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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Irish Red and White Setter

The Irish Red and White Setter is a tireless gun dog — built lean and athletic to range a field all day — wrapped in a silky red-and-white coat with feathering that asks for real nutritional support.

Here is exactly how to feed one on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the protein, fat and omega-3s that fuel their working energy, protect their joints, and keep that feathered coat gleaming.

  • Adult weight50–70 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan11–15 years
  • CoatSilky, white with red patches — feathered, modest shedder
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A healthy Irish Red and White Setter
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Irish Red and White Setter's body needs

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

  • Tireless working gun dog

    Needs: High-quality animal protein & fat

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady, all-day stamina — without the carb fillers that spike and crash a hard-running dog.

  • Silky red-and-white feathered coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, keeping the feathering on ears, chest and legs glossy and reducing dry, flaky skin.

  • Athletic, deep-chested build

    Needs: Lean body condition

    Measured freeze-dried raw — fed by weight, not by appetite — keeps a setter trim, which protects the joints and reduces strain on the deep, active chest and frame.

  • Joint load from field work

    Needs: Natural joint support

    Real ground bone, cartilage and organ supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, while omega-3s calm the everyday joint inflammation a working dog accumulates.

  • Keen, intelligent mind

    Needs: Steady whole-food energy

    Minimally processed raw delivers clean, sustained fuel for a focused, trainable dog — no sugar-style crashes from starchy fillers between meals.

How much to feed a Irish Red and White Setter

Quick answer: a healthy adult Irish Red and White Setter (50–70 lb) needs about 7.5–10.5 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)
50 lb 7.5 oz 3.8 oz
55 lb 8.3 oz 4.1 oz
60 lb typical Irish Red and White Setter 9.0 oz 4.5 oz
65 lb 9.8 oz 4.9 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 Irish Red and White Setter

For an Irish Red and White 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.

Rich, athletic proteins like Grass-Fed Beef or Lamb suit a working setter's energy needs, while Salmon delivers extra omega-3s for that feathered coat. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Irish Red and White Setters

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Daily support for Irish Red and White Setters

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Treats Irish Red and White Setters love

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Feeding a Irish Red and White Setter by life stage

  • Puppy: As a larger sporting breed, Irish Red and White Setter puppies should grow slowly to protect developing joints. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals and avoid overfeeding — fast growth raises the risk of hip problems later.
  • Adult: Feed a lean, athletic adult to a visible waist, split across two meals, and scale portions to the week's activity. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Field drive may ease but appetite rarely does. Trim portions as activity drops, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and coat-supporting nutrition.

Common Irish Red and White Setter concerns — and the diet connection

  • Posterior polar cataractAn eye concern seen in the breed; a whole-food diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3s from real meat and fish supports overall eye and tissue health, though it is not a treatment.
  • Hip problemsLess common but present in the breed — keeping a setter lean and supplying natural glucosamine from real bone and cartilage, plus omega-3s, helps protect joint comfort over a working life.
  • von Willebrand's diseaseAn inherited clotting condition managed by your vet, not by diet — but a balanced, whole-food raw diet supports general health and a strong baseline for any dog living with it.
  • Working energy & lean muscleAn athletic setter runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained stamina and muscle maintenance — not on carbohydrate fillers that burn off fast.
  • Skin & coat conditionThat silky feathered coat depends on fat quality; an omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and keeps the coat soft and shining.

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

Feeding a Irish Red and White Setter: what to know

This is an energetic sporting breed that burns real calories when it works and loafs when it doesn't — so feed to body condition, not a fixed number. You should feel the ribs easily and see a clear waist from above.

Match portions to the week's activity: more on hunting, jogging or big-yard days, less on quiet ones. Weigh meals rather than eyeballing them, and re-check the amount every few weeks, especially after any drop in exercise.

Irish Red and White Setter feeding questions

How much should I feed my Irish Red and White Setter?
A healthy adult (50–70 lb) needs roughly 7.5–10.5 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 scale with activity.
What is the best food for an active, working setter?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet built on rich, athletic proteins like Grass-Fed Beef or Lamb fuels a working dog's stamina, while Salmon adds omega-3s for the coat. Feed by weight and adjust up on big exercise days.
How do I switch my setter to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Setters usually take to it readily — it is rich, so start at the lower end of the range and watch the waistline.
How do I keep the red-and-white feathered coat healthy?
Coat quality starts with diet. An omega-rich, whole-food raw diet — especially with Salmon or a Skin & Coat Omega supplement — feeds the skin barrier from the inside for soft, glossy feathering.
Does an Irish Red and White Setter need joint support?
It helps, given the breed's athletic field work and occasional hip concerns. 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.

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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.