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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Chow Chow

The Chow Chow is a dignified, low-key dog wrapped in a heavy double coat — a build that hides weight, a deep chest that raises bloat risk, and joints and skin that ask for thoughtful nutrition. How you feed one matters as much as how much.

Here is exactly how to feed a Chow Chow on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, in small frequent meals, with the nutrition that protects their joints, coat, eyes, and waistline.

  • Adult weight45–70 lb
  • SizeMedium
  • EnergyLow to moderate
  • Lifespan8–12 years
  • CoatDense double coat (smooth or rough) — heavy seasonal shedder
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A healthy Chow Chow
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Chow Chow's body needs

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

  • Deep chest, bloat-prone

    Needs: Small, frequent meals

    Freeze-dried raw portions easily into two or three smaller meals a day, the safest feeding pattern for a deep-chested, torsion-prone breed.

  • Heavy double coat & heavy shedder

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting that dense coat through its twice-yearly blowouts and easing dryness and flaking.

  • Laid-back & weight-prone

    Needs: Precise portions, lean protein

    Measured freeze-dried raw fed by weight keeps a calm Chow lean — the single biggest lever against the diabetes, joint strain, and eye problems that follow obesity.

  • Hip, elbow & knee risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin; omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and staying lean takes load off every joint.

  • Skin & autoimmune sensitivities

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can fuel chronic skin and coat inflammation, supporting a calm, resilient skin barrier.

How much to feed a Chow Chow

Quick answer: a healthy adult Chow Chow (45–70 lb) needs about 6.8–10.5 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)
45 lb 6.8 oz 3.4 oz
51 lb 7.7 oz 3.8 oz
57 lb typical Chow Chow 8.6 oz 4.3 oz
63 lb 9.5 oz 4.7 oz
70 lb 10.5 oz 5.3 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 Chow Chow

For a Chow Chow 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 is calorie-honest and easy to portion into the small, frequent meals this breed needs.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit weight-watchers and sensitive dogs; omega-rich Salmon supports the heavy coat and skin. Just add water and serve at room temperature, split across the day.

Recipes for Chow Chows

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Daily support for Chow Chows

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Treats Chow Chows love

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Feeding a Chow Chow by life stage

  • Puppy: Chow Chow puppies should grow slowly and steadily to protect developing hips, elbows and knees. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 small meals and resist overfeeding — fast growth and excess weight raise joint-development risk.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, feelable waist, split across two or three smaller meals to lower bloat risk. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Activity drops but appetite often holds. Trim portions to protect the joints and waistline, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and coat-supporting nutrition.

Common Chow Chow concerns — and the diet connection

  • Gastric torsion (bloat)This deep-chested breed is at real risk, so feeding pattern matters: smaller, calmer, more frequent meals and avoiding gulping help reduce the chance of a dangerous bloat episode.
  • Obesity & diabetesA calm, food-loving breed gains weight easily under the coat — measured raw feeding and a lean body condition support healthy weight and steady metabolism.
  • Hip, elbow & patella issuesLargely genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients (glucosamine from bone and cartilage, omega-3) support comfort and day-to-day mobility.
  • Skin & coat conditionsChows are prone to skin and coat troubles; an omega-rich, whole-food, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and a healthy double coat from the inside out.
  • Thyroid & eye healthWhole-food nutrition free of unnecessary fillers, paired with a healthy weight, supports overall metabolic and eye health in a breed predisposed to thyroid and eye concerns.

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

Feeding a Chow Chow: what to know

Chow Chows have a deep chest and a real risk of gastric torsion (bloat), so split the daily amount into at least two — ideally three — smaller meals rather than one large one, at every age. Avoid heavy activity right after eating.

Their laid-back nature also makes weight gain sneak up fast under all that fur. Feed to body condition, not by eye: you should be able to feel the ribs through the coat and see a tucked waist from above. Weigh portions and re-check every few weeks.

Chow Chow feeding questions

How much should I feed my Chow Chow?
A healthy adult Chow Chow (45–70 lb) needs roughly 7–10 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 a feelable waist and adjust every few weeks.
How often should I feed a Chow Chow to help avoid bloat?
Because Chow Chows are deep-chested and bloat-prone, offer smaller meals at least twice — ideally three times — a day rather than one big bowl, and keep things calm right after eating. Freeze-dried raw portions easily into these smaller, frequent meals.
What is the best food for a Chow Chow that gains weight easily?
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 Chow's appetite or its fluffy silhouette.
Does a Chow Chow need joint and coat support?
Most do. The breed's hip, elbow and knee risk makes joint support valuable, and the heavy double coat benefits from omega-3s. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Chow lean protects the joints further.
How do I switch my Chow Chow to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. It is rich, so start at the lower end of the range, split into smaller meals, and watch the waistline as you go.

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  • Vet-formulated
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  • 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
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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.