Beagles are generally a healthy dog breed, but they can be susceptible to specific health conditions. Most Beagles tend to become overweight and obese pretty quickly, and a lot of them can have allergies and experience dry skin and coat.

With diet playing a significant role in boosting¹ a dog’s quality of life and lifespan, it’s important to make sure that your Beagle is eating the right kind of food. To help you out, we have some reviews of the best dog food for Beagles.

This article also contains information on a Beagle’s specific nutritional needs. So, make sure to keep reading so you can find the best dog food for your precious pup.

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The 11 Best Dog Foods for Beagles

1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food is the best overall dog food for Beagles. The recipes are all packed with high-quality, human-grade ingredients. Yes, you read that right, human-grade. Meaning it’s good enough for you to eat!

Regular dog food can be bland, filled with nasty preservatives, and just plain boring for your dog. The Farmer’s Dog fresh dog food formulas are created by vets and backed by the AAFCO so you know they aren’t only satisfying for your dog, but they’re healthy too!

Along with beef, there are three other protein recipes available – chicken, turkey, and pork. When you go on The Farmers Dog website you’ll need to complete a small quiz to find out more about your dog and after that, you are all set. Your first order will be delivered right to your door.

One thing to consider about this brand is it is a little more expensive than regular, store-bought kibble, but we think it’s a small price to pay for this level of quality and convenience.

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2. Purina ONE SmartBlend High Protein Formula Adult Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy

Feeding your Beagle a high-quality meal doesn’t have to make a significant dent in your wallet. Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Weight High Protein Formula is a more affordable option that meets many of a Beagle’s unique needs.

Real turkey is the first ingredient. The recipe also has an abundance of antioxidants to support the immune system and vitamins A and E, which benefit the eyes and joints.

The recipe also contains fewer calories and fat, so it’s an excellent option for Beagles that need weight management support. It also includes a good amount of fiber to help them feel fuller for longer.

The ingredient list does show that the recipe has some carbohydrate fillers, such as corn and soybean products. However, the guaranteed analysis shows that the formula consists of 27% crude protein, which is more than enough protein for an adult dog.

For all the benefits that this dog food provides, we believe that it’s the best dog food for Beagles for the money you pay.

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3. N&D Ancestral Grain Lamb & Blueberry Dry Dog Food

This dog food is our third choice, and is packed with nutritious and tasty ingredients. About 90% of the protein in the formula derives from high-quality animal sources. This formula is also great for dogs with hyperglycemia or diabetes. It’s specifically designed to be a low-glycemic formula that won’t cause blood sugar levels to spike.

The recipe doesn’t contain any plant products that are hard to digest, such as legumes. It also doesn’t have any meat meals or by-products. However, keep in mind that although the food is marketed as a lamb recipe, it contains whole eggs and a small amount of chicken fat, which are common food allergens.

The kibble is relatively large and can be too big for medium-sized dogs. So, many dog owners opt to feed their dogs the small breed version of this recipe.

If you’re wondering if this dog food is worth the high price, it depends. It has high-quality ingredients that seem to attract a lot of dogs. So, if your Beagle’s a picky eater, there’s a good chance it’ll like this recipe. However, if your dog isn’t very picky, you might benefit more from selecting a more cost-effective option.

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4. Purina Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dog Food

In general, puppies have more sensitive stomachs and require more protein than adult dogs. So, Beagle puppies can be more susceptible to getting an upset stomach if they’re not fed a simple formula.

Purina Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Dry Dog Food addresses this issue very well. It uses relatively gentle ingredients, such as salmon and rice, and it doesn’t contain any common food allergens, except for a small amount of beef fat. It also doesn’t have any artificial colors and flavors.

Along with being gentle on the digestive tract, this formula nourishes and protects the skin and coat. It also contains a lot of fish, which includes omega fatty acids that support brain and vision development. With the crude protein at 28%, this recipe includes a substantial amount of protein that promotes healthy growth and development.

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5. Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Real Salmon & Brown Rice Dog Food

This Merrick dog food formula is another top choice for Beagles because it checks all the boxes for meeting this dog breed’s needs. It’s a limited-ingredient diet and only contains nine key components, so there’s very little chance that your dog will experience an allergic reaction. It also doesn’t contain any common meat allergens, such as beef and chicken.

The recipe lists deboned salmon as its first ingredient. Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acid, which has many health benefits, including supporting healthy skin and coat. The formula also doesn’t contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

You won’t find any other ingredients that can cause digestive issues, such as dairy, eggs, and lentils. However, since brown rice is high in fiber, it might be a little more difficult for some dogs with particularly weak digestive systems to digest. Other than that, this recipe is a nutritious and safe choice for Beagles.

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6. American Journey Grain-Free with Lamb, Venison & Beef Dry Dog Food

This grain-free dog food has a high-quality recipe that’s very ideal for Beagles. It has animal protein and meat meal as its first three ingredients, and it also contains nutritious fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, carrots, and cranberries.

The formula excludes corn, wheat, and soy, and it also doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. It’s been fortified with prebiotics and natural fibers to help with digestion. It also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat.

Since the recipe also contains various additional meats, it’s more palatable for picky eaters. Just keep in mind that it does contain some common allergies, like chicken and beef. So, if your dog has a particularly sensitive stomach, it may have a more challenging time digesting this dog food.

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7. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a high-protein recipe that’s great for active Beagles. The formula is 34% protein, which is substantially higher than most other dog foods. Keep in mind that too much protein can be detrimental to dogs, so if your Beagle doesn’t engage in an exceptional amount of activity, you may want to pass on this recipe.

Deboned salmon is the first ingredient, and the recipe also contains menhaden fish meal. These ingredients contain a high volume of healthy omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat and the immune system.

Although marketed as a salmon recipe, this dog food lists chicken meal as its second ingredient, and it contains dried egg product. So, it’s not a recipe for Beagles with food allergies.

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8. Zignature Turkey Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Zignature Turkey Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food can be a viable option for Beagles with sensitive stomachs and food allergies. It has a very simple recipe that’s chicken-free and dairy-free.

The only source of animal protein is turkey and turkey meal. Turkey’s a good source of essential vitamins and minerals, including selenium, riboflavin, and phosphorus. It’s relatively low in saturated fat, so this recipe is great for dogs that require weight management.

The recipe also has a crude protein percentage of 32%, so it’s an excellent option for young and active Beagles. It contains antioxidants to strengthen and protect your dog’s immune system, making this recipe a great choice for energetic Beagles who enjoy playing and spending time outdoors.

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9. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey Freeze-Dried Dog Food

This dog food works exceptionally well for dogs with severe food allergies. It only contains one animal protein and one vegetable and doesn’t have any artificial colors or preservatives, grains, dairy, eggs, beef, or chicken.

This recipe contains whole turkey, turkey meal, freeze-dried turkey, liver, and heart. Turkey is a more digestible alternative to chicken, and it’s highly nutritious for dogs.

Although it only contains two ingredients, the recipe’s fortified with all the essential nutrients that your Beagle needs to thrive. It has natural sources of omega fatty acids and antioxidants to protect your dog’s immune system and nourish its skin and coat.

We only have a couple of concerns with this dog food. First, turkey meal and peas are the first two ingredients, not turkey, which is the third ingredient. This may affect the quality of the recipe since the composition of the turkey meal is unclear. The food contains more calories than other recipes on our list. So, it won’t be the best choice for dogs that require weight management and maintenance.

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10. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

This dog food is another great option for Beagles that may need some help with weight loss or management. It contains only 291 kilocalories per cup and has a lot of fiber to keep your Beagle feeling full for a long time. The only caveat to this is that the high amount of fiber may cause digestive issues for some dogs with sensitive stomachs.

The only meat protein that this recipe uses is chicken, so it’s safe for dogs with beef allergies and rarer fish allergies. The amount of chicken and protein in this recipe helps support and maintain lean muscle mass.

The recipe does contain corn gluten meal, which can cause hot spots for some Beagles. Overall, it works best for Beagles that love chicken, need to lose some weight, and don’t have particularly sensitive stomachs.

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11. Royal Canin Beagle Adult Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin has dog food specifically formulated for adult Beagles older than 12 months old. The formula supports weight control and contains the appropriate amount of calories for this dog breed. It also provides bone and joint support for active Beagles.

The kibble also has an intentional shape and size so that it’s easy for Beagles to pick up. The shape also encourages dogs to chew thoroughly and slow down eating.

Our concerns lie in the main ingredients in this recipe. It lists corn as the first ingredient and chicken by-product meal as the second ingredient. By-product meal is very ambiguous, so it’s difficult to know what’s inside. The fact that the recipe doesn’t list whole chicken at any point is also concerning.

Most Beagles do enjoy eating this food, so it’s a popular option amongst dog owners. However, with its premium price, we can’t confidently say that it’s the best dog food for Beagles.

Buyer’s Guide: How To Find the Best Dog Food For Beagles

Contrary to popular belief, dry dog food can be very beneficial and healthy for your dog, as long as you find a high-quality recipe. When shopping for dry dog food, there are certain categories of ingredients that you should look for and other kinds that you should do your best to avoid.

Healthy Ingredients

Good dog food uses high-quality animal meat and nutritious fruits, vegetables, and grains. When reading through ingredient lists, always check for real meat protein and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables.

Real Meat Protein

The first thing you want to check for is natural meat protein. You want to make sure that your dog consumes protein from high-quality protein sources, so look for natural meat, like deboned chicken, beef, or salmon.

Meat meal is a little more ambiguous, but it’s also passable because many dog food companies use high-quality meat meal. If you’re feeling extra cautious, you can do some research on individual pet food companies and search their histories for recalls or reports of using low-quality ingredients.

Nutritious Fruits and Vegetables

Many fruits and vegetables are both nutritious and tasty for dogs. Common nutrient-dense vegetables dogs can safely eat include carrots, kale, and green beans. Blueberries, apples, and bananas are delicious and also contain some vitamins and minerals essential to dogs.

When it comes to grains, opt for recipes that contain whole grains, oats, and barley. These kinds of grains have a lot of nutrients and a good amount of fiber to help keep your Beagle feeling full.

Essential Vitamins and Minerals

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has rules and regulations that document essential vitamins and minerals that dog food formulas should contain. Here are the following vitamins that your dog needs to support daily bodily functioning:

The following are essential minerals for dogs:

Common Allergens

Since Beagles are susceptible to food allergens, you can avoid recipes containing common allergens. The most common food dogs are allergic to is beef, followed by dairy and chicken. Dogs can be allergic to wheat, but it’s pretty rare for dogs to have wheat allergies.

Carbohydrate Fillers

Carbohydrate Fillers are one of the reasons why dry dog food can have a bad reputation. Low-quality dog food will contain cheap carbohydrates to increase the volume of food and bind the kibble into bite-sized pieces.

Examples of carbohydrate fillers are cornmeal and white potatoes. Some dog foods will also use corn syrup to help bind kibble together. All these types of ingredients add little to no nutritional value and can just increase the number of carbs and calories that your dog consumes.

By-Product Meal

Meal meals aren’t the worst ingredient that you can find in recipes, but it is best to be wary of animal by-product meals. These are very vague ingredients containing varying amounts of animal tissue, bones, and organs, excluding hair, horns, teeth, and hooves.

Conclusion

Based on our reviews, The Farmer’s Dog is the best dog food for Beagles. The formula is great for Beagles with food sensitivities and supports healthy skin and coat.

Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Weight High Protein Formula Adult Dry Dog Food is another one of our favorites because it addresses most of a Beagle’s unique needs at an affordable price.

Overall, Beagles have specific dietary needs. So, it is important to pay attention throughout their life stages to ensure that they eat foods that support them.

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Featured Image Credit: Przemek Iciak, Shutterstock