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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Bluetick Coonhound

The Bluetick Coonhound is a large, deep-chested scent hound built for all-day endurance on the trail — which means a Bluetick burns serious fuel, and the deep chest makes how and how often you feed one a real safety question, not just a calorie one.

Here is exactly how to feed a Bluetick Coonhound on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, in smaller meals that protect against bloat, with the lean protein and joint support a working hound needs.

  • Adult weight45–80 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyVery High
  • Lifespan11–12 years
  • CoatShort, glossy — moderate shedder
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A healthy Bluetick Coonhound
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Bluetick Coonhound's body needs

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

  • Tireless, long-range scent hound

    Needs: High-quality animal protein & fat

    83% meat, organs and bone delivers dense, slow-burning energy for a dog built to cover miles — without the carb fillers that spike and crash mid-trail.

  • Deep chest, bloat-prone build

    Needs: Smaller, measured split meals

    Freeze-dried raw is measured by weight and easy to portion into two or three calm meals a day — the feeding pattern that helps protect deep-chested hounds against bloat.

  • Large, athletic, joint-loaded frame

    Needs: Natural joint support + lean weight

    Real ground bone and organ supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s ease joint inflammation, and keeping a working hound lean takes load off every stride.

  • Long, floppy ears prone to infection

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed chronic ear and skin inflammation in floppy-eared breeds.

  • Short glossy coat, moderate shedder

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, keeping that signature blue-ticked coat sleek and the shedding in check.

How much to feed a Bluetick Coonhound

Quick answer: a healthy adult Bluetick Coonhound (45–80 lb) needs about 6.8–12.0 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)
45 lb 6.8 oz 3.4 oz
54 lb 8.1 oz 4.1 oz
63 lb typical Bluetick Coonhound 9.5 oz 4.7 oz
72 lb 10.8 oz 5.4 oz
80 lb 12.0 oz 6.0 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 Bluetick Coonhound

For a Bluetick Coonhound we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a high-value topper while you transition. It is calorie-dense, which suits a hound that runs off everything it eats.

Rotate lean proteins like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod for everyday feeding, and reach for richer Beef or Venison to put weight back on a hard-hunting hound. Just add water and serve in measured, split meals.

Recipes for Bluetick Coonhounds

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Daily support for Bluetick Coonhounds

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Treats Bluetick Coonhounds love

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Feeding a Bluetick Coonhound by life stage

  • Puppy: As a large breed, Bluetick puppies should grow slowly to protect developing joints. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals (their higher metabolism warrants a midday feeding), and resist overfeeding — fast growth raises hip and elbow risk.
  • Adult: Feed an athletic, lean working hound split across two or three meals — never one big bowl, given the bloat risk. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust up on heavy hunting or hiking days.
  • Senior: Activity tapers but the appetite and nose rarely do. Trim portions to hold a lean weight, keep protein high to preserve muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition for an aging hound.

Common Bluetick Coonhound concerns — and the diet connection

  • Bloat / GDVDeep-chested breeds are most at risk. Splitting freeze-dried raw into smaller, measured meals, feeding calmly, and slowing fast eaters supports a lower-risk feeding routine — separate from exercise.
  • Hip & joint stressA large, hard-working frame loads the joints. Real bone and organ provide natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3 helps calm inflammation, and a lean body is the single biggest thing you control.
  • Recurring ear infectionsLong, floppy hound ears trap moisture; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and dials down the inflammation that can make flare-ups worse.
  • Endurance & lean muscleA scent hound bred for distance runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained energy and muscle maintenance — not on carbohydrate fillers that burn off fast.

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

Feeding a Bluetick Coonhound: what to know

A Bluetick's deep, barrel chest puts the breed at higher risk for bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus). Split the daily amount into two or three smaller meals, never one large one, and avoid hard exercise for an hour on either side of eating.

These hounds also inhale food after a long run. If yours gulps, slow the pace with a slow-feeder bowl, a snuffle mat, or scattered portions — eating slowly is one of the simplest things you can do to lower bloat risk.

Bluetick Coonhound feeding questions

How much should I feed my Bluetick Coonhound?
A healthy adult Bluetick (roughly 45–80 lb) needs about 7–12 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split into two or three meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and add more on heavy activity days.
Why should I split a Bluetick's meals instead of feeding once a day?
Blueticks are deep-chested, which raises their risk of bloat (GDV). Two or three smaller, calm meals a day — with no hard exercise for an hour before or after — is a safer pattern than one large bowl. Measured freeze-dried raw makes splitting portions simple.
What is the best food for an active, high-energy Bluetick?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet of real meat, organs and bone gives a working hound dense, slow-burning fuel without filler. Rotate lean Chicken or Cod for everyday meals and richer Beef or Venison to keep weight on a hard-hunting dog.
How do I switch my Bluetick Coonhound to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Most food-motivated hounds take to it fast — it is rich, so start at the lower end of the range and keep meals split and calm.
Does a Bluetick Coonhound need joint support?
Most active large hounds benefit from it. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Bluetick lean is the most effective joint protection there is — especially for a dog that runs for miles.

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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.