Age-appropriate feeding is very important for basset hounds. Basset hounds are known to be always hungry. That’s why basset hounds need to be on a strict diet when it comes to the amount of food they eat. If you feed your basset hound each time he asks for food, he will be obese. It is very important that your basset hound stays at a healthy weight, so he doesn’t put any extra pressure on their bones and joints.
It is important that you feed your basset hound according to his age.
You should determine the type and amount of food according to your basset hounds’ age. There are three feeding stages for basset hounds: puppy, adult, and senior varieties.
Age-Appropriate Feeding For Basset Hounds
Age-appropriate feeding for basset hounds can be divided into three categories: Puppy, adult, and senior varieties. You should determine the type of food as well as the amount according to the age of your basset hound. Doing this will ensure that your basset hound stays at a healthy weight which is very important for its overall health.
Feeding A Basset Hound Puppy
A basset hound is considered a puppy until he is 18 to 24 months of age or is 90 percent of his projected adult size. Although some dogs mature faster or slower, the basset hound type breed is right on schedule. Your vet will be able to let you know when your basset hound puppy is ready to transition to adult food.
What to feed a Basset Hound puppy? Basset Hound puppies need more nutrients to fuel their energy and growth spurts. They require foods with more calories, protein, calcium, docosahexaenoic acid (omega-3 fatty acid), and fat to support their growth.
How often should you feed a Basset Hound puppy? Basset hound puppies between 8 and 12 weeks of age need four meals a day. Once your basset hound puppy is 3 to 6 months of age feed him 3 meals a day. From 6 to 12 months old basset hound puppies should eat two times a day. A year-old puppy and older should be fed one meal, but it’s best to split that portion into breakfast and dinner.
| Breed | Age | Meals | Time Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basset Hound | 8-12 weeks old | 4 | 24 hours |
| Basset Hound | 3-6 months old | 3 | 24 hours |
| Basset Hound | 6-12 months old | 2 | 24 hours |
| Basset Hound | 12+ months old | 1 | 24 hours |
When should a Basset Hound puppy start eating solid food? Basset hound puppies should start eating solid food when they are four weeks of age because their mother’s milk can no longer provide the needed calories. Introduce solid food to your 4-week-old basset hound puppy and switch him completely by six weeks of age. Make sure their food is moistened to the point it feels spongy until your puppy is 8 weeks old.
How much should I feed my Basset Hound puppy?
Basset hound puppies need food and nutrients to be able to grow. The amount of food depends on the weight of your basset hound puppy. If your pup weighs 4 LBS, your pup should get 1/3 of a cup (50-65g) of food. For a basset hound puppy that weighs 10 LBS, he should get 1/2 cup (75g-180g) of food. A puppy that weighs 20 LBS should get 1 1/2 cups (130-180g) of food.
Feeding an Adult Basset Hound
Your basset hound will become an adult at the age of two or once he reaches above 90 percent of his projected adult size. Once your basset hound becomes an adult, he won’t be quite as active as before. That means that if he continues to receive food as before, your basset hound will gain weight.
So, now questions like how often should I feed my adult basset hound, or how much food should I give my adult basset hound arise.
What to feed an adult Basset Hound? You should feed your adult basset hound with foods rich in calcium, protein, and vitamins. As your basset hound ages, you will need to cut the food reach in fat as you don’t want them to get overweight. Instead, introduce them to foods rich in calcium for healthy bones and joints, as well as protein and lots of vitamins.
How often should you feed an adult Basset Hound? An adult basset hound requires one meal per day in order to be fit and healthy. Most basset hound owners choose to split that one meal into two, breakfast and dinner. It is really up to you as long as your adult basset hound gets one meal per day.
How much should I feed my adult Basset Hound? The size of the portion depends on the weight of your adult Basset hound. If your adult basset hound weighs 40 LBS, he should get 2 cups (230g-305g) of food. An adult basset hound that weighs 60 LBS needs to get 3 1/2 cups (305g-410g) of food.
Feeding a Senior Basset Hound
Senior basset hounds are not physically active. That means that senior basset hounds don’t burn a lot of calories throughout the day. Your basset hound will become a senior after 7 years of age. You should change the feeding plan according to your basset hound’s age and activities.
What to feed a senior Basset Hound? Senior Basset hounds are often unable to digest fat and protein as well as they did in their youth. You should choose light foods that don’t contain a lot of fat and protein. Many basset hound owners introduce more vegetables into their senior dog’s diet.
How often should you feed a senior Basset Hound? You should feed a senior Basset hound one meal per day. Many basset hound owners choose to split that one meal into two, or even three portions. Feeding your senior basset hound with two or three lesser portions will help them to better digest the food.
How much should I feed my senior Basset Hound? The amount of food that your senior basset hound requires is calculated by their weight. A senior basset hound usually weighs between 60 to 65 LBS and should consume three and a half cups of food (310g-410g) split into two or three meals.
Kibble vs. Wet Food
Talking about kibble vs. wet food is like talking about politics within the pet community. Those who like kibble are against wet food and the other way around. But, the question of which one is better, kibble or wet food still remains.
Some tiny dog breeds do better on soft food. Dogs without teeth need wet food. Some dogs who need coaxing to eat will benefit from a mix of wet and dry food.
Kibble food is a better choice for basset hounds because they need no encouragement when it comes to eating.
I always gave my basset hound dry food. One day, my basset hound stopped to eat. I was worried and I took my pup to the vet. As it turns out, my basset hound was diagnosed with diabetes. The vet prescribed wet food to encourage him to eat and because wet food is better for diabetic basset hounds. The change from kibble to wet was made only due to medical reasons.
Some recent studies suggest that wet food in cans is less desirable because it can lead to triple the exposure to Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A is a chemical that is found in metal food cans and is known to damage the gut microbiome and dog metabolism.
Dry kibble is also good because it helps in the removal of tartar build-up on teeth and gums, while wet food tends to stick to teeth and gums. So, if your basset hound doesn’t have any medical issues and has to switch to wet food, feed him dry kibble.
