What Are the Best Dog Foods for Beagles & Beagle Puppies?
Rocky Kanaka
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The Beagle is the 7th most popular dog breed in the U.S. according to the American Kennel Club and it’s easy to see why! Cheerful, curious, and affectionate, the Beagle is known for being friendly to children and tolerant of the chaos that comes with little kids. These traits combined make Beagles amazing family dogs!
Feeding your family Beagle high-quality dog food can help keep them happy and healthy so you can enjoy their merry nature for a long time. In this guide, we’re covering six of the best dog food brands for Beagles, and sharing tips for addressing Beagle-specific health issues with proper nutrition.
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Best Dog Foods for Beagles & Beagle Puppies
| Brand | Grain? | First 5 Ingredients | Price |
 Best Raw: Raw Wild | Grain-free | 1. Elk 2. Deer 3. Organic Sunflower Seed Oil 4. Wild Caught Alaskan Pollock Fish Oil 5. Potassium | $$$ |
 Best Air-Dried: Sundays For Dogs | Grain-inclusive | 1. Beef 2. Beef Heart 3. Beef Liver 4. Beef Bone 5. Quinoa | $ |
 Best Freeze-Dried: Primal | Grain-free | 1. Venison 2. Venison Hearts 3. Ground Venison Bones 4. Venison Livers 5. Organic Kale | $$$ |
 Best Fresh-Frozen: The Farmer’s Dog | Grain-inclusive | 1. Beef 2. Sweet Potato 3. Lentils 4. Carrot 5. Beef Liver | $$ |
 Best Healthy Kibble: Spot & Tango | Grain-free | 1. Cod 2. Salmon 3. Sweet Potatoes 4. Pumpkin 5. Sunflower Seeds | $ |
 Best Canned: Merrick | Grain-free | 1. Deboned Beef 2. Beef Broth 3. Chicken Broth 4. Beef Liver 5. Carrots | $$ |
Beagle Nutritional Needs
Beagles (and all dogs) thrive on a diet that is high in animal protein and fat, but also benefit from eating small portions of fruits, vegetables, and grains. The best dog food for Beagles should not only be high in protein from a nutritional perspective, but should include whole animal protein within the first five ingredients.
While all dogs are individuals, Beagles are very rarely picky eaters. Some Beagle owners will tell you that their little hounds are bottomless pits, eating anything they can get ahold of. Unlike many dog breeds, Beagles are also known to have poor appetite regulation, and can (and will) eat to the point of making themselves sick.
Because of this, it’s very important not to free-feed your Beagle, and to have their food carefully portioned for their optimal weight. There are two sizes of Beagle—one slightly smaller than the other—and we recommend speaking with your vet to create an appropriate meal plan for your dog’s needs.
Choosing the Best Puppy Food for Beagles
Puppy food is specifically formulated to support growth and development, and is enriched with added nutrients your puppy needs to become a healthy adult. Puppies under 9–12 months should be fed puppy-specific food, and then can be transitioned onto adult dog food.
If you want to serve your puppy adult dog food, you may need to supplement with additional nutrients. Speak to your vet about this.
Here’s a quick rundown of the nutrients your puppy needs for physical and neurological development.
| Nutrient | Use | Nutrient | Use |
| Protein | Muscle growth and development | Magnesium | Mineral that supports muscle health |
| Fat | Concentrated energy source | Selenium | Mineral that supports healthy joint tissue and membranes |
| Carbohydrates | Source of energy; contains glucose, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals | Vitamin K | Strengthens the skeletal structure |
| Calcium | Mineral that supports bone growth and development | Vitamin E | Supports healthy skin and coat |
| Iron | Mineral that supports healthy blood and muscles | Vitamin B | Necessary for digesting protein and fat |
| Phosphorus | Mineral that supports healthy teeth, bones, and metabolism | Vitamin A | Supports cell growth and division |
Beagle Health
While it’s not a guarantee your Beagle will develop health issues, it’s important to know what to look out for in the breed. Beagles are prone to a variety of health conditions, including:
- Unwanted weight gain and hypothyroidism
- Vision and eye problems (e.g. cherry eye)
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Allergies
- Ear infections
Key Nutrients for Beagles
You cannot entirely prevent or cure any of the aforementioned health conditions with diet alone. However, the right nutrition can set your Beagle up for a healthier life and help manage the symptoms of some of these conditions.
| Nutrient | Uses | Sources |
| Beta-carotene | – Supports vision health | – Broccoli- Sweet potatoes- Eggs- Liver- Spinach |
| Iodine | – Supports thyroid function | – Seaweed and kelp |
| Lutein | – Supports vision health | – Broccoli- Carrots- Eggs- Pumpkin |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | – Supports vision health- Reduces allergy symptoms and itching- Reduces inflammation | – Salmon- Mackerel- Sardines- Pollock- Fish oil- Flaxseed |
| Selenium | – Supports thyroid function | – Fish- Meat- Eggs |
| Vitamin C | – Antioxidant support | – Carrots- Kale- Pumpkin- Sweet potatoes- Seaweed- Blueberries |
| Vitamin E | – Antioxidant support | – Eggs- Salmon- Spinach- Sunflower seed oil |
| Zinc | – Supports thyroid function- Supports vision health | – Beef- Lamb- Salmon- Sardines- Eggs- Pumpkin- Pumpkin seed oil |
Best Dog Food for Beagles
Now that you know a little more about what your Beagle needs to thrive, let’s take a look at our picks for the best Beagle food on the market.
1. Best Raw: We Feed Raw Venison Formula
We Feed Raw is one of our favorite raw dog food brands thanks to their limited, high-quality ingredients. Each recipe is made primarily from animal proteins and includes an essential mix of vitamins and minerals.
Since Beagless are sometimes prone to allergies, we recommend choosing a novel protein like venison, which is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. This formula also includes added Omega-3s to help enrich your Bulldog’s skin and coat while supporting healthy joints.
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| First 5 Ingredients | Venison, Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Neck with Bone |
| Food Type | Raw, grain-free |
| Guaranteed Analysis (crude) | 13% Protein – 10.7% Fat – 1% Fiber – 69.4% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Feed 1 lb per day or ½ lb per meal* |
| Cost Per Meal | $5 per meal*, $49.99 for 5 lbs. |
What Reviewers Say:
2. Best Air-Dried: Sundays For Dogs Beef Recipe
If you struggle to get your Beagle to eat their food, but they love treats, they’ll probably love Sundays For Dogs. Air-dried in small pieces that look, taste, and feel like jerky, Sundays For Dogs can also be used as training treats if you’re working on teaching your Beagle new tricks, or they just deserve an extra snack at the end of a long hard day of naps.
Other than the delicious recipe, we think Sundays For Dogs deserves consideration for best food for Beagles thanks to the turmeric to reduce inflammation, blueberries for antioxidant and immune support, and tart cherries to protect the joints.
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| First 5 Ingredients | Beef, Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Beef Bone, Quinoa |
| Food Type | Air-dried, grain-inclusive without wheat, peas, corn, or legumes |
| Guaranteed Analysis (crude) | 30% Protein – 20% Fat – 4% Fiber – 15% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Feed ½ cup (2.2 oz.) per day or ¼ cup (1.1 oz.) per meal* |
| Cost Per Meal | $1.92 per meal* – $69 for 72 oz. (best option for savings) |
What Reviewers Say:
3. Best Freeze-Dried: Primal Venison Nuggets
Freeze-dried raw food from Primal is a slightly more convenient way of feeding your Beagle raw. Made to be shelf stable, you can keep these nuggets at room temperature until you’re ready to serve. Just break up the nuggets and add some water and you’re ready to go.
With plenty of protein from meat and organ meat, this formula is super nutrient-dense. We also love that it includes kale which is high in vitamin C for antioxidant support.
| First 5 Ingredients | Venison, Venison Hearts, Ground Venison Bones, Venison Livers, Organic Kale |
| Food Type | Freeze-dried, grain-free |
| Guaranteed Analysis (crude) | 50% Protein – 15% Fat – 5% Fiber – 7% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Feed 16 nuggets per day or 8 nuggets per meal* |
| Cost Per Meal | $3.30 per meal* – $19.98 for approximately 48 nuggets |
What Reviewers Say:
4. Best Fresh-Frozen: The Farmer’s Dog
The Farmer’s Dog will make your Beagle think you’re cooking gourmet meals at home! Super delicious and easy to serve, we like that the beef formula includes sweet potatoes and carrots for beta-carotene, lutein, and vitamin C.
| First 5 Ingredients | Beef, Sweet Potato, Lentils, Carrot, Beef Liver |
| Food Type | Fresh-frozen, grain-inclusive |
| Guaranteed Analysis (crude) | 11% Protein – 8% Fat – 1.5% Fiber – 72% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Feeding instructions are customized by The Farmer’s Dog for your dog! |
| Cost Per Meal | $2.22 per meal — $62.14 for two weeks of food* |
What Reviewers Say:
5. Best Healthy-Kibble: Spot & Tango Cod & Salmon UnKibble
Ditch the high-carb kibble made from protein meal and switch to one made from whole ingredients! For Beagles with allergies or ear infections, we like the Cod & Salmon recipe. Both of these varieties of fish are high in omega-3s, and this recipe is full of other healthy ingredients like sweet potato and pumpkin.
| First 5 Ingredients | Cod, Salmon, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Sunflower Seeds |
| Food Type | Kibble, grain-free |
| Guaranteed Analysis (crude) | 29.67% Protein – 22.06% Fat – 1.15% Fiber – 3.82% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Feeding instructions recommended by Spot & Tango based on your dog’s information! |
| Cost Per Meal | $2.17 per meal — $30.39 for one week of food* |
What Reviewers Say:
6. Best Canned: Merrick Cowboy Cookout Recipe
Dogs love the meaty, chunky taste of Merrick’s dog food, and dog owners love the high-quality ingredients! Made with real pieces of beef and other whole ingredients with zero grain or filler, this wet food has many of the nutrients your Beagle needs for proper thyroid function.
| First 5 Ingredients | Deboned Beef, Beef Broth, Chicken Broth, Beef Liver, Carrots |
| Food Type | Wet, grain-free |
| Guaranteed Analysis (crude) | 8% Protein – 3% Fat – 1.4% Fiber – 82% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Feed 1 ½ cans per day or ¾ can per meal* |
| Cost Per Meal | $2.68 per meal* — $42.96 for (12) 12.7 oz cans |
What Reviewers Say:
*Feeding instructions and cost-per-meal calculated for a 20 lb Beagle with an average activity level.
Best Food for Beagles FAQ
If you’ve still got more questions about the best dog food for Beagles, take a look at our answers to common queries about feeding this breed.
What is the best dog food for Beagle puppies?
We recommend Merrick’s grain-free Puppy Plate wet dog food! It’s every bit as good as the adult version but formulated for growing pups.
What should Beagles not eat?
We do not recommend brands like Purina or IAMS for Beagles or any other breed. These popular brands rarely use whole ingredients, and stuff their formulas with fillers.
Do Beagles need grain-free food?
Most dogs are completely fine on a grain-inclusive diet as long as it is still high in whole animal protein. However, some Beagles who are prone to allergies and ear infections may do better on a grain-free diet. We recommend consulting with your vet.
What is the best dog food for hunting Beagles?
Any of the dog foods we’ve listed above would work for a hunting Beagle, but the higher-protein formulas are the best for dogs with high activity levels.
What is the best dog food for senior Beagles?
While any of the foods on this list will work for a senior, we recommend choosing a soft food like Raw Wild, Primal, The Farmer’s Dog, or Merrick’s wet canned food.
What is the best dog food for Beagles with skin allergies?
Beagles with skin allergies do well on a diet high in Omega-3s like Spot & Tango’s Cod & Salmon UnKibble recipe.
Is the Royal Canin Beagle dog food good?
We do not recommend Royal Canin’s Beagle-specific dog food. Here are the first five ingredients: corn, chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, wheat, corn gluten meal.
Ideally, you want to see whole animal protein within the first five ingredients and zero filler products.
What is the best weight-loss food for Beagles?
If your dog needs a prescribed weight-loss diet, you will need to receive a recommendation from your veterinarian. To help your dog lose weight without a prescription diet, veterinarians recommend lean proteins like fish and poultry, and may recommend smaller portion sizes.
Always speak to your vet before changing your dog’s portions.
Want to know our recommendations for German Shepherd puppies; they are both big breeds that grow a lot and have similar nutritional needs.
