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Beagles/Overweight Beagle

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Expert: - 8/27/2010


Question
My wife and I just adopted a beagle for our family yesterday
from a beagle rescue here in Virginia.  She is a spayed
female  5 years of age probably a little bigger in size than
your overage beagle and weighs around 50 pounds.  I have
purchased the Iams weight control food and feed her 1 cup in
the morning and 1 cup at night.  Any suggestions what else I
can do to help her get back into shape?

Answer
Glad to hear you have adopted a beagle who I am sure is truly grateful to have a new chance at life. A 50 # beagle is grossly overweight if she is full beagle. Top end range is about 30#. I feed mine high quality food and a TOTAL of 1 1- 1/2 cups a day divided into two meals. Beagles easily get fat and it greatly shortens their life. First off your new beagle needs a full assessment by your vet to make sure there are no health issues before you start exercising. Then exercise, exercise, exercise. Your dog will let you know when it has had enough and is too tired. Beagles are extremely active dogs and need long walks and a lot of stimulation. NO HUMAN FOOD EVER!!!, Remember to account for treats in the total daily ration. Best of luck!!

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Have4Paws

Expertise

I am happy to answer BEAGLE BREED SPECIFIC behavioral questions. Please DO NOT ask CRATE TRAINING OR MEDICAL questions! I am not a vet nor an expert in the use of crates.

Experience

I currently have one beagle, a male age 5, an 12 month old Pit Bull, and a 8 year old min. poodle. I have had to let go of three of my dogs, 2 beagles and 1 whippet/rat terrier mix in the past 5 years, most recently my whippet mix. The two beagles lived to 15 and the whippet mix to 13.5, it has been hard to say goodbye to them. I have done rescue work on and off for years as well as fund-raising for the local animal shelter. I worked for a dog magazine in the past (Southern California Dog Magazine). Being a psychotherapist has encouraged me to do in depth studying of animal behavior as well. I have worked with many people to help curb undesirable behaviors in their dogs (or them!) or to form good behaviors. My life is devoted to and surrounded by my dogs........The picture you see here is Zeppelin but we also call him the "miracle dog". He was hit by a car April 2010 while out with the dog walker and had very serious injuries... 4 surgeries and $17,000 later my boy is whole again and back to loving life. He is so special to me and he weathered a lot of pain and trauma yet is still the sweet boy he always was! I also work to stop Breed Specific Legislation and help to get pit bulls adopted.

Organizations
HSUS, PETA, SPCA DONT SHOP...ADOPT!!

Publications
Dog Fancy

Education/Credentials
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of CA and am also credentialed as a Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist

Awards and Honors
Honored by the Agoura Animal Shelter for my volunteer work.

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