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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a English Setter

The English Setter is a tireless bird dog under that silky coat — built to range fields all day, with a feathered coat and floppy ears that ask for real nutritional support and a frame that quietly carries joint risk.

Here is exactly how to feed an English Setter on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that protects their joints, skin, coat, and steady working energy.

  • Adult weight45–80 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan12 years
  • CoatLong, silky, feathered - moderate shedder
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A healthy English Setter
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a English Setter's body needs

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

  • Active sporting build, ranges all day

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady, all-day stamina for a dog bred to cover ground — without carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Hip & elbow dysplasia 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 developing and aging joints.

  • Long, silky, feathered coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting the sheen of that signature feathering and easing dryness and shedding.

  • Floppy, feathered 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.

  • Hypothyroidism tendency, easy weight gain

    Needs: Precise portions, lean protein

    Measured freeze-dried raw fed by weight keeps an English Setter lean — important for a breed where a sluggish thyroid can quietly add pounds.

How much to feed a English Setter

Quick answer: a healthy adult English Setter (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 English Setter 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 English Setter

For an English Setter 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.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit sensitive dogs and easy gainers; omega-rich Salmon is a natural fit for that long feathered coat. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for English Setters

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Daily support for English Setters

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Treats English Setters love

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Feeding a English Setter by life stage

  • Puppy: English Setters are a large breed, so puppies 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, visible waist, split across two meals. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition and how hard your Setter is working, not the bag.
  • Senior: Activity tapers and a slowing thyroid can add weight. Trim portions, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and coat-supporting nutrition.

Common English Setter concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip & elbow dysplasiaLargely genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients (glucosamine from bone and cartilage, omega-3) help slow progression and support day-to-day comfort.
  • Recurring ear & skin infectionsFloppy, feathered ears trap moisture; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and helps dial down the inflammation behind chronic flare-ups.
  • HypothyroidismA medical condition managed by your vet - but measured, protein-forward feeding helps keep an affected Setter lean and supports steady body condition alongside treatment.
  • Coat & sheddingThat long silky coat reflects what goes in: whole-food fats and complete animal protein support skin health and a glossy, well-conditioned feathered coat.
  • Energy & lean muscleA working sporting dog runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained energy and muscle maintenance - not on carbohydrate fillers.

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

Feeding a English Setter: what to know

An English Setter is quiet and elegant indoors but genuinely athletic outdoors, so feed to match the day's work — more on long hunting or hiking days, less on rest days. Feed to body condition: you should feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above.

Because hypothyroidism can slow metabolism in this breed and floppy-eared dogs hide weight gain under feathering, weigh portions instead of eyeballing them and re-check the amount every few weeks, especially after a drop in activity.

English Setter feeding questions

How much should I feed my English Setter?
A healthy adult English Setter (45-80 lb) needs roughly 7-12 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble - feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for an English Setter's coat?
An omega-rich, whole-food diet does the most for that long feathered coat. Freeze-dried raw with real animal and fish fats - Salmon is a great fit - feeds the skin barrier from the inside for a glossy, well-conditioned coat.
Does an English Setter need joint support?
Most benefit from it, given the breed's hip and elbow dysplasia risk. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Setter lean is the most effective joint protection there is.
How do I switch my English Setter 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 and feed to body condition - raw is rich, and Setters can gain weight quietly under their feathering.
My English Setter gains weight easily - what should I feed?
A measured, complete freeze-dried raw diet of lean single proteins (Chicken or Cod) makes portion control easy and keeps calories honest. Weigh each meal and feed to body condition rather than appetite, especially if hypothyroidism is a concern.

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  • 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
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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.