How much should an Irish Setter eat?
Adult weight range 27–32 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.
Irish Setter portions by weight
| Adult weight | RER | Daily target | Kibble / day | Cups / day | Per meal (×2) | Raw / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.0 kg | 829 kcal | 1,327 kcal | 323 g | 3.2 | 161 g | 675 g |
| 29.5 kg | 886 kcal | 1,418 kcal | 345 g | 3.4 | 172 g | 738 g |
| 32.0 kg | 942 kcal | 1,507 kcal | 367 g | 3.7 | 183 g | 800 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 29.5 kg Irish Setter
A 29.5 kg adult Irish Setter (neutered): RER 886 × 1.6 = 1,418 kcal − 142 kcal treats ÷ 3.7 kcal/g = 345 g — that is 172 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.
Irish Setter 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 Irish Setter
A working large breed is an athlete with a big tank: 2.0–2.5× is normal in season. Split into two meals and avoid hard exercise on a full stomach — large, deep-chested dogs are the gastric-dilation risk group.
What makes feeding an Irish Setter different: Irish Setters are lean, deep-chested athletes: bloat risk means two meals and rest after eating. They stay naturally slim and long-legged — ribs faintly visible under a thin cover is normal, not a reason to add food.
Health, treats and the senior years: Irish Setters 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 Setter that looks thin is usually just a Setter.
Training, treats and everyday feeding: Irish Setters 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 for a deep-chested breed. They are lean by build, so a slow feeder is worth more than a bigger bowl.
Weight & condition for the Irish Setter: Irish Setters are lean, deep-chested athletes: bloat risk means two meals and rest after eating. They stay naturally slim and long-legged — ribs faintly visible under a thin cover is normal, not a reason to add food. Weigh monthly: a Setter that gains 2 kg has added roughly 6% of its body weight.
Body condition check: A number on the scale is not a body condition. Score the dog on the 9-point scale and aim for 4–5 — ribs palpable through a thin fat layer, waist visible from above, abdomen tucked when viewed from the side. Can't feel the ribs? Feed 10% under the table. Ribs plainly visible? Feed 10% over it.
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 — Irish Setter
What that is on 5 popular brands, for a 29.5 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.
Irish Setter feeding questions
How much food should an Irish Setter eat per day?
Across the full adult weight range (27–32 kg), an Irish Setter needs about 1,327–1,507 kcal/day — 323–367 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 (29.5 kg) needs about 1,418 kcal/day, roughly 345 g, split over 2 meals.
How many meals a day should an Irish Setter eat?
Two measured meals a day is right for a Irish Setter: about 172 g per meal from a daily total of 345 g (1,418 kcal) for a 29.5 kg adult. A deep-chested breed should eat slowly and rest an hour after eating, so a slow feeder and two measured meals beat one big bowl. An Irish setter is lean by build, so a slow feeder is worth more than a bigger bowl — judge by the ribs, not the silhouette.
How many cups of food does an Irish Setter need per day?
About 345 g/day is roughly 3.4 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 345 g a day, a 10% scooping error is about 34 g — a small dog's entire meal — so weighing matters more, not less, as portions grow.
How do I switch an Irish Setter 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 an Irish Setter 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 an Irish Setter need?
At the size-correct BARF rate of 2.5% of ideal body weight, a 29.5 kg Irish Setter eats about 738 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 an Irish Setter change as they age?
From about 15–18 months an Irish Setter 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 29.5 kg Irish Setter from 1,418 to about 1,240 kcal/day — roughly 302 g of typical kibble. Make the change gradually and judge by body condition, not birthdays alone: a still-active older Irish Setter may hold condition on the adult number.
How should I feed my Irish Setter to lower bloat risk?
Split the day's 345 g into two meals, rest the dog for about an hour after eating, and use a slow-feeder bowl if meals disappear in under two minutes. The portion itself doesn't change — a 29.5 kg adult still needs about 1,418 kcal/day — but a deep-chested breed should never eat one large meal and then exercise. If an Irish Setter ever retches without producing anything and the belly looks swollen, treat it as an emergency.
Is my Irish Setter too skinny?
Probably not: Irish Setters are meant to look slim and long-legged, with ribs faintly visible under a thin cover. If the ribs are easy to feel but not starkly visible, the 1,418 kcal/day for a 29.5 kg adult is right. Setters do not carry weight the way a Labrador does — do not feed to fill one out. Only add food if the hip bones or spine show clearly.
Related calculators
Raw & BARF Calculator
Daily raw grams split into meat, bone, liver, organ and veg. BARF and PMR models.
Puppy Food Calculator
Growth portions by age in weeks and months, kibble or raw.
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Safe deficit portions at target-weight RER, with a realistic timeline.