Major Health Problems For Beagles

Bringing home a Beagle is a task full of responsibilities. As a Beagle parent, make sure you know all possible health problems your cute little companion can face at different stages of its life. Consult a vet and have a word with a dog breeder to know more about these issues.

Here are some of the most common health problems a Beagle can encounter in its life:

Cherry Eye

Cherry eye is a health complication characterized by the gland under your pet’s third eyelid protruding. It needs surgical removal with high precision to tackle the problem and keep your Beagle safe.

Hypothyroidism

In the case of hypothyroidism, your Beagle’s thyroid gland gets affected, leading to a number of complications that can be treated with medication and/or thyroid gland surgery.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a common heritable condition in dogs where their thighbones do not fit properly in their hip joints. Hip dysplasia can lead to pain and lameness in your Beagle. If you notice related symptoms, take your pet to a vet without any delay and get an X-ray test conducted. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred further.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a common set of eye-related complications that lead to the loss of photoreceptors in your Beagle’s eyes, eventually leading to vision loss and blindness.

Glaucoma

This is an eye disorder resulting due to abnormally high pressure in your Beagle’s eye, ultimately leading to severe vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma can be congenital or caused due to external factors. If it is inherited, do not breed your Beagle any further.

Distichiasis

This is a health complication where extra eyelashes start growing on the oil gland of your pet’s eye. It results in irritation and squinting. The best way to tackle distichiasis is to remove the eyelashes surgically.

Epilepsy

Like humans, Beagles can fall prey to mild-to-severe seizures due to epilepsy. Make sure you take your pet to a vet upon noticing abnormal and erratic behavior, especially if your Beagle starts running frantically as if being chased by someone.

Beagle Dwarfism

This is a condition unique to Beagles. As the name suggests, it restricts the physical size of your Beagle puppy, coupled with other physical abnormalities. While the condition won’t have a significant impact on your Beagle’s life, it should not be bred anymore.

Patellar Luxation

Patellar luxation is another common canine health complication where the bones making up your Beagle’s hip joint get misaligned, leading to pain and lameness. Dogs suffering from this condition also develop the risk of arthritis. Your Beagle might need surgery to deal with the condition if it gets severe over time.