FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE
How to feed a Scottish Deerhound
The Scottish Deerhound is a giant sighthound built for explosive sprints across the Highlands — a deep-chested, lean-muscled athlete that lives only seven to nine years and carries real risks to its heart, bones, and gut. That combination makes how you feed one genuinely consequential.
Here is exactly how to feed a Deerhound on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the lean protein, joint and heart-supporting nutrition, and gut-smart feeding rhythm a tall, fast-growing giant needs.
- Adult weight75–110 lb
- SizeGiant
- EnergyModerate (sprinter)
- Lifespan7–9 years
- CoatCoarse, wiry, weatherproof — blue-gray
What a Scottish Deerhound's body needs
Every Scottish Deerhound trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.
Lean sighthound build, low body fat
Needs: Lean, highly digestible animal protein
83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle without padding on fat — feeding to a visible waist, not a number, keeps a Deerhound built the way the breed should be.
Fast-growing giant frame
Needs: Controlled growth, balanced minerals
Whole-food raw delivers naturally balanced calcium and phosphorus from ground bone, supporting steady skeletal growth instead of the fast spurts that stress giant-breed joints.
Deep chest, bloat risk
Needs: Smaller, calmer, measured meals
Calorie-dense freeze-dried raw lets you split the day into smaller portions by weight — easier on a deep-chested gut than one large bowl of high-volume kibble.
Heart-disease prone (cardiomyopathy)
Needs: Real animal protein with taurine & omega-3
Meat, heart and organ are natural sources of taurine and the amino acids the canine heart runs on, and omega-3 fats support healthy cardiovascular function.
Coarse, weatherproof harsh coat
Needs: Whole-food fats & omega-3
Animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, keeping that rough double coat conditioned and easing the dry, itchy skin (atopy) the breed can be prone to.
How much to feed a Scottish Deerhound
Quick answer: a healthy adult Scottish Deerhound (75–110 lb) needs about 11.3–16.5 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 75 lb | 11.3 oz | 5.6 oz |
| 84 lb | 12.6 oz | 6.3 oz |
| 93 lbtypical Scottish Deerhound | 14 oz | 7 oz |
| 102 lb | 15.3 oz | 7.7 oz |
| 110 lb | 16.5 oz | 8.3 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.
What to feed a Scottish Deerhound
For a Scottish Deerhound 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. It is calorie-dense, so a lean giant eats less volume than its size suggests, which is also kinder to a bloat-prone gut.
Rotate lean single proteins like Chicken and Wild-Caught Cod for everyday feeding and sensitive stomachs, with richer Grass-Fed Beef for hard-running or underweight dogs. Just add water and serve in two calm meals.
Recipes for Scottish Deerhounds
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Feeding a Scottish Deerhound by life stage
- Puppy: Giant-breed Deerhound puppies grow long and fast, so slow, steady growth is the goal — overfeeding a giant puppy stresses developing bones and joints. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 smaller meals and let them grow into their frame, never rush it.
- Adult: Feed to a lean, tucked-up waist split across two or more calm meals to respect the deep chest. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not to the dog's size.
- Senior: Deerhounds age early and may slow by six or seven. Keep protein high to preserve lean muscle and heart tissue, trim calories as activity drops, and lean into joint- and heart-supporting nutrition.
Common Scottish Deerhound concerns — and the diet connection
- Cardiomyopathy (heart disease)A leading concern in the breed. A diet rich in real meat, heart and organ supplies natural taurine and amino acids the heart depends on, and omega-3 fats support healthy cardiovascular function.
- Gastric torsion (bloat)Deep-chested giants are at real risk. Calorie-dense freeze-dried raw fed in smaller, calmer, measured meals — not one large high-volume bowl — is a gut-smart way to feed this breed.
- Bone & joint health (osteosarcoma watch)Giant frames carry their joints hard. Keeping a Deerhound lean takes load off the bones and joints, while real bone and organ supply natural glucosamine and the minerals that support skeletal health.
- Cystinuria (urinary stones)Some Deerhounds are predisposed. A whole-food, moisture-rich diet — freeze-dried raw rehydrated with water — supports steady hydration and urinary health; ask your vet about protein specifics if your dog is affected.
- Skin & coat (atopy)That coarse coat sits over skin that can turn dry and itchy. An omega-rich, low-filler whole-food diet supports the skin barrier and helps dial down inflammation.
Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.
Feeding a Scottish Deerhound: what to know
A Deerhound carries little spare flesh by design — you should see a tucked-up waist and feel the ribs and hip bones easily. Do not try to 'fill out' a Deerhound; excess weight loads the joints and heart of a breed that is already vulnerable to both.
Because deep-chested giants are prone to bloat, split the daily ration into two or more smaller meals, feed calmly, and avoid hard exercise right around mealtimes. Weigh portions rather than eyeballing them, and re-check the amount as activity changes with the seasons.
Scottish Deerhound feeding questions
How much should I feed my Scottish Deerhound?
Why should I split a Deerhound's meals into smaller portions?
What is the best food for a Scottish Deerhound puppy?
How do I switch my Deerhound to raw?
Does diet help with a Deerhound's heart health?
THE CLEAN BOWL GUARANTEE
If your dog won't eat it, it's on us
Try Scottish Deerhound's first plan risk-free. If they turn up their nose, we'll make it right — money-back, and skip, pause or cancel anytime.
- Vet-formulated
- AAFCO complete & balanced
- 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
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.