What to feed a basset hound
A basset hound does best on a complete food formulated for a medium or large breed, fed in controlled portions rather than left down all day, because this is a breed with a big appetite and a low natural drive to burn it off. Weight management through the diet matters more here than in most breeds, since extra weight puts direct strain on their long back and short legs.
The basset hound's build changes what matters most
Despite their short legs, basset hounds are a genuinely heavy, large-boned breed — an adult can carry as much bone and muscle mass as a dog twice their height. Their food needs to support that frame without adding unnecessary weight, since every extra kilogram is carried on a long spine and short legs that were not built to compensate for it.
Their famously long ears and loose facial skin are not something diet fixes, but keeping their weight at a healthy level does more for their joints, back and general comfort over a lifetime than almost anything else you control day to day.
Managing the appetite
Bassets are known for a strong food drive and are not a breed that reliably self-regulates if food is left down freely. Measured, scheduled meals rather than free feeding make it far easier to keep their weight in the healthy range a vet would want to see at a check-up.
A slow feeder bowl is worth considering for this breed too, partly to slow down a dog who tends to gulp their food, and partly because the low, wide skull and long ears of a basset can make a deep, narrow bowl awkward and messy to eat from.
Joint support through the diet
Because of the strain their frame puts on hips, elbows and their long back, many owners of bassets look at joint-supporting supplements or a food that already includes ingredients aimed at joint health, particularly from middle age onward. This is a genuine consideration for the breed rather than a marketing add-on, though any specific product should still suit your individual dog's needs.
A complete food that already lists a joint-support ingredient on the label is a reasonable starting point, but a supplement added on top of an otherwise balanced diet is worth discussing with your vet first, especially if your basset already shows any stiffness or reluctance to move.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Alpha Sensitive Salmon & Rice
A salmon and rice dry food for adult dogs with sensitive digestions, made without wheat gluten, soya or dairy.
£49.00
Alpha Working Dog Maintenance Chicken
An energy-controlled chicken dry food for working dogs with lower energy needs or a tendency to put on weight.
£29.00
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Senior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin for joints
£82.35
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Bakers Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables Dry Dog Food
Bakers Chicken with Vegetables dry dog food, 14kg, complete nutrition for adult dogs
£39.15
Harringtons Adult Dog Salmon & Potato
Complete salmon and potato dry dog food with 21% protein in a 1.7KG bag
£6.25
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Burgess Supadog Adult Complete Dog Active
Complete dry food for active adult dogs, built around poultry meal and calcium for bone health
£29.15
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food Turkey Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for adult dogs, evenly balanced with potato in the mix
From£12.75
James Wellbeloved Adult Breed Dry Dog Food Turkey Rice
A hypoallergenic dry food for adult dogs, in small and large breed versions, built around single-source turkey protein
From£45.75
Common questions
- Do basset hounds need a large breed or a medium breed food?
- Many bassets sit in the medium-to-large weight range despite their short legs, so check the weight guidance on the bag against your own dog's weight rather than going by their height. A vet or the packaging's weight chart is the more reliable guide than the breed name alone.
- Are basset hounds prone to weight gain?
- Yes, this is one of the more food-motivated breeds and they do not reliably stop eating when full if food is left available. Measured meals, a suitable portion size for their weight, and limiting treats all help keep a basset at a healthy weight.
- Does a basset hound's back need a special diet?
- There is no specific diet that protects a long back on its own, but keeping a basset at a healthy weight reduces the strain on their spine considerably. A joint-supporting food or supplement is something many owners add from middle age onward, ideally after discussing it with a vet.
- How often should I feed an adult basset hound?
- Two measured meals a day is a common and sensible routine for most adult bassets, rather than one large meal or food left down throughout the day. Keeping to a consistent schedule also makes it easier to notice if their appetite changes.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.