A good way to determine if your Beagle weighs too much is to look at the ribs.
If they clearly show without any manipulation from you, the dog is too thin.
If they do not show, but you can easily feel each one under the fur, this usually means that they are in a good range.
If it is very difficult to feel the ribs, this usually means that there is too much fat in the way, a sign that it is time to go on a diet.
You should always confirm this with the veterinarian and be sure that your Beagle is healthy in all other regards before you help him lose weight.
There are several ways to go about helping a Beagle lose weight:
It may seem daunting to cut down on food when a Beagle has a hearty appetite and
always seems hungry. It's best to lower calories, not quantity. That, coupled with exercise, can lead to a safe, gradual loss.
1) Swap out some of your Beagle's regular food for low calorie ingredients.
This helps keep portion size the same. In this way, the low calorie food will take the place of higher calorie items. Doing this will in turn help a Beagle lose weight.
Some great choices which dogs often do not even notice when mixed in well are:
- Baby carrots - Each one has 4 calories.
- Green beans - A half cup has only 15 calories
- Green peas - A 1/4 cup will be just 29 calories
- Raspberries - Sprinkle in a 1/4 cup of these, which not only taste great but are also packed with antioxidants and there's only 16 calories.
2) Offer low calorie snacks.
As with any food that you feed your Beagle, you'll want to steer clear of those that have artificial additives or ingredients that are hard to digest. And when a Beagle needs to lose weight, you'll want to look for low calorie options that taste great.
One of the best diet snacks is Fruitables. Each piece is only 2 to 3 calories. While a Beagle will eat more than one for a treat, these still keep calorie count pretty low. These come in a variety of awesome flavors like Skinny Mini Apple Bacon and Pumpkin and Mango. These are all natural, with just a few wholesome ingredients.
Another great option is Zuke's Skinny Bakes.
These are 5 calories each. A Beagle will eat 3 to 6 for each reward, but at 15 to 30 calories, that keeps calorie count low. These all natural, with no additives, and come in great flavors like peanut butter and apples, with cranberries, or with blueberries.