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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Irish Setter

The Irish Setter is a true field dog — athletic, high-energy, and blessed with a fast metabolism that burns through calories even into adulthood. That combination means a Setter often needs more food than its lean frame suggests, fed in a way that protects a deep chest prone to bloat.

Here is exactly how to feed an Irish Setter on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, in smaller meals, with the nutrition that fuels that all-day energy, supports the joints, and keeps the signature glossy red coat in show condition.

  • Adult weight60–70 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan12–14 years
  • CoatLong, silky, feathered red coat — prone to matting
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A healthy Irish Setter
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Irish Setter's body needs

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

  • Field-dog stamina & fast metabolism

    Needs: High-quality animal protein & fat

    A diet rich in meat, organs and bone delivers concentrated, slow-burning energy — fueling that all-day drive without the carb fillers that spike and crash, and often in a smaller volume than this hungry breed seems to demand.

  • Signature glossy red coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, helping keep that famous mahogany coat sleek and shining rather than dry or dull.

  • Deep chest, bloat (GDV) risk

    Needs: Calm, measured, smaller meals

    Minimally processed raw is fed in modest, calorie-dense portions that are easy to split into two smaller meals — supporting the slow, settled eating that helps lower bloat risk.

  • Large athletic build, joint stress

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, while omega-3s help calm joint inflammation and a lean body takes load off hips and knees.

  • Allergy-prone skin & ears

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed the chronic ear and skin irritation this breed is prone to.

How much to feed a Irish Setter

Quick answer: a healthy adult Irish Setter (60–70 lb) needs about 9.0–10.5 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)
60 lb 9.0 oz 4.5 oz
63 lb 9.5 oz 4.7 oz
66 lb typical Irish Setter 9.9 oz 5.0 oz
69 lb 10.4 oz 5.2 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 Setter

For an Irish 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. Split the day's food across two smaller meals to suit that deep chest.

Omega-rich Wild-Caught Salmon feeds the coat and skin from the inside; lean Chicken keeps calories honest for easy keepers; richer Beef suits hard-running or harder-to-keep-weight Setters. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Irish Setters

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Daily support for Irish Setters

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Treats Irish Setters love

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Feeding a Irish Setter by life stage

  • Puppy: Irish Setter puppies are big dogs in the making and should grow slowly to protect developing joints. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 small meals and resist overfeeding — fast growth raises the risk of hip dysplasia and joint conditions like OCD.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist, split across two smaller meals to suit the deep chest. Active, high-metabolism Setters often need generous portions — use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Most Setters settle down with age but stay active for years. Trim portions as activity dips, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and coat-supporting nutrition.

Common Irish Setter concerns — and the diet connection

  • Bloat & GDVA deep-chested risk this breed shares with other large dogs. Feeding calorie-dense raw in two smaller, calmer meals — rather than one big gulped bowl — supports the slow, settled eating that helps reduce the risk.
  • Hip dysplasia & joint conditionsCommon in large sporting breeds. Lean weight plus joint nutrients (natural glucosamine from bone and cartilage, plus omega-3) help support comfort and day-to-day mobility.
  • Coat & skin healthThe Setter's glossy red coat depends on good fats. An omega-rich, whole-food diet supports the skin barrier and helps keep the coat sleek — and dull, brittle coat can be a cue to check in with your vet.
  • Allergy-related ear & skin irritationSetters can be prone to allergies that show up in the ears. A whole-food, low-filler, omega-rich diet supports the skin barrier and helps dial down everyday inflammation.

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

Feeding a Irish Setter: what to know

Because Irish Setters are deep-chested, feed two smaller meals a day rather than one large one, and keep things calm around mealtime — a deep chest plus a single big, gulped meal is the classic recipe for bloat (GDV).

Their high metabolism means many Setters run lean and need generous portions, but every dog can still gain weight. Feed to body condition — ribs easy to feel, a clear waist from above — and weigh portions instead of eyeballing them.

Irish Setter feeding questions

How much should I feed my Irish Setter?
A healthy adult Irish Setter (60–70 lb) needs roughly 9–11 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two smaller meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble. Active, high-metabolism Setters often sit at the higher end — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
How do I feed an Irish Setter to help reduce bloat risk?
Split the day's food into two smaller meals instead of one large bowl, and keep mealtimes calm with no hard exercise right before or after eating. Freeze-dried raw makes this easy because each portion is small and calorie-dense, which supports slower, settled eating.
What is the best food for an Irish Setter's coat?
That signature glossy red coat thrives on omega-3 fatty acids. A whole-food freeze-dried raw diet with omega-rich proteins like Wild-Caught Salmon feeds the skin and coat from the inside — far more effective than a topical fix.
How do I switch my Irish Setter to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Because it is rich, start at the lower end of the range, keep to two smaller meals, and watch the waistline as you go.
Does an Irish Setter need joint support?
Many do, given the breed's large athletic build and risk of hip and joint conditions. 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

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    — 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.