Orijen Fit and Trim Formula.
Otherwise, you can serve your Beagle any high-quality dog food. Ensure that the food does not have any ingredients your Beagle is allergic to and feed only as much as it needs, not wants.
One thing to note: If you have a very young Beagle puppy (2-3 months), do not worry if you see your Beagle asking for food all day long. At this age, they eat small meals and get hungry very quickly. It is better to supply them with the food and nutrients they need than let them grow up malnourished, leading to many other health issues.
Our Verdict
Beagles are medium-sized dogs initially bred for hunting purposes, requiring much higher proteins than other breeds of dogs like toys group dogs.
We strongly believe that the Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food is the best dog food for Beagles in general. The protein, fats, and caloric contents fall within the optimal range for Beagles’ required nutrition. Also, they offer both grain-free and whole-grain options for owners to choose from.
Nevertheless, every Beagle is unique. Do evaluate your Beagle’s needs before selecting dog food for it, and always consult a veterinarian’s opinion when you are in doubt.
