How much should a Bloodhound eat?
Adult weight range 36–50 kg · adult feeding factors apply from 15–18 months of age · raw rate 2.5% of body weight. Portions below are computed with the same veterinary formula as the main calculator — not copied from a bag chart.
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Pre-filled with the breed's mid-range weight — adjust to your dog.
Bloodhound portions by weight
| Adult weight | RER | Daily target | Kibble / day | Cups / day | Per meal (×2) | Raw / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36.0 kg | 1,029 kcal | 1,646 kcal | 400 g | 4.0 | 200 g | 900 g |
| 43.0 kg | 1,175 kcal | 1,881 kcal | 457 g | 4.6 | 229 g | 1,075 g |
| 50.0 kg | 1,316 kcal | 2,106 kcal | 512 g | 5.1 | 256 g | 1,250 g |
Neutered adult (×1.6), kibble at 370 kcal/100 g, 10% treat allowance removed. Raw at 2.5% of body weight (size-correct rate). Cups ≈ grams ÷ 100 (typical kibble — weigh in grams for accuracy).
Worked example: a 43.0 kg Bloodhound
A 43.0 kg adult Bloodhound (neutered): RER 1,175 × 1.6 = 1,881 kcal − 188 kcal treats ÷ 3.7 kcal/g = 457 g — that is 229 g per meal, twice a day. The same arithmetic runs in the calculator above: change the weight or the life stage and every number follows.
Bloodhound puppy feeding by age
| Age | Factor | Meals / day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | ×3.0 | 3–4 | On current weight — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 4–8 months | ×3.0 → ×2.0 (taper) | 3–4 | Factor falls smoothly — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 8–12 months | ×2.0 | 3 | 3 meals; 2–3 from 6 months |
| 12 months to adult | ×1.6–1.8 | 2 | Adult factor from 15–18 months |
Factors multiply RER on the puppy's current weight, not adult weight. Large and giant breeds keep the growth factors until 15–18 months.
Feeding notes for the Bloodhound
Large breeds eat absolute amounts where small percentage errors become hundreds of grams a month. The 1.6× default is the right start; weigh monthly and match the food to the scale, not the bag chart.
What makes feeding a Bloodhound different: Bloodhounds are large, deep-chested and food-motivated: split meals and rest after eating for bloat risk, and count treats — a Bloodhound's nose finds food that was never offered. Weigh monthly under the loose skin and coat.
Health, treats and the senior years: Bloodhounds are prone to bloat at every age, so the two-meal rule never retires — a deep-chested senior should never eat one large meal. In old age, keep the dog lean and the factor honest: a Bloodhound that looks thin is usually just a Bloodhound under loose skin.
Training, treats and everyday feeding: Bloodhounds need the food locked away as much as measured: a Bloodhound-proof bin, closed doors, and no food left on counters, because the nose always wins. They do best on two measured meals a day, eaten slowly — a slow-feeder bowl stops the bolting, and rest for an hour after eating is the standard precaution.
Weight & condition for the Bloodhound: Bloodhounds are large, deep-chested and food-motivated: split meals and rest after eating for bloat risk, and count treats — a Bloodhound's nose finds food that was never offered. Weigh monthly under the loose skin and coat: a Bloodhound that looks the same can be several kilos heavier than last month.
Body condition check: Weigh the dog, then look at the dog: the 9-point body condition scale wants a 4–5, with ribs felt rather than seen, a waist that narrows behind the ribs, and a belly that tucks up from the side. If the ribs have vanished under fat, cut the table portion by 10%; if they show clearly, add 10%.
Puppies of this size class reach adult factors at about 15–18 months; until then, growth portions follow the puppy factors (×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months) on current weight, recalculated every two weeks. Individual dogs vary by up to ±50% from any formula — the scale and your hands on the ribs outrank this table.
Guides: feeding a senior dog · feeding schedules by age
Sources: method & factors · AAHA 2021 guidelines · Pet Nutrition Alliance RER/MER · AKC breed profile
Portions by brand — Bloodhound
What that is on 5 popular brands, for a 43 kg adult (neutered, treats removed):
How to use this calculator
Enter weight
Enter the dog's weight (use ideal weight for weight loss).
Select life stage and goal
Select the life stage and goal so the correct MER factor applies.
Enter food energy density
Enter the food's energy density (kcal per 100 g) from its label.
Read the daily portion
Read the daily portion in grams, split it across meals, and adjust by 10% every 2 weeks based on body condition.
Bloodhound feeding questions
How much food should a Bloodhound eat per day?
Across the full adult weight range (36–50 kg), a Bloodhound needs about 1,646–2,106 kcal/day — 400–512 g of typical kibble (370 kcal/100 g) after the 10% treat allowance is removed — depending on weight, sex and activity. A typical adult at the middle of the range (43.0 kg) needs about 1,881 kcal/day, roughly 457 g, split over 2 meals.
How many meals a day should a Bloodhound eat?
Two measured meals a day is right for a Bloodhound: about 229 g per meal from a daily total of 457 g (1,881 kcal) for a 43.0 kg adult. A deep-chested scent hound should eat slowly and rest an hour after eating, so a slow feeder and two measured meals beat one big bowl. Lock the food away between meals — a bloodhound's nose always wins — and keep treats inside the daily figure.
How many cups of food does a Bloodhound need per day?
About 457 g/day is roughly 4.6 cups at the typical density of 100 g per cup — but cups vary by up to 40% between kibbles, so weigh the grams once and the question disappears. A cup is a volume; grams are the portion. At 457 g a day, a 10% scooping error is about 46 g — a small dog's entire meal — so weighing matters more, not less, as portions grow.
How do I switch a Bloodhound to a new food?
Over 7 days: 25% new food for 2 days, 50% for 2 days, 75% for 2 days, then 100% — keeping the total daily grams at the number on this page throughout. If stools loosen, hold at the current mix for an extra day or two before moving on. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, allow 10–14 days instead of 7.
How much should a Bloodhound puppy eat?
Large-breed puppies grow for 15–18 months — and lean growth is the goal: excess calories accelerate the frame faster than joints can follow. Use ×3.0 under 4 months, tapering smoothly to ×2.0 by 8 months, on current weight, and keep the puppy visibly slim.
How much raw food does a Bloodhound need?
At the size-correct BARF rate of 2.5% of ideal body weight, a 43.0 kg Bloodhound eats about 1,075 g of raw food per day — split 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other organ, 10% vegetables and fruit on the BARF model.
How does feeding a Bloodhound change as they age?
From about 15–18 months a Bloodhound counts as fully adult; the senior shift usually arrives years later, when activity and muscle mass fall. The calculator's senior factor (×1.4 instead of ×1.6) trims a 43.0 kg Bloodhound from 1,881 to about 1,646 kcal/day — roughly 400 g of typical kibble. Make the change gradually and judge by body condition, not birthdays alone: a still-active older Bloodhound may hold condition on the adult number.
How should I feed my Bloodhound to lower bloat risk?
Split the day's 457 g into two meals, rest the dog for about an hour after eating, and use a slow feeder if meals disappear fast. The portion itself doesn't change — a 43.0 kg adult still needs about 1,881 kcal/day — but a deep-chested breed should never eat one large meal and then work. If a Bloodhound ever retches without producing anything and the belly looks swollen, treat it as an emergency.
Why is my Bloodhound always hungry?
Bloodhounds are food-motivated and famously good at finding food — their nose locates meals that were never offered, including yours. Hunger is the breed's default setting, not evidence of underfeeding: a 43.0 kg adult fed its full 1,881 kcal/day is not underfed, however convincing the performance. Count every treat inside the daily number and keep food out of reach.
Related calculators
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Daily raw grams split into meat, bone, liver, organ and veg. BARF and PMR models.
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