While Beagles make great pets, it's often difficult for owners to find the right diet for these dogs to keep them in tip-top shape.

The best dog food for Beagles should ideally provide the right balance of nutrients that's required for this breed type.

Luckily for Beagle owners, this breed is very well-known to the veterinary community, as they are the most popular breed used in scientific research settings.

Beagles are high energy dogs; they require daily exercise and a special diet to support their activities.

Beagle’s healthy appetite can be a blessing and a curse. Most are not picky eaters, so they will typically enjoy any dog food you give them. This means that Beagles an easy breed to overfeed; they can easily become overweight or obese.

In my veterinary practice, I meet a lot of Beagle owners. A common question is about what food to feed a Beagle breed.

Today I'm going to discuss the nutritional needs of this popular breed and discuss these best dog food for Beagles brands mentioned below.

It's important to find the best dog food for Beagles to ensure that your pooch gets the right nutrition to meet their individual needs, especially if yours is very active.

At the same time, too many calories for a sedentary Beagle could lead to obesity, which makes your pet more susceptible to diseases like diabetes, arthritis and kidney disease.

The Best Dog Food for Puppy Beagles

Before switching your dog to any new diet, always consult with a veterinarian. Remember that no article on the internet, including this one, can replace a consultation with a vet.

Beagles are generally very healthy and don’t suffer from many of the puppyhood developmental diseases that are common in other breeds. While orthopedic developmental diseases like hip dysplasia are uncommon in Beagles, it is best to feed them appropriately as puppies to add an “ounce of prevention.”

Royal Canin Medium Puppy Formula

Royal Canin Medium Puppy FormulaMedium-sized dogs like Beagles have a higher calorie requirement than you would expect from a dog their size.

Royal Canin Medium Puppy Formula is one of the best dog food for Beagles, and one that I recommend to puppy parents often.

Royal Canin is one of the most reputable dog food companies out there with a clear commitment to quality assurance and evidence-based nutritional research.

Their ‘medium’ puppy formula stands out as one of the best dog food for Beagles due to its kibble size and appropriate calorie content.

The kibble size is perfect to encourage Beagle puppies to actually chew their food.

Beagles are notorious for not chewing their food properly (we call it “hoovering”), so this Royal Canin kibble is specifically designed for optimal digestion, even if it isn’t chewed all the way.

The Best Dog Food for Beagles (Adults)

If you are looking for the best dog food for Beagles that are older than 12 months or are transitioning from puppy food to adult food, it is a good idea to consult with your veterinarian.

Your vet can help determine your Beagle’s current body condition score. With this in hand, you can decide which ‘maintenance’ adult diet is best.

Normal Body Condition Beagles

Orijen Regional RedA great place to start for an active, normal body weight/condition Beagle is Orijen Regional Red.

This adult formula is excellent for adults over 12 months of age to 7-8 years of age.

Royal Canin provides the right balance of nutrients to optimize a lean body condition over a lifetime.

Beagles have square, medium-length muzzles and level jaws. Royal Canin has created the optimal kibble shape, the “X”, which is easiest for Beagles to pick up and chew.

Very Active/Hunting Beagles

NATIVE Performance Dog Food | Chicken Meal and Rice Formula | No Filler or Bi-Products | Elevated Energy Level 3 | 40 Pound BagIs your Beagle a seasoned hunter? A sporting or working dog? Is she extremely active and always on the run?

If so, she may need higher-calorie food than your average house dog.

In this case, I recommend Native Performance Food.

If your Beagle is training hard, this is the food for you and your pooch. Native provides different “levels” of nutrition, from Level 1 “off season, low activity” food to Level 4 for dogs engaging in intense activity 4-5 hours a day.

It will satisfy most requirements for very active Beagle dogs.

The Best Dog Food for Non-Active Beagles

Many adult Beagles have taken to the “easy life” inside of the house and become overweight or obese. As Beagles age, they can lose a bit of their spunk and settle down into a more sedentary lifestyle.

Like their human counterparts, up to 60% of American dogs are overweight or obese.

It is important to talk to your veterinarian if your Beagle has become overweight or obese. The ingredients in the best dog food for Beagles that you choose to combat this issue can matter.

For example, studies have shown that certain carbohydrates in the dog’s diet can affect how well they maintain blood glucose levels. These ingredients are important in managing consistent blood glucose levels after a meal – as there is a common relationship between poor glucose metabolism and obesity in pets.

Corn, barley and sorghum are the ingredients most associated with keeping blood glucose levels consistent and may help to reduce or prevent obesity.

With that being said, don’t fret if you see corn as a main ingredient in your dog’s “diet” food. It is by design.

Hill’s Science Diet Metabolic and Mobility

​Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility, Weight + j/d Joint Care Chicken Flavor Dry Dog FoodMy top pick for the best dog food for Beagles that are overweight is Hill’s Science Diet Metabolic and Mobility.

This diet is by prescription only, but it works beautifully in dogs that can’t seem to shed pounds. It's more expensive than your average brand, but Hill's Science invests a lot of money into dog nutrition research and focuses on an evidence-based feeding approach.

Over time, excess weight can cause predispose your Beagle to arthritis, so the mobility component (glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate) will help to keep their joints in top form.

This diet specifically will address these and other related health issues in Beagles (or other medium sized breeds).

The Best Dog Food for Senior Beagles

Beagles are considered “senior” or “geriatric” around 8-10 years of age. As they age, their nutritional requirements change as well. Joints start to ache and mental function can start to decline. Active ingredients in my top pick for the best dog food for Beagles in their senior years will help your pooch go strong for as long as possible.

Eukanuba Senior Maintenance

Eukanuba Senior MaintenanceWhen your pup's getting old, the Eukanuba Senior Maintenance is my top vet recommended dog food for Beagles in their golden years. 

Eukanuba is another high-quality dog food manufacturer with a great track record for quality products and high quality control standards.

This senior dog food for Beagles stands out due to its high level of antioxidants, which can help support proper cell function in aging dogs. It has also been proven to reduce tartar buildup on teeth by 46%.

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Best Dog Food for Beagles

 

In the last 8 years, Dr. Shores has worked as a clinical veterinarian for dogs, cats, small mammals and non-human primates as well as a writer on the subject of pet health. Her passion is breaking down the intricacies of proper dog health care and dog nutrition.