A bloodhound is a large breed of dog that is well known for their dark brown fur and droopy long ears. They were originally bred to help to hunt animals with their keen sense of smell Today, they’re used to help in search and rescue efforts by the police and medical teams to track down injured or missing people.
Since they are big working dogs, their diet should contain enough nutrients to provide them with the energy they need. The best dog food for bloodhound is a balanced combination of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Bloodhounds are known for their droopy faces.
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Table of Contents
Best Dog Food for Bloodhound Comparison
- Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Diet Dry Dog Food
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food
- Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Stella and Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw Dinner
Bloodhound Nutrition
Most of the dog food for bloodhound is processed in order to create an end product that is safe for your furry best friend while making sure it suits their taste and provides the nutrients they need. The dog food for bloodhounds could either be dry or wet; with dry types usually consisting of treats and biscuits and wet types with a curry-like texture to it. These could contain meat and even vegetables.
It’s important to remember that each dog breed requires a different diet regime. For example, bloodhounds need nutrients that will help build their muscle tissues and keep their bones strong. Meanwhile, chihuahuas will need more proteins and calories for their growth.
This is perfect for new bloodhound owners, especially those who are still taking care of pups. It is important to get the food that can support their growth.
That being said, here are important things you should consider and do first before buying the dog food for bloodhounds:
- Contact your vet – While this is technically optional, it’s often done by first-time dog parents, or if it’s their first time handling a certain type of breed. It’s best to contact your vet either way, especially when your pup has existing health conditions. This gives you information about their nutrition, food allergies, and digestion problems, which can help you choose which dog food to get.
- Read the label – Every safe and specially produced dog food for bloodhounds has a label. If it doesn’t have one, you really shouldn’t be feeding it to your dog!t. This is also where you can find essential info like nutrient adequacy and breakdown of the ingredients. It should have an approval by Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). You should also whether it’s for puppies, adults, or all life stages.
- Check the ingredients – Speaking of the ingredients – you should always check if the food contains by-products and chemicals. Byproducts are pretty much safe, and although they may not sound edible for you, the FDA approves them. Chemicals are another matter. For chemicals, avoid synthetic chemicals such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin.
- Consider whether you’re getting dry or wet dog food – This is clearly a personal preference of your dog. However, some dogs require only dry or wet food based on various factors. For example, wet foods would be best if your dog has sensitive teeth or teeth issues. For bloodhounds, you should keep their droopy features in mind. Wet food can be messy, but it shouldn’t be a thing for concern when it’s their favorite type of food – it’ll just require a little more work.
- Consider your dog’s overall health and status – If you have a female bloodhound and she’s just given birth, you’ll want dog food that provides more calories so they can lactate. Older dogs will require less food, but they might need some other nutrients depending on their health. Some brands make dog foods based on a dog’s breed and age, so if your favorite brand carries a special bloodhound dog food, it makes it easier.
It’s easier to find the proper dog food with the help of your vet.
- Be aware of dog allergies – Canines can also get allergies. The main cause is usually fleas and flea bites. However, some dogs do have food allergies and it can cause skin issues, gastrointestinal problems, or a combination of both. If your dog shows any sign of distress when they ate the dog food you bought, discontinue using and rush them to a vet to know which ingredient they are likely allergic to so you can avoid it in the future.
- Check the expiration date – Most of the time, the expiration date can be seen on the top or bottom of the dog food container. If you’re buying in bulk, you ought to buy dog food with longer shelf life. You also need to find the instruction for proper storage so you can avoid spoiling it and making sure it’s still safe for your dog’s consumption.
- Choose the dog food for bloodhounds that is easy to digest – Understand your dog’s digestion traits and from what you have observed, choose the type of food you should buy them. If your dog has poor digestion, you’ll want to opt for softer, wet foods.
That being said, we have taken a look at several of the dog food for bloodhound pups. This review is for those new moms and dads who are new to taking care of bloodhounds or similar large-breed dogs. For those who have medium or small-breed dogs, it is best to choose a different type of dog food that’s most suitable for your pet’s needs.
Note that this review is only to help pet owners what we think can be the dog food for bloodhounds. We will list down what we believe is the pros and cons of each brand and will be as unbiased as possible to guarantee you have the freedom of choice when it comes to what you will ultimately buy.
It should also be worth mentioning that each dog may react differently to these foods. The most important thing is that you should check it out for yourself and see whether your dog likes it or you need to consider a new brand or type.
Top Dog Food for our Bloodhounds
Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Diet Dry Dog Food
- No preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors
- Promotes better oral health
- Contains limited ingredients
- Supports clean and healthy gums
- Helps promote proper and slow eating
This Nature’s Balance dry dog food has limited ingredients as suggested on the packaging that aims to minimize your dog’s exposure to a variety of ingredients, while still providing them with much needed vitamins and minerals. With the size of its kibbles, it encourages larger breeds of dogs to chew their food properly and to eat slowly which can help avoid bloating.
Nature’s Balance Limited Ingredients Diet is perfect for picky and sensitive dogs who have strict dietary needs. Without preservatives and chemicals, you’re basically giving your dog organic food. Without allergies, your dog’s skin will be cleared in no time.
This dog food is known to help dogs who have sensitive stomachs due to the limitation of ingredients they use. They have dog food specifically for pups and for adults so be extra careful when ordering. Plus there are smaller kibbles for the smaller breed of dogs.
However, there’s been a noticeable difference in its quality as dogs who love it before seemed to have disliked it now. There have also been reports of dogs getting diarrheas. If you are buying this for your bloodhound, be sure you buy a small amount first and observe them for the first week or so.
Dogs foods can either be wet, dry, or natural.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food
- No Chicken by-product
- Chicken meal contains high level of protein
- Contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin
- Enhanced with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- Supports dog’s immune system
- No artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is dry dog food that contains real meat and claims to have high-quality protein source as well as L-carnitine that creates leaner muscles. It’s also got a blend of vegetables, grains, and fruits. This dog food is also made especially for bigger dogs as it contains chondroitin and glucosamine for the special needs of larger-breed dogs.
The best thing about Blue Buffalo is that it has real meat, mixed with various veggies and fruits and even grains. It’s a great source of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that can provide utmost care and protection for your pup as they go through all life stages. This brand does have specific dog food for pups, adults, and seniors so you’ll want to choose the one that fits your dog the most.
Nonetheless, the mix may not be the best for some other dog breeds or even some bloodhounds as there are also reports that it causes loose bowel movement. However, this might have been due to packaging getting ripped open during the shipment or past the expiration date. It’s better to buy this in an actual store.
Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Grain-free carbohydrate source
- Supports all breeds and life stages
- No beef, wheat, or corn
- No artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
- Nutrient-dense kibbles
Nature’s Recipe Grain-free Dry Dog Food has real meat as its number one ingredient along with grain-free sources of carbohydrates: pumpkin and sweet potato. The meat is a great source of protein which then helps build leaner muscles for your bigger dogs. It also claims to be easy to digest so dogs who have sensitive tummies can benefit from this product.
Since Nature’s Recipe is a grain-free dog food, it can help dogs who have allergies and have sensitive tummies. Plus it has the right balance of nutrients and minerals to support the large breed of dogs such as bloodhounds.
However, this is not available for pups and is not the best choice for lactating dogs. This can be hard as re-introducing new food to dogs can be tough, especially if they are already sensitive. The best you can do is start incorporating pumpkin in their diet as pups so they get accustomed to the taste, or you can ask your vet for their suggestion.
Stella and Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw Dinner
- Made with grass-fed lamb/beef
- No added hormones
- Created with safe patented SecureByNature©
- No added hormones
- No added preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors
Stella and Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw Dinner comes in chicken, duck, lamb, and beef in this pack. This is made from 95% cage-free ducks and chickens as well as grass-fed lamb and cows. That means they have organic ingredients that are safer to consume even when they are raw.
This dog food claims to have good taste that your furry babies will love, and a great source for minerals, nutrients, and even probiotics and antioxidants. These are perfect for bigger dog breeds such as bloodhounds since provides them with the best support for growing up. Plus it’s also safe to eat with the food safety process.
However, it can be really dry when dogs eat it as is. The key here is to re-hydrate it with warm water, or if you’re feeding them straight out of the packet, be sure that your dog drinks plenty of water afterward. Perhaps another downside of this is that it has a smaller pack which may not be enough for your bigger dogs so it’s best to buy a bigger pack if available or buy in bulk.
Finding the best dog food for bloodhound breeds can be tricky, but it will help your dog to grow healthy, strong, and energetic. Without proper diet, your dog may end up either too thin or too big that they won’t be able to enjoy most activities that dogs partake in. As a parent to your fur baby, it’s essential you give them the best food.