Peagle Dog Health Information
Perhaps the best known beagle is Snoopy from Charles Schulz's comic strip "Peanuts." Small hounds weighing up to 30 pounds and bred for chasing rabbits, beagles are routinely in the top five most popular breeds in the American Kennel Club registry.
Pekingese are a toy breed bred as lap dogs in China. They have long hair and fluffy tails, weigh less than 14 pounds and are often seen in the arms--or purses--of celebrities.
Combining these very different dogs creates a peagle.
Peagle health, like their appearance, will vary with their parentage. Researching the health of the two breeds and their particular parents will give you an idea of a puppy's prospects.
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Mixing Breeds
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Mixed or cross-bred puppies can resemble either or both parents and will vary even within each litter. Everything from the health, temperament, size and coat of hair will be unique to each animal. There is a belief that a cross between two dogs from different breeds creates "hybrid vigor," which eliminates the genetic problems of purebreds. However, there is an equal possibility that the genetic problems from both parents could appear in the puppies. A peagle puppy whose parents are purebred is called a hybrid because its lineage is known. You can ask the breeders for a pedigree, which will have the names of your puppy's ancestors three generations back. Then you can ask their owners/breeders about their health to indicate what to expect with your puppy.
Beagle Health
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The Canine Health Information Center lists known health issues facing breeds on its website. It says beagles should be watched for canine hip dysplasia (CHD), eye problems, congenital cardiac disease and thyroiditis. Petfinder.com lists intervertebral disc disease and CHD as major beagle concerns, with glaucoma and epilepsy occurring less often and, more rarely, deafness, hemophilia A and cataracts. They suggest owners have a beagle puppy's hips tested. They list a beagle's average life span as 12 to 15 years.
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Pekingese Health
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According to Petfinder, there are no major health concerns for Pekingese. The famed "lion dogs" can easily die of heat prostration, however, and in hot weather should be kept indoors, preferably in air conditioning. Elongated soft palates, stenotic nares, KCS, patellar luxation, disticiasis and trichiasis are minor concerns and, more rarely, urolithiasis. Their long coat will mat unless brushed weekly at the minimum. They have a skin wrinkle over their nose that needs regular daily cleaning to avoid skin fold dermatitis. The fur around the anus should be regularly monitored for soiling.
Pekingese are sensitive to anesthesia, and puppies must often be delivered by Caesarian. Owners should have their puppy's knees and eyes tested. They live an average of 13 to 15 years.
Peagle Health
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The health of a peagle puppy is indicated by the history of the parents. Purebred breeders who register with the AKC keep this information. It is less available with second-generation litters. Mixed breeds were not registered with the AKC until October 2009, thus peagles bred from other peagles might have missing information on one or both parents. Reputable purebred breeders will also have information on the health of siblings, parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, grand-aunts and -uncles, all helpful in indicating a litter's future health. With the known birthing problems of pekingese females, breeding to the larger beagle may increase the size of the puppies and increase the need for a surgical delivery.
Precautions
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The healthy, happy Snoopy came from the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm. Dealing with reputable breeders is the best way to ensure your peagle is healthy. The farm screens its dogs and will not breed animals with any signs of disease or who are carriers of genetic infirmities. The Humane Society of the United States has a checklist for identifying reliable breeders on their website. It also recommends asking your veterinarian, checking with peagle owners or pekingese or beagle breeders or asking at dog shows. If at all possible, it recommends you visit the breeder in person. You could also ask the breeder for references, and check them.
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References
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- Photo Credit Early Snoopy sketch by TS Owen
