How Much to Feed a Bloodhound
Bloodhounds are built for endurance and have a sturdy frame, but their loose skin and drooping jowls can make it genuinely hard to assess whether they're carrying excess weight. Unlike breeds with tighter coats, you can't simply eyeball a Bloodhound and know if he's healthy. Body condition scoring—feeling the ribs and watching for waist definition—is the most reliable way to manage his weight and protect his long spine and deep chest.
Bloodhound portion calculator
Veterinary RER/MER formula — daily calories, grams and cups.
RER 1177 kcal × 1.6 (adult, neutered/spayed) = 1884 kcal, at 380 kcal/100g. Estimates for healthy pets — always confirm with your veterinarian.
To evaluate your Bloodhound's condition, feel his ribcage along both sides without pressing hard. You should be able to feel the ribs easily under a light layer of flesh—they shouldn't be visibly protruding, but they shouldn't be buried under fat either. From above, look for a visible waist between his ribs and hips when he stands still. From the side, his belly should have a slight tuck, not a sag. Because Bloodhounds have such loose, folded skin, excess weight hides in their frame longer than in shorter-coated breeds, which means overfeeding can progress further before it becomes obvious. Checking these markers monthly helps catch creeping weight gain early.
The calculator above provides a baseline for your adult Bloodhound's daily caloric need, but that figure assumes moderate activity. A hound with a serious tracking hobby or regular long walks may burn significantly more, while a primarily indoor dog needs less. More important for the Bloodhound specifically: feed two or three smaller meals rather than one large feeding. His deep chest makes him vulnerable to gastric torsion, and splitting his daily intake reduces that risk. Adjust portion sizes based on body condition checks, not a rigid feeding schedule—some Bloodhounds genuinely need less than the estimate, while others with higher energy demand need more.
Treats and table scraps count toward daily calories and deserve real portion discipline with this breed. A Bloodhound's eager personality and soulful expression create relentless pressure to share food, but even small pieces add up in a 95-pound frame. If you give treats, reduce the main meal proportionally, or you'll undo your body condition work quickly. Monitor weight shifts during seasonal changes: Bloodhounds often move less in extreme heat or cold, and their intake may need adjustment accordingly. Annual vet checks with body condition notes give you a professional checkpoint for long-term trends.
Frequently asked questions
How much food should a Bloodhound eat per day?
A typical adult Bloodhound weighing 95 lbs needs about 1884 kcal per day (adult, neutered/spayed), which is roughly 496 grams — about 5 cups — of standard dry food, split into 2 meals.
How is the Bloodhound's daily portion calculated?
We use the standard veterinary formula: Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75, then multiply by a life-stage factor. For a 43.1 kg Bloodhound, RER is 1177 kcal, and the adult, neutered/spayed factor of 1.6 gives 1884 kcal per day.
How can I tell if my Bloodhound is overweight when his skin hangs so loosely?
Feel along his rib cage on both sides—healthy ribs should be easily felt under a thin layer of flesh, not buried in fat. Check from above for a visible waist between ribs and hips, and from the side for a slight abdominal tuck. Loose skin makes visual assessment unreliable, so tactile checks and a vet's eye are your best tools for Bloodhounds specifically.
Why are multiple meals better for Bloodhounds than one large daily feeding?
Bloodhounds have a deep, narrow chest that puts them at higher risk for gastric torsion (bloat), a serious emergency. Splitting his daily calories into two or three smaller meals reduces stomach distension and lowers that risk. It also helps maintain steadier energy and digestion throughout the day.
My Bloodhound begs constantly and looks thin to me. Should I feed more?
Bloodhounds are notoriously food-motivated and will beg regardless of their actual body condition. Rely on rib and waist checks rather than his expression or behavior. If your hands-on assessment shows ribs are easy to feel and waist is visible, he's likely at a good weight—his appetite is just part of his personality.