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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Basset Hound

The Basset Hound is built low, slow, and food-driven — a heavy, short-legged scent hound that gains weight quietly and carries it straight onto already-vulnerable joints. That makes how much you feed one of the most important health decisions you'll make.

Here is exactly how to feed a Basset Hound on freeze-dried raw: measured by weight, with the lean protein and whole-food nutrition that protect their joints, skin, and ears.

  • Adult weight40–65 lb
  • SizeMedium
  • EnergyLow
  • Lifespan12–13 years
  • CoatShort, smooth — moderate shedder
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A healthy Basset Hound
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Basset Hound's body needs

Every Basset Hound trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Strongly obesity-prone, low energy

    Needs: Precise portions, lean protein

    Measured freeze-dried raw — fed by weight, not by the begging nose — keeps a Basset lean. Staying lean is the single biggest thing you can do to protect their joints and add healthy years.

  • Short, twisted legs & dwarf build

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, while omega-3s calm joint inflammation — and every pound kept off takes load straight off those vulnerable joints.

  • Skin folds & chronic skin/ear issues

    Needs: Omega-rich, low-inflammation diet

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, helping manage the recurring skin and ear inflammation Bassets are so prone to.

  • Food-obsessed, keen sense of smell

    Needs: Satisfying, nutrient-dense meals

    Nutrient-dense raw delivers real satisfaction per ounce, so a portion-controlled Basset feels fed on fewer calories than a bowl of starchy kibble.

  • Heavy frame, fast eater

    Needs: Clean fuel, manageable meals

    83% meat, organs and bone with no carb fillers means steady energy and easy digestion — split across smaller meals to suit a deep-chested dog that bolts its food.

How much to feed a Basset Hound

Quick answer: a healthy adult Basset Hound (40–65 lb) needs about 6.0–9.8 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
40 lb 6.0 oz 3.0 oz
46 lb 6.9 oz 3.5 oz
52 lb typical Basset Hound 7.8 oz 3.9 oz
58 lb 8.7 oz 4.4 oz
65 lb 9.8 oz 4.9 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Basset Hound

For a Basset Hound we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition. It's calorie-honest and easy to measure, which is exactly what a weight-prone hound needs.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod keep calories in check for easy gainers, while Salmon adds skin-and-coat omegas for a breed prone to inflammation. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Basset Hounds

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Daily support for Basset Hounds

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Treats Basset Hounds love

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Feeding a Basset Hound by life stage

  • Puppy: Basset puppies are a slow-growth, large-frame breed despite their size — feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals and resist overfeeding. Letting a Basset pup get chubby or grow too fast adds early strain to joints that are already structurally vulnerable.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean body condition — ribs easily felt, a visible tuck — split across two meals. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to the dog in front of you, not the bag. Bassets gain weight on surprisingly little.
  • Senior: Activity drops with age but the appetite rarely does. Trim portions to prevent creeping weight gain, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition for an aging, arthritis-prone frame.

Common Basset Hound concerns — and the diet connection

  • ObesityThe Basset's biggest and most preventable risk — low energy plus a relentless appetite makes weight creep easy. Measured raw feeding and a lean body condition lower the strain behind nearly every other issue on this list.
  • Joint problems & arthritisTheir short, twisted dwarf legs make hip, elbow and knee strain common. Lean weight plus joint nutrients — glucosamine from bone and cartilage, plus omega-3 — support comfort and day-to-day mobility.
  • Skin & ear inflammationHeavy skin folds and long droopy ears trap moisture and debris, and many Bassets react to food proteins. A whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and helps dial down inflammation.
  • Bloat / fast eatingA deep, heavy frame and a tendency to bolt food raise bloat risk. Smaller, more frequent measured meals and a slower pace at the bowl make mealtimes easier on the gut.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Basset Hound: what to know

A Basset's nose will lead them to beg, steal, and inhale anything that smells like food — but they are one of the most obesity-prone breeds there is. Feed to body condition, not to the pleading eyes: you should be able to feel the ribs and see a tuck behind them.

Because they eat fast and can be prone to bloat, split the day's food into two or three smaller meals and use a slow-feeder bowl. Weigh portions instead of eyeballing, and re-check the amount every few weeks — a few extra ounces a day adds up fast on a frame this low to the ground.

Basset Hound feeding questions

How much should I feed my Basset Hound?
A healthy adult Basset (40–65 lb) needs roughly 6–10 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it's far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks. Bassets gain weight easily, so start at the lower end.
What's the best food for an overweight Basset Hound?
A measured, complete freeze-dried raw diet of lean single proteins like Chicken or Cod makes portion control easy and keeps calories honest. Weigh each meal and feed to body condition rather than to your Basset's bottomless appetite — and skip the table scraps their nose begs for.
How do I keep my Basset from begging and stealing food?
Bassets are scent-driven and food-obsessed, so keep food sealed and out of reach, and feed nutrient-dense meals that satisfy on fewer calories. Resist feeding to the begging — feeding to body condition protects the joints a heavy Basset relies on.
Does a Basset Hound need joint support?
Most do. Their short, dwarf-shaped legs make joint strain and arthritis common. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Basset lean is the most effective joint protection there is.
Can raw food help my Basset's skin and ear problems?
A whole-food, omega-rich diet supports the skin barrier and helps manage the inflammation behind recurring skin and ear issues, alongside regular cleaning of the folds and ears. Salmon and fish-based recipes are a natural source of skin-and-coat omegas.
How do I switch my Basset to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Bassets take to raw readily — it's rich and satisfying, so start at the lower end of the range and watch the waistline closely.

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  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.