Bloodhounds are having a bit of a moment. Trumpet, a 4-year-old bloodhound from Illinois, won Best in Show at this year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Dog lovers everywhere are learning what you already know—bloodhounds make amazing pets!

Finding the best food for your bloodhound can be a challenge. Most adults weigh around 100 pounds, and feeding them is no small feat. We’ve sifted through dozens of dog food brands to find the best on the market today. Our list includes picks for adults, puppies, seniors, and dogs with special dietary needs.

A Glance at Our Top Picks (2024 Update)

The 10 Best Dog Foods for Bloodhounds

1. Ollie Fresh Chicken Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

Ollie Fresh Chicken with Carrots is our #1 pick with its fresh chicken with carrots recipe. The use of human-grade food and minimal processing means you aren’t getting a typical purée. You’ll see carrot chunks, whole peas, rice, and ground chicken. Plus, it’s a fresh, gently cooked recipe that provides excellent hydration and nutrition.

Ollie is a subscription-based service that ships fresh dog food to your door. The downside with this and other fresh food formulas is that they must be kept refrigerated or frozen, but you can check out the baked version of this recipe if you want shelf-stable dog food. Switching to a new food can be a risky proposition since you waste money if your dog doesn’t like it. Luckily, Ollie offers a money-back guarantee on its starter boxes, making it the best overall dog food for Bloodhounds.

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2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy

The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult uses vegetables for natural coloring. This recipe is free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Some large breed brands only come in super-sized packaging. You’ll appreciate the 15-pound bags if you’re tired of lifting heavy dog food bags. The only ingredient that gives us pause for concern is the “Natural Flavor.”

This ingredient is far down the list, but some pet owners would appreciate more transparency. Blue Buffalo produces their dog food at two facilities: Joplin, Missouri, and Richmond, Indiana. This recipe is free of corn, wheat, and soy but includes brown rice and barley for grains. The kibble pieces in the formula are 11 to 13 millimeters and are designed with bloodhounds and other large breeds. Blue Buffalo’s Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is a good budget option because of its moderate price point, high-quality ingredients, rave reviews, and availability.

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3. ORIJEN Amazing Grains Regional Red Dry Food

This recipe is a good choice if your vet recommends high-protein dog food with grains. It is expensive, and the average house pet doesn’t need a diet this high in protein. Oat groats, millet, and whole oats are grains, but the formula steers clear of soy, wheat, and corn, which are common allergens for a few dogs with grain allergies.

ORIJEN Amazing Grains Regional Red has a higher caloric content than many other brands, so adjust feeding amounts accordingly. It has thousands of positive reviews, but a handful of owners report that their dog experienced an upset stomach after eating it.

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4. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Dry Food

Bloodhound puppies have different nutritional needs than their adult counterparts. This formula’s flavors of chicken, chicken liver, and pork liver appeal to many puppies. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed is a moderately priced brand that does not use artificial colors, flavors or preservatives in its dry dog foods. The one ingredient we’d like to see more transparency over is the “Natural Flavors.”

We like that Science Diet offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. You can get your money back or a replacement product if you or your pup are unhappy with this recipe for any reason. This food contains fish oil, and a few reviews state that the odor was overwhelming and slightly rancid. You can maintain the food’s freshness by following the manufacturer’s storage instructions. Keep the dry dog food in its original packaging and store it in a cool, dry place. It can degrade after prolonged exposure at 120 degrees F and above. The company produces its dog food at its U.S. facilities with globally sourced ingredients. Most dogs should eat puppy food until at least their first birthday, but larger breeds, like bloodhounds that continue to grow, may need to eat a puppy formula longer. Talk with your veterinarian if you have any questions about what to feed your bloodhound puppy.

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5. ACANA Wild Atlantic Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Consider this ACANA Wild Atlantic Recipe if your dog’s allergies and intolerances have left you scrambling for food they can eat. This formula is not only grain-free, but it also does not contain any beef, poultry, or lamb. A variety of fish provides protein, while apples and pumpkins add fiber. This is an expensive recipe, but bloodhounds don’t typically need such a specialized diet. Most dogs tolerate grains, and it’s best to check with your veterinarian before switching to this recipe. The kibble pieces are approximately 1/2 inch in diameter, which some dog owners claim is too large for their pups, but kibble size probably won’t be an issue for an adult bloodhound with healthy teeth. ACANA produces its food in Edmonton, Alberta, and Auburn, Kentucky. The 4.5-pound bag allows your dog to try this formula without breaking the bank.

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6. Solid Gold Wolf King Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

This Solid Gold Wolf King Large Breed Adult might appeal to bloodhounds that turn their noses up at poultry and beef-based recipes. The animal proteins in this blend are novel: bison and ocean fish. Unlike many other novel protein recipes on the market today, this recipe does contain grains. Your dog gets beneficial nutrients from oatmeal and pearled barley without the common grain allergens of wheat, soy, and corn. Further down the ingredient list are superfoods like salmon oil, blueberries, and cranberries.  Solid Gold has produced pet food since 1974 and considers itself “America’s first holistic pet food.” Some pet owners have expressed concern over tiny pinholes on the food bag. Solid Gold states these “micro-perforations” allow air to escape, preventing mold and bacteria from building up. The company’s 100% satisfaction guarantee allows you to get your money back if your bloodhound doesn’t like the food.

The kibble pieces are approximately ¼ inch big. This larger size shouldn’t be a problem for adult Bloodhounds and other large breeds but may pose a problem for smaller dogs in your home. This recipe has overwhelmingly positive customer reviews, with the top complaint being that dogs didn’t care for the taste.

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7. Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

This Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed will appeal to you if you want a GMO-free dog food packed with superfoods like chia seeds, flaxseed, coconut, and kale. Nutro recently reformulated some of its recipes, including this one. The biggest complaint from long-standing customers is that their dogs do not like the new recipes, but this won’t be a problem if your bloodhound is new to Nutro. A few dog owners mentioned that the kibble crumbles easily when they add water or wet food. The texture may be a pro or a con, depending on how soft your dog likes their food.

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8. Stella & Chewy’s Stella’s Super Beef Freeze-Dried Raw Food

Raw food diets appeal to some dog owners but have drawbacks. Raw dog food must be refrigerated or frozen, and the food preparation requires careful handling. Stella and Chewy’s Stella’s Super Beef Freeze-Dried Raw Food takes the hassle out of raw dog food by offering this freeze-dried formula.

You can serve the food as-is, mix it with other dog food, or rehydrate it with cool or warm (not hot) water. The manufacturer states that the raw food should not be cooked or heated up. Not all bloodhounds will benefit from this recipe. Talk with your veterinarian before you switch to this or any other raw, high-protein, grain-free dog food. Stella and Chewy’s is cost-prohibitive for many pet owners, especially when served as a dog’s main diet.

According to the manufacturer’s feeding directions, a 100-pound dog would require 22 patties if that this the only food they’re eating. There are less expensive, high-protein, grain-free foods on the market for dogs that need this type of diet. However, Stella and Chewy’s makes our list because it’s one of the few raw, freeze-dried dog foods available.

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9. Rachael Ray Nutrish Big Life Large Breed Dry Dog Food

Rachael Ray’s Nutrish Big Life Large Breed is moderately priced and widely available, and most dogs love the beef and chicken flavors. The unspecified “Natural Flavor” may make this unsuitable for dogs with food allergies and intolerances since the manufacturer doesn’t tell us exactly what the flavor is. Proceeds from the sale of this and other Nutrish formulas fund the Rachael Ray Foundation, which supports animals in need.

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10. Purina Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Wet Dog Food

We end our list with wet food formulated for senior dogs Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials. Older bloodhounds often have special dietary needs and may need fewer calories as they nap their days away. It’s not uncommon for older dogs to have teeth pulled, and that’s where soft, wet food comes in. The grain in Purina Pro Plan is rice, which some dogs tolerate better than corn, wheat, or soy. The inclusion of unspecified “meat by-products”—the organs, fatty tissue, and bones leftover from the butchering industry—makes this food unsuitable for dogs with confirmed protein allergies. Purina is a household name, and it’s easy to find its products in stores and online.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Food for Bloodhounds

Searching for the right dog food can be challenging. Below, we answer some of the most asked questions about bloodhounds’ dietary needs.

Do Bloodhounds Need a Special Diet?

Your average healthy adult bloodhound, which is also a family pet, does not need a special diet. Any large breed formula on our list will meet their nutritional needs. Your final choice depends on your budget, preferences for specific ingredients, and your dog’s taste buds.

Bloodhounds that are hunting companions or working dogs may need a higher-calorie diet to keep up with their energy needs. Talk with your vet about adjusting your dog’s diet during hunting season.

Your vet may recommend a special diet if your pup has a health condition, is over- or under-weight, or has food allergies. Puppies and senior dogs also have different nutritional needs than adults.

How Do I Choose the Right Food for My Bloodhound?

Your primary considerations when choosing food should be your dog’s age, lifestyle, and overall health. You’ll also want to consider how easy it is to purchase a brand of dog food. Online, subscription-based services are a solution for busy households that don’t want to run out of food. Other dog owners prefer to buy dog food wherever they shop for groceries and household supplies.

Grain-free pet foods are a growing trend but don’t be too quick to jump on the bandwagon. Most dogs with food allergies or intolerances have trouble digesting animal proteins, not grains. And even dogs with corn, soy, and wheat allergies may tolerate other grains like rice and barley. Consult your veterinarian or a certified veterinary nutritionist before switching to a grain-free diet.

How Long Should a Bloodhound Puppy Eat Puppy Food?

Your bloodhound will grow substantially in their first year, from a tiny puppy you can hold in your hands to a 100-pound adult! Many bloodhounds can switch to adult food around their first birthday, but some pups will still be growing. Your dog’s one-year check-up is a great time to ask your vet if your bloodhound is ready for adult dog food.

In Conclusion

We hope these reviews make it easier to choose the right food for your bloodhound.

Our top choice is Ollie’s fresh chicken with carrots recipe. This subscription-based service is perfect for people who don’t want to go to the store or worry about running out of dog food. Our second pick is Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult Recipe. This brand stands out for its larger kibble size and smaller packaging.

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Featured Image Credit: Anna Tronova, Shutterstock