What diseases are Beagles prone to?

1. Intervertebral Disc Disease: Intervertebral disc disease causes a bulge or rupture in the discs between the vertebrae. When that happens, it can cause pain, nerve damage, and paralysis. Sometimes IVDD is mild and may be relieved through crate rest and medication, but dogs with severe cases could need surgery or the use of a wheelchair cart. If a Beagle is having trouble walking, refuses to jump, is incontinent, won’t eat, or appears anxious, they should be taken to the vet as soon as possible.

1. Beagle dwarfism: Also known as chondrodystrophy, Beagle dwarfism is a genetic disorder that causes extremely short legs. Dwarfism can also affect the spine and cause it to degenerate prematurely. Dwarfism in dogs can eventually lead to IVDD.

1. Hip and/or elbow dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. They are similar diseases in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. The abnormal shape prevents the joints and sockets from properly meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Unlike in hip dysplasia, where the main problem is joint instability, the abnormalities seen in elbow dysplasia often result in pieces of bone and/or cartilage breaking loose and irritating the joint tissues. Over time, the rubbing from dysplasia can cause a variety of issues such as pain, lameness, and secondary osteoarthritis.

1. Chinese Beagle Syndrome (CBS): The scientific term for Chinese Beagle Syndrome is Musladin Lueke Syndrome (MLS). This syndrome is characterized by a flat head and slanted eyes. A Beagle with CBS will also have turned out toes that make them look like a ballerina. Though their different look won’t have much of an effect on their lives, dogs with CBS are more likely to have heart problems.

1. Distichiasis: This condition occurs when eyelashes (known as distichiasis) grow in an abnormal location on the eyelid. In some cases, a dog may have an entire row of extra eyelashes. Eyelashes can also grow near an oil gland in the dog’s eye and stick out along the edge of the eyelid. The extra eyelashes and abnormal location can irritate the eye, and you may notice your Beagle squinting or rubbing their eye(s). Distichiasis can be treated by freezing the excess eyelashes with liquid nitrogen and then removing them.

1. Eye problems: Corneal ulcers, cherry eye, cataracts, glaucoma, and scratched corneas are all issues that may affect a Beagle.

1. Others: Skeletal disorders, patellar luxation (dislocated kneecap), epilepsy, thyroid disorders, and ear infections commonly affect floppy-eared breeds. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend skeletal and eye tests for your Beagle.