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
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 6–9.8 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 weight | Freeze-dried per day | Per meal (×2) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 6 oz | 3 oz |
| 46 lb | 6.9 oz | 3.5 oz |
| 52 lbtypical 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 pets need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.
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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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?
What's the best food for an overweight Basset Hound?
How do I keep my Basset from begging and stealing food?
Does a Basset Hound need joint support?
Can raw food help my Basset's skin and ear problems?
How do I switch my Basset to raw?
THE CLEAN BOWL GUARANTEE
If your dog won't eat it, it's on us
Try Basset Hound's first plan risk-free. If they turn up their nose, we'll make it right — money-back, and skip, pause or cancel anytime.
- Vet-formulated
- AAFCO complete & balanced
- Pathogen-tested every batch
“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
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.