BREED HEALTH
Health Issues Common to Beagles
Beagles can suffer from a spinal problem known as intervertebral disc disease, which can affect any part of the Beagle's spine including the neck. This condition makes even the smallest of movements painful and difficult and may require surgery.
The Beagle’s long, floppy ears also make them prone to chronic ear infections. Left untreated, such infections can cause permanent damage to the ear canal and even destroy your dog's hearing. Checking ears often and seeing the veterinarian at the first whiff of a problem combined with good follow-through will keep a Beagle’s ears from being an expensive and painful chronic problem.
Beagles are prone as well to hip dysplasia, a genetic malformation of the hip socket, as well as luxating patellas, where the kneecaps pop out of place, and anterior cruciate ligament tears – another painful condition that usually requires surgery.
Seizure disorders, Cushing's Disease, hypothyroidism and allergies are also found in the breed, and Beagles may suffer as well from a number of less common breed-related conditions including deafness, heart disease and dwarfism.