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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Sussex Spaniel

The Sussex Spaniel is a low, long, deceptively heavy little hunter — short legs carrying a stocky, muscular frame and a famously rich golden-liver coat. That build is exactly why feeding one well matters so much: extra pounds press straight onto a long back and short joints.

Here is how to feed a Sussex Spaniel on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the lean protein and joint nutrition that protect their back, hips, and that signature glossy coat.

  • Adult weight35–45 lb
  • SizeMedium
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan11–13 years
  • CoatAbundant flat or wavy golden-liver — feathered, regular shedder
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A healthy Sussex Spaniel
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Sussex Spaniel's body needs

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

  • Long, low-set back

    Needs: Lean weight, anti-inflammatory fats

    A long spine on short legs is vulnerable to disc strain, and every extra pound adds load. Measured freeze-dried raw keeps a Sussex lean while omega-3s help calm inflammation along the back.

  • Relaxed, food-loving nature

    Needs: Precise portions

    The easygoing Sussex burns less than a bird-flushing field spaniel and gains weight quietly. Feeding measured raw by weight — not by appetite — keeps the calories honest.

  • Stocky, muscular working build

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    Real meat, organ and bone fuel and maintain the dense muscle a Sussex carries, supporting joints and steady energy without the carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Abundant golden-liver coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, keeping that flat, wavy coat glossy and easing dryness and shedding.

  • Long, heavily feathered ears

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Drop ears trap moisture and warmth; minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed the chronic ear inflammation this breed is prone to.

How much to feed a Sussex Spaniel

Quick answer: a healthy adult Sussex Spaniel (35–45 lb) needs about 5.3–6.8 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)
35 lb 5.3 oz 2.6 oz
38 lb 5.7 oz 2.9 oz
41 lb typical Sussex Spaniel 6.2 oz 3.1 oz
44 lb 6.6 oz 3.3 oz
45 lb 6.8 oz 3.4 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 Sussex Spaniel

For a Sussex Spaniel 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 from kibble.

Lean single proteins like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod keep a weight-prone Sussex trim, while richer Salmon adds skin-and-coat omegas for that glossy golden-liver coat. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Sussex Spaniels

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Daily support for Sussex Spaniels

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Treats Sussex Spaniels love

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Feeding a Sussex Spaniel by life stage

  • Puppy: Sussex Spaniel puppies are heavy-boned and grow steadily — feed roughly 4–6% of current body weight across 3–4 meals and avoid overfeeding, since fast weight gain stresses developing hips and that long back.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, tucked waist across two meals. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag — this is a breed that hides extra weight under a thick coat.
  • Senior: The Sussex slows gracefully but the appetite rarely fades. Trim portions, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and back-supporting nutrition.

Common Sussex Spaniel concerns — and the diet connection

  • Intervertebral disc disease (back)The breed's long, low spine is its most vulnerable point. Keeping a Sussex lean takes daily strain off the discs, and omega-3-rich whole-food nutrition supports a calmer inflammatory baseline.
  • Hip dysplasiaLargely genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients — natural glucosamine and chondroitin from real bone and cartilage, with omega-3 — help support comfortable, mobile joints.
  • Recurring ear inflammationLong, feathered drop ears trap moisture; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and helps dial down the inflammation that fuels flare-ups.
  • Weight & lean muscleA relaxed, food-motivated spaniel gains weight quietly — measured raw feeding and clean animal protein keep a Sussex lean and well-muscled, the single best lever for back and joint health.

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

Feeding a Sussex Spaniel: what to know

The Sussex is a relaxed, food-loving spaniel in a compact, heavy-boned body, so weight creeps on quietly and the breed's long, low frame feels it first. Feed to body condition, not to the bowl-side enthusiasm: you should feel the ribs easily and see a tuck behind them from above.

Because that abundant coat hides the waistline, weigh portions instead of eyeballing them and re-check the amount every few weeks — especially after slower winter months or any drop in fieldwork and walks.

Sussex Spaniel feeding questions

How much should I feed my Sussex Spaniel?
A healthy adult Sussex (35–45 lb) needs roughly 5–7 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, tucked waist and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for a Sussex Spaniel that gains weight easily?
A measured, complete freeze-dried raw diet of lean single proteins like Chicken or Cod makes portion control easy and keeps calories honest. Weigh each meal and feed to body condition rather than to this breed's easygoing appetite.
How do I switch my Sussex Spaniel to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. The Sussex usually takes to raw happily — it is rich, so start at the lower end of the range and watch the waistline.
Does a Sussex Spaniel need joint and back support?
Most benefit from it, given the breed's long back and hip risk. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Sussex lean is the most effective protection for that long, low frame.
How do I keep my Sussex Spaniel's coat healthy through diet?
That abundant golden-liver coat thrives on omega-3 fatty acids from whole-food animal and fish fats. A raw recipe like Salmon, or adding a skin-and-coat omega supplement, feeds the coat from the inside for shine and less dryness.

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  • 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
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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.