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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Plott Hound

The Plott Hound is a tireless North Carolina scent hound — lean, muscular and built to trail and tree game over rough country for hours. That working engine burns real fuel, and it makes how you feed one matter as much as how far you walk it.

Here is exactly how to feed a Plott Hound on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the lean protein, joint nutrition and clean energy that keep a working hound trim, mobile and ready to run.

  • Adult weight50–60 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan12–14 years
  • CoatShort, smooth brindle — low-maintenance, light shedder
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A healthy Plott Hound
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Plott Hound's body needs

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

  • Working scent-hound stamina

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady, all-day energy for a hound built to trail for hours — without the 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 keeping a Plott lean takes load off vulnerable joints.

  • Prone to obesity in the off-season

    Needs: Precise, measured portions

    Freeze-dried raw fed by weight makes portion control simple, so a Plott's calories stay honest even when the hunting slows and the appetite doesn't.

  • Long floppy ears, loves the water

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed the chronic ear inflammation floppy-eared, swim-loving hounds are prone to.

  • High-drive, athletic outdoor dog

    Needs: Clean fat for sustained energy

    Whole-food animal and fish fats deliver dense, slow-burning calories that keep an active Plott fueled on the trail and recovered afterward.

How much to feed a Plott Hound

Quick answer: a healthy adult Plott Hound (50–60 lb) needs about 7.5–9.0 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)
50 lb 7.5 oz 3.8 oz
53 lb 8.0 oz 4.0 oz
56 lb typical Plott Hound 8.4 oz 4.2 oz
59 lb 8.9 oz 4.4 oz
60 lb 9.0 oz 4.5 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 Plott Hound

For a Plott Hound 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 a hound that's used to kibble.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken keep a weight-prone Plott honest, while richer Grass-Fed Beef or Venison suits hard-working or harder-keeping hounds in peak season. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Plott Hounds

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Daily support for Plott Hounds

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Treats Plott Hounds love

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Feeding a Plott Hound by life stage

  • Puppy: Plott Hound puppies grow into a medium-large, joint-sensitive frame, so steady growth matters. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 measured meals a day and avoid overfeeding — fast growth can raise hip and elbow dysplasia risk.
  • Adult: An adult Plott's active lifestyle calls for two meals a day, morning and evening. Feed to a lean, visible waist using the chart below as a starting point, then adjust to body condition and workload rather than the bag.
  • Senior: Older Plotts slow down but rarely lose their appetite. Trim portions to match easier days, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition to protect mobility.

Common Plott Hound concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip & elbow dysplasiaThe breed's main orthopedic watch-out. Largely genetic, but a lean body weight plus joint nutrients — glucosamine from real bone and cartilage, plus omega-3 — help support comfort and day-to-day mobility.
  • ObesityPlotts gain weight quickly once the hunting stops, and extra pounds magnify joint strain. Measured raw feeding and feeding to body condition are the most direct way to keep a working hound trim.
  • Recurring ear inflammationLong, floppy ears and a love of swimming trap moisture; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and helps dial down the inflammation behind chronic ear trouble.
  • Energy & lean muscleA trailing scent hound runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained stamina and muscle maintenance — not on carbohydrate fillers that burn fast and leave nothing behind.

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

Feeding a Plott Hound: what to know

Plott Hounds run hot and play hard, but the breed can quietly pack on pounds when the hunting stops — extra weight is the fastest way to overload those dysplasia-prone hips and elbows. Feed to body condition, not to the bag: you should feel the ribs easily and see a clear waist from above.

Because a Plott's appetite tracks its activity, weigh portions rather than eyeballing them and re-check the amount every few weeks — especially in the off-season or after any drop in exercise.

Plott Hound feeding questions

How much should I feed my Plott Hound?
A healthy adult Plott Hound (50–60 lb) needs roughly 7.5–9 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 with their activity.
What is the best food for a Plott Hound that gains weight in the off-season?
A measured, complete freeze-dried raw diet built on a lean protein like Chicken makes portion control easy and keeps calories honest. Weigh each meal and feed to body condition rather than to your hound's appetite, dialing portions down when exercise drops.
Does a Plott Hound need joint support?
Most do. With 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 Plott lean is the single most effective joint protection there is.
How do I switch my Plott Hound to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Plotts are enthusiastic eaters and usually take to it fast — it is rich, so start at the lower end of the range and watch the waistline.
Is freeze-dried raw enough for such an active hound?
Yes. Complete freeze-dried raw is nutrient- and calorie-dense, so an active Plott gets steady, whole-food energy from real meat, organ and bone. Feed at the higher end of the range during hunting or heavy-exercise season and scale back when they rest.

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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.