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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Bloodhound

The Bloodhound is a deep-chested, large-breed scenthound built for hours of tracking - which makes two things matter more than almost anything else: how their meals are sized and how their meals are timed.

Here is exactly how to feed a Bloodhound on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, split into smaller meals to protect that deep chest, with the nutrition that supports their joints, skin folds, and floppy ears.

  • Adult weight80–110 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyModerate to high
  • Lifespan10-12 years
  • CoatShort, dense - moderate shedder
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A healthy Bloodhound
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Bloodhound's body needs

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

  • Deep chest, bloat-prone

    Needs: Smaller, calm meals

    A Bloodhound does best on two or three smaller meals a day rather than one large bowl. Calorie-dense freeze-dried raw lets you feed real, satisfying portions without the volume that strains a deep chest.

  • Large frame, joint risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, while omega-3s help calm joint inflammation. Keeping a Bloodhound lean takes daily load off hips and elbows.

  • Built-in endurance

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and the steady, all-day stamina a tracking hound is bred for - without the carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Folded skin & floppy ears

    Needs: Omega-rich, low-inflammation diet

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting the wrinkles and ear canals a Bloodhound is prone to keeping irritated.

  • Eats things it shouldn't

    Needs: Clean, recognizable ingredients

    Minimally processed raw means real food your hound actually digests - no mystery fillers - so meals stay easy on a notoriously indiscriminate appetite.

How much to feed a Bloodhound

Quick answer: a healthy adult Bloodhound (80–110 lb) needs about 12.0–16.5 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)
80 lb 12.0 oz 6.0 oz
88 lb 13.2 oz 6.6 oz
96 lb typical Bloodhound 14.4 oz 7.2 oz
104 lb 15.6 oz 7.8 oz
110 lb 16.5 oz 8.3 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 Bloodhound

For a Bloodhound 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. Its calorie density makes it easy to serve smaller, deep-chest-friendly meals.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken suit weight-watchers and sensitive hounds; richer Grass-Fed Beef or Lamb suits hard-working or harder-keeping dogs. Just add water and serve across two or three sittings.

Recipes for Bloodhounds

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Daily support for Bloodhounds

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Treats Bloodhounds love

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Feeding a Bloodhound by life stage

  • Puppy: Bloodhound puppies are large-breed giants in the making and should grow slowly to protect developing joints. Feed roughly 5-8% of current body weight across 3-4 meals and resist overfeeding - fast growth raises hip and elbow dysplasia risk.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, easily-felt ribcage, split across two or three smaller meals to respect the deep chest. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Activity slows but the appetite often doesn't. Trim portions, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition for an aging large-breed frame.

Common Bloodhound concerns — and the diet connection

  • Bloat / GDV (deep chest)As a deep-chested breed, feeding management is key: smaller, calmer meals, no elevated bowls, and no vigorous play around mealtimes. Calorie-dense raw makes right-sized portions easy.
  • Hip & elbow dysplasiaLargely genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients - glucosamine from bone and cartilage, omega-3 - help support comfort and slow day-to-day wear on a heavy frame.
  • Ear & skin-fold irritationFloppy ears and deep facial folds set the stage; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and helps dial down the inflammation that feeds chronic irritation.
  • Lean weight & enduranceTracking hounds run on clean animal protein and fat for sustained energy and muscle maintenance - not carbohydrate fillers - and a lean body protects every joint.

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

Feeding a Bloodhound: what to know

Because the Bloodhound is deep-chested, how you feed matters as much as what you feed. Split the daily amount into two or three smaller meals, keep a fresh-water break calm rather than gulped, and avoid hard exercise right around mealtimes.

Bloodhounds also carry weight quietly under all that loose skin, so weigh portions instead of eyeballing them. Feed to body condition - you should be able to feel the ribs easily - and re-check the amount every few weeks as activity changes.

Bloodhound feeding questions

How much should I feed my Bloodhound?
A healthy adult Bloodhound (80-110 lb) needs roughly 12-17 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two or three meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble - feed to an easily-felt ribcage and adjust every few weeks.
How do I feed a Bloodhound to help prevent bloat?
Because Bloodhounds are deep-chested, divide the daily amount into two or three smaller meals instead of one big bowl, feed at floor level rather than from an elevated stand, and keep things calm - no vigorous exercise right before or after eating.
What is the best food for a Bloodhound with sensitive skin or ears?
A whole-food, omega-rich diet supports the skin barrier from the inside. A complete freeze-dried raw diet with no starchy fillers, paired with a Skin & Coat Omega supplement, helps the folded skin and floppy ears Bloodhounds are prone to.
How do I switch my Bloodhound to raw?
Transition over 7-10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Start at the lower end of the range, keep meals smaller and spaced out, and watch the ribcage and stool as you go.
Does a Bloodhound need joint support?
Most large-breed hounds benefit from it, given the breed's hip and elbow risk. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and a Hip & Joint supplement plus a lean body are the most effective protection there is.

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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.