How To Clean Your Beagle’s Ears

You will need cotton balls, alcohol and baby oil. Moisten the cotton balls with the alcohol and gently clean the exposed area of the ear. Do not penetrate deeply into the ear canal. Since you will be removing most of their protective oils with the alcohol, apply a light layer of baby oil to the ear when you are finished. If you notice a heavy, foul odor you should make an appointment with your veterinarian. They might have an ear infection that will need to be treated. Clean your Beagle’s ears like this once a week to keep them healthy.

The Ear Canal

You should never need to clean your Beagle’s ear canal if they are healthy. You should however, regularly examine the ear canal. If you notice a foul smell or a sloshing sound when you rub the base of the ear you might have an ear infection on your hands. Immediately consult your veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment. If you know for a fact that your dog does not have an ear infection and feel the need to clean out the ear canal, you can use an otic solution available at your vets office.

Insect Stings
A Beagle will not hesitate to chase that wasp, hornet or bee around the yard. If they get lucky enough to catch it they might get rewarded with a painful sting. To treat the sting, wash the area with a solution of bicarbonate of soda. If the sting is in a sensitive area like the mouth, eyes or nose you should consult your veterinarian.

Bites
From time to time your Beagle might find themselves in a fight with one of your other dogs or god forbid, a stray. If this were to happen you should wash the wound with a mild antiseptic and bandage it as good as possible. Consult a veterinarian immediately if the bite was from a wild animal or from a dog that you can not verify rabies vaccination status on. If the wound is large enough to require stitches visit a vet.

Debris in Eye
If your Beagle closes its eyes suddenly and violently or can not keep an eye open, it might have debris like sand or dirt in the eye. TO clear the debris you should rinse the eye with an eye wash. Avoid straight tap water as it could dry their eye further. If yo must use tap water, first boil it and then cool it before using it.  When using tap water, use a plastic syringe to apply it but be careful not to touch the eye itself.  If the problem persists call your veterinarian for further treatment as your Beagle might have an eye infection.

Heat Stroke
If your Beagle develops heat stroke you will notice signs such as rapid panting, warm and dry skin, bright red gums, a glazed or distant expression and vomiting. A Beagle suffering from heat stroke needs to have their temperature brought down quickly before they lose consciousness. Place them in a cool bath or hose them off with cool water. Do not use ice as you could actually over cool them. While cooling them down with cool water, massage their skin and flex their limbs to encourage blood flow. Take your dog to a veterinarian as soon as the immediate danger is over.

Take one quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (nothing stronger), 1/4 cup of baking soda and one teaspoon of liquid soap. Combine the ingredients and you have a great skunk odor remover. Now put on some rubber gloves, wet your dog down and then apply the solution. Use care to avoid getting any of the solution in their eyes. Let it dwell for a few minutes and then thoroughly rinse your dog with fresh water. Dispose of any leftover skunk remover as it is not safe to store.

What is Chocolate Toxicity?

Chocolate Toxicity is poisoning caused by the ingestion of Theobromine that is found in chocolates. Theobromine is a Xanthine Alkaloid in the same family as caffeine. It is present in different quantities depending on the type of chocolate. Milk chocolate contains 44 mg per ounce, semi sweet chocolate contains 150 mg per ounce and baker’s chocolate contains 390 mg per ounce. The amount that your dog needs to eat to be toxic depends on their size and their sensitivity to Theobromine.

What are signs or symptoms of poisoning?

Theobromine targets the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and the peripheral nerves. The signs of poisoning include vomiting, hyperactivity, diarrhea, restlessness, excessive urination, heart arrhythmia, excessive body temperature, seizures, muscle tremors, coma and death.

How is Chocolate Toxicity diagnosed?

The symptoms of this type of poisoning can mimic those of many other poisonings. For a positive diagnosis your dogs stomach contents, blood or urine can be analyzed for presence of Theobromine.

How is it treated?

If you suspect that your dog has ingested chocolate you should contact your veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital as soon as possible. Your vet will induce vomiting to attempt to remove as much of the toxin as possible. They will also give your Beagle activated charcoal to attempt to absorb as much of the Theobromine as possible. There is no actual antidote for Chocolate Toxicity however. Treatment for the condition is to treat the affects of the poisoning so that your dog will survive once the poison has worked its way through their body. Your vet will monitor your dogs condition and administer medications as necessary. This might include anti-convulsants, sedatives and intravenous fluids.

How much chocolate is toxic?

This differs based on the size of the dog and their particular sensitivity. For a Beagle it can be as little as a few ounces of unsweetened baker’s chocolate.  Here is a chart that you can use as a general guideline to find out toxic levels although every effort should be made so that your dog never ingests any chocolate.

Toxic Chocolate Dosages

• A local business was looking for office help. They put a sign in the window, stating the following: “HELP WANTED. Must be able to type, must be good with a computer, and must be bilingual. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.” A short time afterward, a beagle trotted up to the window, saw the sign, and went inside. He looked at the receptionist and wagged his tail, then walked over to the sign, looked at it, and whined. Getting the idea, the receptionist got the office manager. The office manager looked at the beagle and was surprised, to say the least. However, the beagle looked determined, so the office manager led him into the office. Inside, the beagle jumped up on the chair and stared at the manager. The manager said, “I can’t hire you. The sign says you have to be able to type.” The beagle jumped down, went to the typewriter, and proceeded to type out a perfect letter. He took out the page and trotted over to the manager and gave it to him, then jumped back on the chair. The manager was stunned, but then told the dog, “The sign says you have to be good with a computer.” The beagle jumped down again and went to the computer. He proceeded to enter and execute a perfect program that worked flawlessly the first time. By this time the manager was totally dumbfounded! He looked at the dog and said, “I realize that you are a very intelligent dog and have some interesting abilities. However, I still can’t give you the job.” The beagle jumped down and went to a copy of the sign and put his paw on the words “Equal Opportunity Employer.” The manager said, “Yes, but the sign also says that you have to be bilingual.” The beagle looked at the manager calmly and said, “Meow.”
• A butcher is in his shop, and he’s real busy, but he looks up and notices a beagle in the shop. He shoos him away. But later, he notices that the beagle is back again. So he goes over to him and notices he has a note in his mouth. He takes the note, and it reads, “Can I have 12 sausages and a leg of lamb, please? The dog has money in his mouth, as well.” The butcher looks, and, lo and behold, there’s a ten pound note there.
  So the butcher takes the money and puts the sausages and lamb in a bag, placing the in the beagle’s mouth. The butcher is well impressed, and, since it’s close to closing time, he decides to shut up shop and follow the dog. So off he goes. The dog is walking down the street when he comes to a level crossing. The dog puts down the bag, jumps up, and presses the button. Then he waits patiently, bag in mouth, for the light to turn. It does, and the beagle walks across the road, with the butcher following him all the way. The beagle then comes to a bus stop and starts looking at the timetable. The butcher is in awe at this stage. The beagle checks out the schedule and then sits on one of the seats provided. Along comes a bus. The beagle walks around the front, looks at the number, and goes back to his seat. Another bus comes. Again the beagle goes and looks at the number, notices it’s the right one, and climbs on the bus. The butcher, by now open-mouthed, follows him onto the bus.
  The bus travels through the town and out into the suburbs, the dog looking at the scenery. Eventually he gets up and moves to the front of the bus. He stands on his hind legs and pushes the button to stop the bus. Then he gets off, his groceries still in his mouth.
  Well, dog and butcher are walking along the road, and then the beagle turns toward a house. He walks up the path, and drops the groceries on the step. Then he walks back down the path, takes a big run, and throws himself Whap! against the door. He goes back down the path, runs up to the door, and Whap!—throws himself against it again. There’s no answer at the house, so the dog goes back down the path, jumps up on a narrow wall, and walks along the perimeter of the garden. He gets to the window and beats his head against it several times, walks back, jumps off, and waits at the door.
  The butcher watches as a big guy opens the door and starts laying into the dog, kicking him, punching him, and swearing at him. The butcher runs up and stops the guy. “What the heck are you doing?” he cries. “That dog is a genius. He could be on TV, for heaven’s sake!” But the beagle’s owner responds, “Clever, my foot! This is the second time this week that he’s forgotten his key.”
• How to Photograph a Beagle Puppy
  1. Remove film from box and load camera.
  2. Remove film box from beagle puppy’s mouth and throw in trash.
  3. Remove puppy from trash and brush coffee grounds from his muzzle.
  4. Choose a suitable background for photo.
  5. Mount camera on tripod and focus.
  6. Find puppy and take dirty sock from his mouth.
  7. Place beagle puppy in pre-focused spot and return to camera.
  8. Forget about spot and crawl after puppy on hands and knees.
  9. Focus with one hand and fend off puppy with other hand.
  10. Get tissue and clean nose print from lens.
  11. Take flash cube from beagle puppy’s mouth and throw in trash.
  12. Put cat outside and put peroxide on the scratch on puppy’s nose.
  13. Put magazines back on coffee table.
  14. Try to get puppy’s attention by squeaking toy over your head.
  15. Replace your glasses and check camera for damage.
  16. Jump up in time to grab puppy by scruff of neck and say, “No, outside! No, outside!”
  17. Call spouse to clean up mess.
  18. Fix a drink.
  19. Sit back in Lazy Boy with drink and resolve to teach puppy “sit/stand” and “stay” the first thing in the morning.
  20. Consider buying older, trained beagle.

Symptoms

Symptoms that your dog is affected by Sarcoptic Mange include red scaly and itchy skin. Hair loss also can occur as well as secondary infections caused by the excessive itching and scratching. The mite prefers less hairy parts of your dogs body so stomachs, elbows, arm pits and ears are at particular risk.

Diagnosis

The most common way of diagnosing Sarcoptic Mange is through a skin scraping. A sample is taken and diagnosed under a microscope. The diagnosis is made either by seeing the mites or a skilled pathologist might simply recognize the type of inflammation present as that being caused by this type of mite. A negative skin scraping however does not mean that your Beagle does not have Sarcoptic Mange. Because of this, your vet will often just treat your Beagle for Sarcoptic Mange without a 100 percent sure diagnosis. It is a simple treatment that works very well so if it is Sarcoptic Mange your dog will show signs of improvement within a few weeks.If there is no improvement they will then rule out Sarcoptic Mange.

Treatment

Luckily this condition is easily cured with a number of different medications. This can range from topical treatments to injections to shampoos. You should treat all of the animals in your home since it is so easily spread from dog to dog. Humans need not worry about treatment since the mite can not complete its life cycle on humans and infection will not last. You should also be sure to wash or replace all of your dogs bedding

Why are dogs attracted to antifreeze?

Antifreeze has a sweet smell and taste that it appealing to dogs. With the sense of smell that our Beagles have they can be particularly vulnerable to this attraction.

Why is it deadly to dogs?

The Ethelyn Glycol in antifreeze is converted into an acid by the liver. This acid will ravage your pets body, particularly the kidneys. The small size of Beagles means that it does not take much to kill them. A dosage of mere tablespoons can be fatal.

What are some symptoms of antifreeze poisoning?

The first symptoms of antifreeze poisoning is excessive thirst and excessive urination. This is soon followed by loss of coordination, nausea, weakness, tremors, rapid breathing, vomiting, rapid heart rate, convulsions, paralysis and depression. The symptoms will appear within minutes of ingestion of antifreeze and last up to 12 hours. After the symptoms disappear, the danger is not over. After that point the liver has converted the poison into a crystalline acid that will now attack the kidneys. When this occurs additional symptoms will appear such as loss of appetite, dehydration, inability to urinate, salivating, seizures, ulcers, coma and eventually death.

What is the treatment for antifreeze poisoning?

If you suspect that your dog has ingested antifreeze you need to contact your vet immediately. They will induce vomiting and feed your Beagle activated charcoal to absorb the antifreeze. If treatment is begun within the first 12 hours of ingestion, complete recovery is possible. After that point the chances of your pet recovering are greatly reduced.

How can I prevent poisoning?

There are two things that you should do. First off you should make sure that antifreeze is not accessible to your dog. Clean up any spills immediately, properly store used and new antifreeze and fix automobile coolant leaks.  Second you should switch to a newer and safer antifreeze made from Propylene Glycol. Propylene Glycol is not toxic when ingested by pets.

Facts:

This is a treat ball made by Starmark. It is essentially a hard rubber ball that locks treats onto the top and bottom of the ball. The treats are secured by a rubber lip that makes it very hard for your dog tor remove. The treats come in liver, chicken, mint and barbecue flavors.The inside of the Everlasting Treat Ball can also be used to hold your dogs favorite treat making the ball useful with or without the specially designed everlasting treats.

Review:

Our Beagle fell in love with this toy and would spend hours chewing on it. The treats proved to be very long lasting and nearly impossible for him to remove until it was almost gone. So for us the treats lasted for weeks. Some pet owners have reported that their dogs can remove the treats from the all and Starmark has addressed this concern. For especially ingenuitive Beagles they make a locking treat that uses a screw made from the same treat material to secure the two treat halves together. The inside compartment also proved useful for placing treats. It would take a few hours for our dog to get all of the treats out so this was great when we ran out of the Everlasting Treats. Overall this treat ball is highly recommended.

Purchase:
The Everlasting Treat ball can be found at most pet stores including Pet Smart. You will want the medium sized ball. If you want the best price, one of the best prices we have found to purchase it is at dog.com.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a disorder that causes frequent seizures. In a seizure your dog will suffer from loss of consciousness and loss of motor control. Seizures are caused by a sudden and drastic change in the electrical activity in the brain.

How do I know if my Beagle is having a seizure and what should I do?

The symptoms of a seizure are often terrifying to see. Your dog will collapse, drool and shake their legs. It looks worse than it is and your dog will generally feel no pain although they will show signs of confusion. Your dog will not swallow their tongue so do not reach into their mouth as you will risk getting bit. Simply keep your dog on the floor until it passes which should be in a few minutes. If it lasts longer than 5 minutes you need to get medical assistance for your dog as they could face the risk of heat stroke.

What should I do after a seizure?

After you notice your dog having a seizure you should make them an appointment at your veterinarians office. Your vet will perform blood tests that can rule out any other causes of seizures  such as brain tumors, cancer, heart problems, etc. Epilepsy is diagnosed by ruling out other possible medical conditions. Just because your Beagle has had a seizure though does not mean your dog has epilepsy.  It is very possible that they will never have one again or that they will occur so infrequently that they do not need treatment. Epileptic dogs are dogs that have them frequently.

How is epilepsy treated?

If your Beagle is not having seizures often your vet will usually prescribe Valium. You will give your animal a Valium after a seizure to prevent cluster seizures from occurring. If your dog is a true epileptic however and has them frequently they will typically be prescribed Phenobarbital. Phenobarbital can cause liver damage however with prolonged treatment so once on this type of therapy your Beagle will need to get their liver enzymes tested regularly.

So why does the clicker work? You click immediately when you see the desired behavior and then give your Beagle a treat or other reward. Soon your dog will associate the click with the reward and thus the behavior with the reward. They will then want to repeat the behavior so that they get the reward. It is a simple, humane and very effective form of training. It works much better than scolding your dog and does not carry with it the side effects that a scolding does.

If you would like to get started with clicker training you first need to get a clicker. Clickers are available at most pet stores for just a few dollars. Once you have the clicker you want to first associate the clicker with a treat in the eyes of your dog. Press the clicker making the distinct two toned click noise and immediately give them a small treat. Use a small but delicious treat and not just plain dog food. Now when your Beagle shows a desired behavior like going to the bathroom outside or sitting on command click the clicker. Click it during the behavior instead of after the behavior so it is clear in their mind what behavior is being rewarded. After you make the click give your dog a treat. Click only once because multiple clicks at once will only confuse your dog. When practicing tricks or reinforcing behavior try to keep your training sessions brief. A five minute session repeated a few different times will usually work better than one long session. Lastly, when trying to correct bad behavior reward the positive. For example if you are trying to stop peeing in the house, click when they go outside. If you want to correct jumping on guests, click when they have all of their feet on the ground.

That is really all their is to clicker training. It is a simple yet very effective training technique that I am sure you will enjoy. Put it to use and you might be surprised just how quickly your dogs behavior improves.