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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound was built to run mountains and swamps all day on the trail of a scent — a lean, deep-red athlete with a hound's bottomless engine. That working drive is exactly why how you feed one matters.

Here is how to feed a Redbone Coonhound on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the protein, joint support and clean energy a high-mileage hunting hound actually runs on.

  • Adult weight45–70 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan12–15 years
  • CoatShort, smooth, deep red — moderate shedder
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A healthy Redbone Coonhound
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Redbone Coonhound's body needs

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

  • High-endurance hunting hound

    Needs: High-quality animal protein & fat

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady, all-day energy for the trail — without the carb fillers that spike and crash a working dog.

  • Hip 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 Redbone lean takes load off the hips.

  • Deep red coat & moderate shedding

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, keeping that signature mahogany coat glossy and easing routine shedding.

  • Long, floppy hound ears

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

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

  • Big appetite, scent-driven & food-motivated

    Needs: Precise, measured portions

    Freeze-dried raw fed by weight — not by the begging — lets you fuel a working hound on busy days and pull back on rest days, keeping them lean year-round.

How much to feed a Redbone Coonhound

Quick answer: a healthy adult Redbone Coonhound (45–70 lb) needs about 6.8–10.5 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)
45 lb 6.8 oz 3.4 oz
51 lb 7.7 oz 3.8 oz
57 lb typical Redbone Coonhound 8.6 oz 4.3 oz
63 lb 9.5 oz 4.7 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 Redbone Coonhound

For a Redbone Coonhound 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 picky, scent-driven hound onto it.

Lean single proteins like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod keep an active hound trim, while richer Beef or Venison suits hard-hunting or underweight dogs in peak season. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Redbone Coonhounds

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Daily support for Redbone Coonhounds

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Treats Redbone Coonhounds love

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Feeding a Redbone Coonhound by life stage

  • Puppy: Redbone puppies grow into a medium-large frame, so steady growth protects developing joints. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals and avoid overfeeding — fast growth raises the risk of hip dysplasia.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, athletic waist across two meals, and scale with the workload — more on long-hike or hunting days, less on rest days. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition.
  • Senior: An older Redbone slows down but the appetite rarely does. Trim portions to match lower activity, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition for aging hips.

Common Redbone Coonhound concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip dysplasiaLargely genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients (glucosamine from real bone and cartilage, omega-3) help support comfortable, lasting mobility in an active hound.
  • Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)An inherited eye condition diet can't prevent, but an antioxidant- and omega-rich whole-food diet supports general eye and nerve health alongside regular veterinary eye checks.
  • Skin & ear healthLong floppy ears and moderate shedding mean a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet that supports the skin barrier and dials down inflammation is a smart foundation.
  • Energy & lean muscleA high-mileage hunting hound runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained endurance 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 Redbone Coonhound: what to know

Redbones are endurance dogs, not couch dogs. A working or actively-hiked hound burns real calories and needs portions that match the day — more on a long-trail day, less on a rest day — fed to a lean, athletic body condition where you can easily feel the ribs and see a tuck.

Their deep chest is worth respecting: feed two measured meals a day rather than one large one, avoid hard exercise right around mealtime, and weigh portions instead of free-feeding so a hungry hound's appetite doesn't quietly outpace their workload.

Redbone Coonhound feeding questions

How much should I feed my Redbone Coonhound?
A healthy adult Redbone (45–70 lb) needs roughly 7–11 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it's far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean, athletic waistline and scale with how hard the dog worked that day.
What's the best food for an active, high-energy Redbone Coonhound?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet of real meat, organs and bone gives a working hound clean, sustained energy without filler. Richer proteins like Beef or Venison suit hard-hunting dogs, while leaner Chicken or Cod keeps less-active hounds trim.
How do I switch my Redbone Coonhound to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Scent-driven hounds usually take to the strong aroma of raw quickly — start at the lower end of the range and feed to body condition.
Does a Redbone Coonhound need joint support?
Many do, given the breed's hip dysplasia risk and high-mileage lifestyle. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your hound lean is the most effective joint protection there is.
My Redbone is always hungry — should I feed more?
Hounds are famously food-motivated, but feed the workload, not the appetite. Weigh each meal, feed to a lean body condition where you can feel the ribs, and add a little only on heavy-exercise days rather than free-feeding.

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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.