Beagle Dog
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Beagle Health
Overview
Overall, the Beagle is a very healthy dog. This breed is sturdy, strong and less prone to canine disease than many other dog breeds.
However, as with all breeds, there are some conditions which develop with the Beagle more than others. This does not mean that your dog is going to have any of these conditions. This means that an owner should be aware of them in order to keep an eye out for the symptoms. Early diagnosis is the best step for successful treatment.
However, as with all breeds, there are some conditions which develop with the Beagle more than others. This does not mean that your dog is going to have any of these conditions. This means that an owner should be aware of them in order to keep an eye out for the symptoms. Early diagnosis is the best step for successful treatment.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
This is an intestinal disease that can be chronic (long term).
The Symptoms:
- Diarrhea or very soft bowel movements, which may come and go
- Elimination more than usual
- Only passing a small amount of feces at a time
- Straining when trying to eliminate
- Visible bloating of the Beagle's stomach
- Excessive gas
- Abdominal discomfort - Your Beagle may not want to run around or play and may want to retreat to their bed or crate to rest
- Occasional nausea and vomiting
Treatment
- A change to the Beagle's diet
- Anti-diarrheal medication
- Anti spasmodic/tranquilizer combinations for abdominal bloating and pain
- Medicaiton to minimize gastrointestinal gas
It will be important to give your Beagle all prescribed medications and to follow meal changes. Do not feed table scraps or other foods, including natural chew toys (rawhides). If conditions do not improve after treatment has started, it will be important to bring your Beagle back to the veterinarian. Because stress may play in this disease , potential stressors in the home environment should be identified and minimized.
Anal Gland Tumors
These glands are found anywhere around the dog's anus, at the base of the tail and surrounding the male genitalia. Perianal gland tumors are often benign and occur frequently in male, un-nuetered dogs. Female dogs can be affected, These tumors are dependent on testosterone and will often disappear on males after neutering. In less than 5% of the cases, perianal gland tumors are malignant (fast growing).
The Symptoms:
The first sign s a lump near the Beagle's anal glands. The area may be red in color. Your veterinarian will do an ultrasound, blood tests and a test of the urine. These often to not cause pain, but may cause a sensation that prompts the Beagle to lick the area; sometimes compulsively.
Treatment
The most common treatment is surgery for removal of the tumor; sometimes followed by radiation and chemotherapy.
Tip: Secretion from the anal glands does not indicate a tumor. All dog have a set of anal glands, 1 on each side of the anus. These are usually not noticeable. For all dogs, as time goes by, these glands fill with fluid. If the fluid is not released, this will cause a dog to "scoot", which means they will rub their rear end across the grass or carpeting in an attempt to break open the glands. Sometimes, they will be broken open while having a bowel movement. To avoid potentially messy situations, be sure to have your vet or groomer express the glands as needed. You may wish to do this yourself, but be aware that it can be very messy and not easy to do on a dog who is squirming around. In addition, if these glands are not expressed by someone & the dog cannot break them open themselves, the fluid will eventually turn into a paste-like substance which then causes medical problems for the dog. Bladder Cancer
The most common bladder tumor in dogs is a malignant (progressively worsening) tumor called transitional cell carcinoma. This cancer usually develops from the inside surface of the urinary bladder in the dog.
Symptoms:
- Blood in the Beagle's urine
- Straining to urinate
- Increased frequency of urination with just a small amount of urine coming out at one time
- Straining while eliminating
- Having a difficult time exercising as normal
- Difficulty breathing or coughing
Your veterinarian may refer you to an oncologist (a veterinary cancer specialist. Treatment for urinary bladder cancer may include one or more of the following:
- Surgery - For small masses confined to certain locations in bladder.
- Cancer chemotherapy
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam (Feldene®) has show some promise in symptomatic treatment of some dogs with transitional cell carcinoma. In one study, tumors regressed in approximately 25% of dogs.
- You will want to closely watch your Beagle for symptoms after treatment has begun, as they may point to additional tumor growth.
- Avoid dipping your dog with flea and tick control products more than two times per year . This can possibly increase the risk of developing bladder cancer.
Hypothyroidism
This is a malfunction of the Beagle's thyroid gland which greatly affects the dog's metabolism. This can develop at any age, but most commonly occurs with older dogs. The Symptoms:
- Rapid weight gain
- Fur loss - the fur may come out in patches or it may appear as if the Beagle is shedding a lot more than normal.
- Weakness- Your dog will not show enthusiasm to go for walks, play outside, etc.
Treatment:
Medication must be given. Thyroid hormones are man-made and can be given in tablet form. There are many forms of this, however one of the most widely used forms is levothyroxine sodium. Your vet will begin your Beagle on a certain dose, knowing that it will need to be adjusted. Too high of a dose can cause excessive thirst and diarrhea and too small of a dose will not resolve the issue.
Cardiomyopathy
Studies are still being run on figuring out more details of this canine health disease. This causes the heart of a Beagle to beat erratically. This is also more commonly known as an arrhythmia. This can happen randomly with no way of knowing when or how long it will happen for.
The Symptoms:
- Fainting
- Coughing
This can be fatal if the Beagle's heart keeps skipping enough to enter an unstoppable uneven rhythm. This is rare, but can happen when the dog's heart skips 100's and sometimes 1000's of times in a 24 period. However, in most cases anti-arrhythmic medication will control this.
Having All of the Needed Knowledge
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