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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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 weight	Freeze-dried per day	Per meal (×2)
45 lb	6.8 oz	3.4 oz
51 lb	7.7 oz	3.8 oz
57 lbtypical Redbone Coonhound	8.5 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 pets 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.

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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
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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.