Beagle - Health Characteristics
Dog Breeds
The median longevity of Beagles is 12 years, a typical lifespan for a dog breed of their size. Beagles may be prone to epilepsy, but this can be controlled with medication. Hypothyroidism and a number of types of dwarfism occur in Beagles.
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Lifespan
The median longevity of Beagles is 12 years, a typical lifespan for a dog of their size.
Common Disorders
Beagles may be prone to epilepsy, but this can be controlled with medication. Hypothyroidism and a number of types of dwarfism occur in Beagles. Two conditions in particular are unique to the breed:
- Funny Puppy: The puppy is slow to develop and eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back, and although normally healthy, is prone to range of illnesses
- Chinese Beagle Syndrome: The eyes are slanted and the outer toes are underdeveloped but otherwise development is as normal.
Ear and Eye Disorders
A Beagle's long floppy ears can mean that the inner ear does not receive a substantial air flow or that moist air becomes trapped, leading to ear infections.
Beagles may also be affected by a range of eye problems. Two common ophthalmic conditions in Beagles are glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. Cherry eye, a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, and distichiasis, a condition in which eyelashes grow into the eye causing irritation, sometimes exist. Both these conditions can be corrected with surgery.
Other issues
In rare cases Beagles may develop immune mediated polygenic arthritis, where the immune system attacks the joints. The symptoms can sometimes be relieved by steroid treatments.
Beagles may exhibit a behavior known as reverse sneezing, in which they sound as if they are choking or gasping for breath, but are actually drawing air in through the mouth and nose. The exact cause of this behavior is not known, but it is not harmful to the dog.
In The Field
As field dogs they are prone to minor injuries such as cuts and sprains. If inactive, obesity is a common problem as they will eat whenever food is available and rely on their owners to regulate their weight. When working or running free they are also likely to pick up parasites such as fleas, ticks, harvest mites and tapeworms, and irritants such as grass seeds can become trapped in their eyes, ears or paws.