Your beagle deserves the best life possible, and it all starts with the food it eats. Like all active dog breeds, the best dog food for beagles should have a good balance of protein and healthy fats. Additionally, a blend of macro and micronutrients will be vital in supporting the dog’s overall body systems.
Per your preference, you can opt to give your beagle homemade or manufactured food.
Manufactured Food. One of the best dog food for beagles is processed wet or dry food. When it comes to beagles, we prefer you give them dry food as it helps keep their teeth clean. Dry dog food is also economical compared to canned food.
At times, you can also use wet food to enhance the palatability of your dog’s kibble. Also, alternating wet and dry food for your beagle time by time is crucial. As most vets and animal nutritionists advise, doing so ensures you don’t get a picky eater who prefers only one type of food.
As always, this manufactured food should contain high protein levels to support your beagle’s muscles. While at that, ensure all these proteins are from quality animal meats. Avoid manufacturers who will use meat by-products like beaks or intestines. Your beagle doesn’t deserve such.
- Merrick Grain-Free With Real Meat + Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
- Wellness CORE Small Breed Healthy Weight Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Canine Caviar Limited Ingredient Alkaline Holistic Dog Food
- “I And Love And You” Naked Essentials Wet Dog Food
- Instinct Be Natural Dry Puppy Food
- Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet
- Weruva Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages
- Weruva Dogs in The Kitchen Grain-Free
- CANIDAE PURE Real Salmon, Limited Ingredient
- Taste of the Wild High Protein Real Smoked Salmon
Homemade food is excellent since you choose what you consider best for your dog. Even so, ensure this diet has high protein levels sourced from animal proteins. These animal proteins include fish, lamb, pork, or beef. You can also include superfoods like spinach, carrots, and green beans, which provide plenty of essential vitamins.
Also, don’t forget to add a few carbs sources like oatmeal and sweet potato once in a while. It’s worth noting that beagles don’t need plenty of carbs, as they may find it hard to digest them.
Lastly, a scoop of fish oil sprinkled all over this dog food will provide plenty of essential fatty acids that will nourish your dog’s coat.
What Foods Are Bad For Beagles?
Beagles love food. And at times, they may eat what may not be suitable for their overall body systems. As you will note, some of these foods are quite healthy for us humans but may wreak havoc on your beagle’s tummy.
So which foods are bad for beagles?
- Onions – Onions have a toxin called n-propyl disulfide, which breaks down red blood cells.
- Almonds – Almonds are fatty, rich superfoods that can be harmful to your beagle’s pancreas.
- Walnuts – walnuts can cause intestinal obstruction.
- Xylitol – ingestion of a small amount of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia
- Grapes – grapes can cause kidney failure, although the toxin involved is unknown.
- Avocados – Beagles should not eat avocados. A ripe avocado has a toxin called persin which may be toxic to your dog.
- Candy – candy contains xylitol which can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop.
- Cat food – cat food may have certain ingredients that are not good for dogs
- Macadamia nuts – macadamia nuts can cause intestinal blockage
- Raisins – like grapes, raisins are toxic to beagles as they cause kidney failure.
- Coffee – Don’t let your dog take coffee. The reason being coffee has caffeine which is toxic to dogs.
Is Banana Good For Beagles?
Banana is one of the best dog food for beagles that has plenty of nutrients like potassium. This potassium is good for nourishing your dog’s muscles and nerve health.
Banana also contains vitamin C, which is excellent in maintaining your dog’s immunity by preventing cells breakdown.
The other vitamin in bananas that will nourish your dog is vitamin B6. This vitamin plays a role in your dog’s nerve health as well as blood function.
You can cut this banana and give it to your dog as a treat during all those obedience training sessions. Other than that, you can mash up the banana and mix it with your dog’s food. Doing so will enhance the overall palatability and nutritional value.
As always, moderation is essential. Banana has high starch content. So pampering your dog with lots of bananas may see your dog become obese in no time.
For puppies, you can give them ¼ banana a day which you can increase to a half as the puppy grows. For adults, you can let them eat 2 -3 bananas per week.
Also, avoid giving your dog banana peels as they have fiber that can obstruct your dog’s intestinal system.
Highlight: avoid giving your dog banana if it suffers from kidney disease or Addison disorder.
What Do Beagles Hate?
Owning a beagle is a task by itself. With that, it’s paramount for you to comprehend what your beagle likes or hates a lot. Like we humans, beagles are individuals. For example, your beagle may be friendly to other dogs. However, that may not be similar to your friend’s beagle.
So, what do most beagles hate?
In this section, we will analyze what most but not all beagles hate.
Beagles hate loud noises – like most dogs, beagles hate loud noise. Such dogs hate the startling sound of either thunderstorms, vacuum cleaners, or blow dryers. If your puppy seems scared of such loud noise, you can look for ways to ease up his tension. If possible, you can look for ways to eliminate such loud noises. Alternatively, you can try to distract your dog. For example, you can get your dog a puzzle toy to keep it busy when there is a loud noise.
Beagles don’t like staying alone – beagles like human company. They will appreciate where they will interact with you from morning to evening. If left alone, a beagle may develop separation anxiety disorder.
Some beagles hate car rides – yes, some beagles hate car rides. More so, such occurs to beagles who associate a car ride with a past bad experience.
Can Beagles Eat Boiled Eggs?
Boiled eggs have digestible protein, which is beneficial to your active beagle. Such protein helps in muscle repair and muscle growth.
Besides being a protein powerhouse, a boiled egg has other minerals and vitamins which support your dogs’ overall growth. For example, did you know eggshells are also beneficial for dogs like your beagle?
Eggshells have calcium and phosphorus, which ensure your dog has flexible muscles and a healthy nervous system.
Other beneficial nutrients in boiled eggs are linoleic acid and vitamin A, which nourish your dog’s coat.
Watch out! Don’t let your beagle eat raw eggs!
Avoid raw eggs – raw eggs or undercooked eggs may have salmonella, which can cause severe tummy issues.
Raw eggs, if also given in plenty, may lead up to biotin deficiency. A beagle with biotin deficiency has unhealthy hair and brittle nails.
Even though eggs are one of the best dog food for beagles, don’t let your dog consume plenty of them. An excess of these eggs can cause your dog to gain weight rapidly and become obese.
What Do Beagles Love The Most?
Beagles love to eat – beagles have a high appetite. Like most behaviors, what your dog may like may be different from your neighbor’s dog. So, what do beagles love eating?
Real animal meat – Like most canines, beagles enjoy eating real meat- Chicken, Lamb, or beef are the best sources of animal proteins to give your beagle. With that, when looking for the best dog food for beagles, get one that has high protein sourced from real meat. And this real meat should be the first ingredient. Lots of real meat works wonders with picky eaters.
Vegetables – some beagles like consuming vegetables as they are succulent and delicious.
Beagles love following scents – the beagle is a scent hound with 220 million scent receptors which it likes utilizing a lot. Comparatively, we humans have 400 scent receptors. The beagle will use its nose to follow any scent that captures its scent receptors.
Beagles love chasing – as a hunting breed, chasing is one of the things beagles love the most. This beagle will keep on chasing small pets around your house. This behavior is because of the beagle’s high prey instinct. Moreover, training and socialization can help eliminate this behavior.
Beagles like company – as an affectionate and loyal dog, a beagle will like staying close to its handler rather than staying alone.
10 best dog food for Beagles
1. Merrick Grain-Free With Real Meat + Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
This Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a biologically appropriate recipe packed with many nutrients to nourish your beagle. One key thing that makes this recipe the best dog food for beagles is the levels of proteins. Sources of proteins here scope 2/3 of the whole ingredient list. The first ingredient here is real deboned beef enriched with proteins that provide your boisterous beagle with lean muscles and energy.
Other proteins sources included are lamb and salmon meal which all meet your dog’s love of meat.
Besides the high levels of proteins, this food for beagles has glucosamine and chondroitin. These two ingredients support your dog’s joint health.
The included omega fatty acids in this recipe keep the dog’s coat looking lustrous. Moreover, there are no allergenic suspects like corn, wheat, soy, or gluten. All that is here in this dog food is natural and healthy ingredients that will leave your dog happy and healthy.
First five ingredients: Deboned beef, Lamb meal, Salmon meal, Sweet potatoes, potatoes. Ingredients analysis:
Crude protein (min) | 34% |
Crude fat(min) | 15% |
Crude fiber(max) | 3.5% |
Moisture(max) | 11% |
Pros
- The first three ingredients are animal proteins
- No artificial flavors, preservatives, or meat by-products
- Fortified with glucosamine and chondroitin
- Rich in essential fatty acids
Cons
- Most pet parents are unhappy that this brand reduced the pack size from 25 lbs to 22 lbs without a price decrease.
2. Wellness CORE Small Breed Healthy Weight Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
One of the best weight loss dog food for overweight beagles is this meal from Wellness CORE. This well-prepared recipe has optimum levels of fiber, calories, and fats, ensuring your beagle is at an ideal weight.
Besides that, in this recipe, the first three ingredients are deboned turkey, chicken, and turkey meal which are excellent protein sources. The protein keeps your beagle’s muscles strong and healthy.
Consequently, this dry dog food has glucosamine and chondroitin that keep your dog’s hips healthy and flexible throughout.
If you dislike recipes full of grains, you won’t have trouble starting your dog on this dry dog food. All because this dry dog food for beagles steers away from grains notorious for causing stomach allergies to beagles.
Lastly, this grain-free dog food has no meat by-product or rendered meats that will offer no nutritional value. This Wellness Core is the best dog food for beagles as everything here is natural and healthy—ensuring your beagle consumes healthy, complete, and balanced nutrition.
First five ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey, chicken meal, peas, lentils. Ingredients analysis:
Crude protein (min) | 34% |
Crude fat(min) | 13% |
Crude fiber(max) | 7.50% |
Moisture(max) | 10.0% |
Pros
- High levels of proteins
- Grain-free recipe
- High levels of omega fatty acids
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Expensive
3. Canine Caviar Limited Ingredient Alkaline Holistic Dog Food
Does your beagle seem to react to every recipe he consumes? Then it’s time you start looking for a limited ingredient recipe. And starting your beagle on this formula from Canine Caviar is one of the best decisions you can make for your distraught furry friend.
This recipe is one of the best dog food for beagles with allergies because it has one protein and carb source.
Lamb here is the protein source that gives your beagle healthy muscles. At the same time, pearl millet is a complex carb that provides plenty of calories for your energetic beagle.
Also, this recipe is alkaline-based. An alkaline-based formula minimizes cellular degeneration, ensuring your beagle doesn’t age fast. Also, an alkaline-based recipe promotes plenty of oxygen flow in your dog’s blood.
Moreover, this recipe has a remarkable flavor that your picky beagle will find irresistible to consume. After consuming this recipe, your beagle with food allergies will be satisfied, happy, and well-nourished.
Afterward, the omega 3 fatty acids from the included flaxseed and fish will give your beagle a healthy coat.
First five ingredients: Dehydrated lamb, Pearl millet, lamb fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), coconut, sun-cured alfalfa. Ingredients analysis:
Crude protein (min) | 25.0% |
Crude fat(min) | 15.0% |
Crude fiber(max) | 5.7% |
Moisture(max) | 8.0% |
Pros
- A limited ingredient recipe
- This recipe has an incredible taste
- Fortified with omega fatty acids
Cons
- Expensive recipe
4. “I And Love And You” Naked Essentials Wet Dog Food
Dispose of all that expensive, tasteless, and nutritionless dog food, and get this recipe from I AND LOVE AND YOU.
So what makes this recipe one of the best-wet dog food for beagles? This recipe has natural and healthy ingredients like real meat, pumpkin, cranberries, and spinach that all combine to fulfill your beagle’s nutritional needs.
Secondly, grains like wheat, rice, soy, and corn are locked out, ensuring your beagle consumes a grain-free recipe gentle on his tummy.
This lamb recipe in a savory veggie stew has high protein content ensuring your dog has strong and healthy muscles.
Other than that, this recipe from I AND LOVE AND YOU is available in flavors like beef, chicken, turkey, and venison. Whichever you opt for, your beagle will get a complete and balanced diet.
Moreover, the added flaxseed, sunflower oil, and fish oil give your beagle healthy and radiant skin.
Per your preference, you can serve this recipe as a complete meal or as a food topper to your beagle’s regular meal.
First five ingredients: Lamb, Lamb broth, vegetable broth, lamb liver, dried egg whites. Ingredients analysis:
Crude protein (min) | 8.0% |
Crude fat(min) | 4.0% |
Crude fiber(max) | 1.0% |
Moisture(max) | 82.0% |
Pros
- Enriched with pumpkin, cranberries, spinach instead of grains
- No carrageenan, artificial flavors, or preservatives
- Real meat is the first ingredient
- This recipe can be served as a complete meal or mixed with dry dog food.
Cons
- Most dog parents have an issue with how this canned food is shipped.
- The smell of this recipe may not be appealing for some dog owners.
5. Instinct Be Natural Dry Puppy Food
Strengthen your pup’s foundation as he propels to adulthood by starting him on this super nutritious puppy food. This recipe is one of the best dog food for beagle puppies, as it has responsibly sourced animal proteins as the first two ingredients.
These proteins are chicken and ocean fish meal, supporting the development of your puppy’s muscles.
As one of the best dry dog food for beagle puppies, this recipe has healthy phosphorous and calcium levels. These two elements keep those developing beagle puppy bones strong and healthy.
Consequently, the included fruits and vegetables are crucial sources of antioxidants that toughen your pup’s immune system.
Other than that, this beagle puppy food contains grains like barley, oatmeal, and whole brown rice, top-notch sources of carbohydrates that fuel your energetic puppy.
Ingredients like corn, wheat, and soy, all known to trigger food sensitivities, are locked out, keeping your puppy happy and full.
A key thing that we know you will love about this recipe is that it’s all raw. No cooking is involved. Instead, this recipe is frozen or freeze-dried, ensuring 100% retention of valuable nutrients and the natural flavor that your puppy always cries for.
Worth noting, this recipe serves 468 kcal per cup, thus ensuring you can monitor how many calories your beagle puppy consumes per day.
First five ingredients: Chicken, Menhaden fish meal, Barley, oatmeal, brown rice. Ingredient analysis:
Crude protein (min) | 25% |
Crude fat(min) | 18% |
Crude fiber(max) | 4% |
Moisture(max) | 10% |
Pros
- Incorporates cage-free chicken and menhaden fish meal as the first two ingredients
- Minimal processed to retain flavor and nutrients
- No animal by-products, artificial flavors, or preservatives
- Contains DHA for brain and eye development
- Made in the USA
Cons
- While going through some reviews on amazon, some dog owners say their dogs refused to eat this food.
6. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet
Made with turkey as the first product or ingredient, this one can be a great source of protein. Since it has potatoes but no gluten, it can still be friendly for your dog’s stomach, especially if it’s sensitive.
It is also free from most grains, such as corn, wheat, soy, and is also free from dairy and eggs. If your dog has a sensitivity to chicken and beef then this can be a great alternative recipe for them.
The ingredients also include pea fiber and pumpkin to balance out your dog’s nutrition and keep their digestive system on the right track.
What’s more, this dog food for beagles is packed with vitamins E and C to support your dog’s immune system plus the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to keep their coat shiny and healthy most of the time.
7. Weruva Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages
If you’re the pet owner who prefers a one-size-fits-all dog food, this one can be okay for every life stage, regardless of whether your beagle is a pup, an adult, or a senior.
It has a mix of pumpkin and seaweed to promote healthy digestion and gut health for dogs with sensitivities. It comes in a 24-lb. bag and has chicken, turkey, and salmon as the sources of protein. This one can be an option for you if you prefer no potatoes and are still grain-free in its content.
It also has salmon oil and linoleic acid, which can keep your dog’s coat shiny and well-maintained. Since it is low in carbs, it can be a healthy diet plan for dogs that are not always active.
It is also free from fillers such as corn, soy, wheat, and GMOs so you know that you are feeding your dog with the right ingredients overall.
8. Weruva Dogs in The Kitchen Grain-Free
For dog owners who prefer canned wet food over kibble, you also have a choice from Weruva.
This 10-ounce can have chicken breast, which can be an easy source of protein for your beloved canine friend. It is also free from grain and gluten for your dog’s safety and gut health.
The food has been manufactured in BRC/USDA Approved Facilities so you can be sure of your dog’s nutrition. You can also order pouches at 2.8 ounces each instead of 10-ounce cans.
The formulation is also free from MSG, GMOs, and other fillers that may disrupt your dog’s health. Each can contain chicken that has been cage-free so they were responsibly raised and free from carrageenan.
Included in the ingredients list is sunflower seed oil for healthier coat health as well as vitamin E for healthier skin.
9. CANIDAE PURE Real Salmon, Limited Ingredient
As the name implies, real salmon is the first ingredient in this recipe, which contains sweet potato.
If your dog is allergic to potatoes and wants a different kind of carbohydrate source, sweet potato can be your way to go. It is limited in ingredients so it can be okay for dogs with gut problems.
Each dry dog food pack is at 24 lbs. but you can also order from the many different sizes available.
The omega 6 & 3 fatty acids can help with their coat healthy and the whole formula can also be okay for all life stages. It is also free from corn, soy, and other fillers that may not be ideal for your dog’s tummy.
Among the natural ingredients included are sun-cured alfalfa, peas, and canola oil, which can help you in balancing your dog’s overall diet plan, especially with the peas.
It even has a menhaden fish meal to add to the salmon meal for more protein and seafood goodness.
10. Taste of the Wild High Protein Real Smoked Salmon
Yet another suggestion for salmon in dog food would be this one, which comes from a reputable brand and is grain-free.
It can be helpful for your beagle’s coat and skin due to the fatty acids and the antioxidants can also help them become free from most diseases.
It can be gentle to their gut as well due to the probiotics included. There are no artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives in this smoked salmon recipe, which also contains certain amounts of fruits and veggies to have a balanced diet. You can order this dog food in 5 lbs., 14 lbs., and 28 lbs. sizes of bags.
This is yet another recipe that focuses on sweet potatoes as the energy source or carbohydrate food in a dog food formula, so your dog might like it if regular potatoes aren’t their thing.
Things to Consider Before You Buy
In order to choose the best dog food for beagles, here are some FAQs you may need to know about first:
How do I choose the best dog food for beagles?
Here’s what you should look for when choosing good dog food for beagles:
Balanced ingredients – When you are choosing one for your dog, it should be made with quality and balanced ingredients. Consider a mix of peas and animal protein, such as chicken, salmon, and other meat products (just don’t pick meat by-products as an ingredient). The key importance of balanced ingredients is that your dog has less likelihood of obesity plus they also get other nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, which can help with their immune system to protect them from getting sick too often.
A specific animal is the first ingredient – Here are some common ingredients of dog food for beagles that you may find best for your canine friend:
Salmon – any fish such as salmon is probably the best one for beagles since they don’t get as much activity as other dogs. They are in between the big, active dog, and the small, lounging dog, so they need just the right amount of nutrients, especially protein. What’s more, salmon is good for the heart and for their coat health as well due to the presence of omega fatty acids.
Chicken – we also picked chicken in this guide because most dogs will want to eat chicken in one way or another. It’s a natural instinct for dogs to like protein-rich meat, so why not? Take note that there are some beagles, however, that can be a bit sensitive to chicken, so you might want to offer them turkey instead. It’s also a way to get away from any possible meat by-products that aren’t from reliable chicken sources. Make sure the chicken source is from cage-free ones.
Beef – normally, dogs will like beef, especially steak meals, so it can also be a great recipe to add to their diet. Beef is packed with a lot of nutrients so it can be too much in protein, but can still be given to beagles, nonetheless. Just make sure that the beef is from a reliable source and don’t give your dog too much protein if they are not always active.
Turkey – yet another ideal food to give to beagles, turkey is an alternative to chicken. While not all countries have turkey due to climate and weather problems, turkey can be a healthy source of protein for dogs that want a feast.
Bison – also native only to the Americas, this ingredient is much regarded like beef, such that it is meant only for dogs that are inherently active. If your dog is often a sporting or contest dog or one that likes to play around, bison meat is also a good protein source, nonetheless.
Not much fat content – Beagles get obese very fast as compared to other dogs. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to look into the fat content of your dog food. Too much fat can definitely lead to obesity, especially since beagles don’t play around as often as other breeds do.
All life stages – Any dog food that is ideal for all life stages can save you a lot of time in the long run. You don’t have to find one that’s for pups and for seniors because this dog food has it all covered. Beagles require a diet that is just fine so any dog food that is meant for this kind of case can be ideal for them.
All breeds – Since the beagle is a middle-range dog breed, it can be best for them to have dog food that’s both for small breeds and for large ones. This can ensure that your beagle gets just the right amount of nutrition since we did mention above that beagles can get overweight too fast.
Carbohydrates that are easy to digest – Some beagles can be prone to digestive upsets. For this matter, you may want to pick food that is easy to digest and okay for their tummies. Consider dog food that has probiotics for a healthier gut or sweet potatoes that are far easier to digest than simple carbohydrates. They may also benefit from dog food that is free from grain and soy.
Limited ingredients – As well all know today, many manufacturers take pride in limited ingredients dog food. This can be helpful for beagles that get obese too fast. Limited ingredients help them to only eat the healthy ones without extra fillers.
What are the benefits of feeding my beagles quality food?
Feeding your beagle quality dog food can:
- Increase their overall life span
- Help them fight obesity
- Give them a shinier coat and skin
- Reduce the likelihood of digestive upsets
- Keep them active with protein
How do I feed dog food for beagles?
To feed your dog, you just need to look into the instructions on the manual. For instance:
- Dry dog food such as kibble can be fed alone depending on how many times you feed your beagle. Don’t feed them too much to avoid overweight problems.
- Wet food that is canned can be mixed with dry dog food so that your dog gets an even mix. You can also add your regular kitchen favorites for your dog so that they also get raw food.
- You can also mix toppers with your dog food for beagles so that they can enhance the flavor a bit.
- For dog training, you can also give them some nice dog treats.
Get the best dog food for beagles
To wrap it up, our top pick for the best dog food for beagles is the Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet due to the fact that it is gluten-free and grain-free, making it ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It’s also made with turkey as the first ingredient and as the main protein source so it can be an alternative to regular chicken or beef meals. It’s also packed with a lot of vitamins and minerals.
Other picks we made here are just as healthy, however, we chose Blue Buffalo due to the just-right amount of ingredients and nutrients that are okay for beagles, that are neither small or big dogs, but in between. We hope you find our picks and suggestions useful!
Merrick grain-free with real meat and sweet potato is a must try for anyone with a beagle! My little guy adores it and he’s been a lot healthier ever since we switched to it a few months back. His coat is shinier and he leaves a lot less hair around the house nowadays. This is the best dog food we’ve tried so far.
I have my beagle on Canine Caviar right now and he seems to enjoy it a lot. I like to change his food every 6 or so months so he gets some diversity and we can also test a few different foods this way until we find his favorites. We’ve already tested 8 different dog food brands and this is one of the better ones ingredient wise and one that he particularly enjoys.