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
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 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 lb | 6.8 oz | 3.4 oz |
| 54 lb | 8.1 oz | 4.1 oz |
| 63 lbtypical English Setter | 9.5 oz | 4.7 oz |
| 72 lb | 10.8 oz | 5.4 oz |
| 80 lb | 12 oz | 6 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 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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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?
What is the best food for an English Setter's coat?
Does an English Setter need joint support?
How do I switch my English Setter to raw?
My English Setter gains weight easily - what should I feed?
THE CLEAN BOWL GUARANTEE
If your dog won't eat it, it's on us
Try English Setter'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.