Complete Feeding Guide for Redbone Coonhounds

A Complete Guide to Properly Feeding a Redbone Coonhound from Puppy to Senior. You’ll learn not only what to feed them but also how much, how often, and what not to feed them. Ready to explore the nutrition world through this gorgeous American breed?

What Does the Redbone Coonhounds Nutrition Needs?

Because of their hunting heritage and physical characteristics, Redbone Coonhounds hold special nutritional needs. This breed originated in the United States as versatile, hardy dogs with incredible stamina and tracking skills. Therefore, their diet must accommodate:

• High levels of energy required for prolonged activity
• Robust musculature enables them to cover difficult terrain
• Stable joints that can handle the load from running and jumping
• Good coat condition in their unique solid red coloration – Healthy immune system to stop common health problems A good diet plan for a Redbone Coonhound would be protein-rich and contain high-quality animal protein, as this will help them maintain their lean muscle mass and stay healthy. Generally, 22-26% protein is suitable for adult dogs, while puppies will require higher levels – around 26-30%, to promote healthy growth.

Healthy fats are also vital, providing fatty acids that promote coat health and support cognitive function. For adult Redbone Coonhounds, a fat content of approximately 12-16% is usually suitable but slightly higher amounts (15-18%) may be beneficial for puppies to support their growth. Complex carbohydrates for energy, as well as vitamins and minerals key to their overall health, should also be added to their diets. Most commercial dog foods offer these nutrients in adequate quantities, but be sure to select formulations suitable to your dog. Technically, Redbone Coonhounds are still considered puppies until they're at least a year old.

How Often Should Redbone Coonhounds Eat

Most often, Adult Redbone Coonhounds do very well on a feeding schedule of twice a day. This routine prevents issues like bloat which can be an issue with deep-chested breeds. This can help reduce spikes in blood sugar, giving your Redbone a steady, well-balanced energy level all day as well. Redbone Coonhounds that work on the hunt or run a lot may do better with an altered feeding schedule. For days that involve demanding periods of activity, small breakfasts, and bigger evening meals could be a way to aid recovery.

Daily Food Intake of A Redbone Coonhound

The need of food for Redbone Coonhounds are around the factors:

1. Age and life stage
2. Status of work and degree of operation
3. Metabolism and unique attributes
4. Quality of food being offered
5. Health conditions For this reason, the Redbone Coonhound is a good choice of dog breed for many people. Average adult Redbone Coonhound needs 2.5 to 3.5 cups of high-quality dry dog food a day. However, working dogs may require as much as 4 cups or more, depending on energy expenditure. Weighing your dog and assessing his or her body condition frequently is key, as is a careful eye on portions.

Portion control is key to keeping obesity at bay, which can add stress to joints and lead to other health issues. As a general rule, if you can easily feel, but not see, your dog's ribs, and the dog has a visible waist when viewed from above, he's probably at an ideal weight.

The Diet of the Redbone Coonhound

Due to their size and activity level, Redbone Coonhounds do best on high-quality commercial dog foods specifically formulated for medium to large breeds with moderate to high activity levels. When choosing a pet food, look for a specific animal protein (chicken, beef, or fish) as the first ingredient. Most Redbone owners choose to feed top quality dog foods which consist of:

• Meat as the first ingredient
• Few fillers and artificial additives
• Omega fatty acids for coat health
• Glucosamine and chondroitin support for the joints
• Right calorie density for active dogs

For those Redbone Coonhounds with active usage for hunting or participation in canine sports, performance or sporting dog formulations may be beneficial. These formulas also provide increased protein and fat content to help support energy needs that are for extended periods of time.

How Much Water for Redbone Coonhounds?

Redbone Coonhounds require sufficient hydration, especially due to their high energy levels. These dogs should always have access to fresh, clean water and will average about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. For Redbones, 50-70 pounds, this is about 6-9 cups of water per day. In response to hot weather, or higher activity levels, water consumption may increase dramatically. Always be sure that your Redbone has access to water while exercising and after (especially hunting trips or outings outdoors).

Are Redbone Coonhounds Allowed Milk

Although a small quantity of milk might not be a problem for every Redbone Coonhound, it's generally best to avoid giving milk too frequently as a drink for your dog. Most adult dogs — Redbones included — are somewhat lactose intolerant, which means they don't have enough lactase enzyme to properly break down lactose in milk. Giving milk to your adult Redbone Coonhound might result in:

• Digestive upset
• Diarrhea
• Gas and bloating
• Discomfort

How Much to Feed a Redbone Coonhound Puppy

Due to their size, Redbone Coonhound puppies grow very quickly, and they need a diet designed for large breed growth. As they grow, the quantity of food will also need to be increased:

• 8-12 weeks: 1 to 1.5 cups of puppy food, split into three meals
• 3-6 months: 2 to 3 cups spread throughout three meals
• 6-9 months: 2.5 to 3.5 cups in two meals
• 9-12 months: Start gradually switching to adult portions (2.5-3.5 cups) split between 2 meals

These amounts are guidelines that you would need to modify for your puppy depending on the puppy's rate of growth, amount of exercise, and the calorie density of the food. The puppy food must be formulated for large breed puppies so they can grow without gaining weight too quickly which can strain developing joints.

Keep a close eye on your Redbone puppy's body condition. You want their bodies to have a little hourglass shape from the top, and you want to feel but not see their ribs. Modify feedings if they seem too thin or are getting too fat too quickly.

How Many Times to Feed Redbone Coonhound Puppies

Redbone Coonhound puppies require a more frequent feeding schedule than adults, including:

1. 2-3 months: 3 to 4 times daily
2. 3-6 Months: Feed 3 times daily
3. 6-12 months: Move to two feedings a day

This schedule of frequent feeding helps sustain stable blood sugar levels in puppies and supports their rapid growth and high energy needs. It also helps stave off hypoglycemia, which can be an issue in very young puppies.

Set a feeding schedule and try to keep to the same feeding times to make house training easier and to ensure digestive regularity. Once it is time for the puppy to eat, remove uneaten food after approximately 20 minutes to encourage the dog to eat promptly, and also as part of the house-training efforts.

How Much Water Should Redbone Coonhound Puppies Be Drinking

Make sure that Redbone Coonhound pups have 24/7 access to fresh water. Adult dogs drink approximately 1 ounce of water for each pound of body weight a day, but puppies often require additional water per pound of body weight, this extra is usually due to their higher metabolism and active lifestyle.

Monitor your puppy's water consumption — particularly through the housetraining stage. You don't want to withhold water during the day but you can try picking up the water bowl a few hours before bed to assist during nighttime housetraining.

If you notice your Redbone puppy is drinking too much, or showing symptoms of dehydration (dry gums, lethargy, loss of skin elasticity), please contact your veterinarian, as this can be a signal of a health problem.

Can Redbone Coonhound Puppies Have Milk

It isn't generally a great idea to give Redbone Coonhound puppies cow's milk, although they're born drinking their mom's milk until weaning. Of course, almost everyone will tell you that puppies should get milk, but cow's milk has different nutrients than dog milk and may upset the pup's digestive system.

If you're feeding an orphaned Redbone puppy or adding to a nursing litter, it's okay to go with a commercial puppy milk replacer specifically formulated to duplicate a mother dog's milk. Never use regular cow's milk, as it can cause nutritional deficiencies and digestive issues.

Milk products are no longer necessary after weaning, and puppies will obtain all their nutrition needs from high-quality puppy food. If you'd like to give your pet a special treat, try small amounts of plain yogurt or cottage cheese; your furry friend may tolerate these better than milk, but you should also offer these only sparingly.

Redbone Coonhound Food Recommendations

Redbone Coonhounds do well on a regular diet of high-quality commercial dog food and a few healthy treats. Here's an in-depth look at different food varieties and whether or not they are good for this breed:

Fruits

Offer fruits to your Redbone Coonhound as healthy, low-calorie treats in moderation. This is how popular fruits rank for these pups:

• Apples: Great treat, but the core and seeds need to be removed. Apples are a source of fiber and vitamins with comparatively low-calorie content.
• Bananas: Good, in moderation, because the potassium and vitamins in bananas are beneficial, but they are also higher in sugar than some other fruits.
• Strawberries: Very good low-calorie food with a high level of antioxidants and vitamin C. Most Redbones appreciate the sweet taste.
• Watermelon: Super hydrating snack (with seeds removed) Especially helpful in the heat or after a workout
• Pineapple: Occasional good (small amounts) and can be effective in stopping coprophagia (stool eating) in some hounds.
• Mango: OK sometimes when the pit is gone. High in vitamins A and C but relatively high in sugar.
• Papaya: Beneficial digestive aid in small amounts, with dozens of enzymes, like the pineapple.
• Oranges: Minor amounts are fine but a lot of dogs don't like the citrus smell and taste.
• Grapes: Grapes and raisins, even in small quantities, can lead to kidney failure in dogs, including Redbone Coonhounds.

When providing fruits, always remove pits, seeds, and rinds and introduce new foods gradually, supervising for signs of digestive upset.

Vegetables

Veggies can be great low-calorie munchies and nutrient enhancers for Redbone Coonhounds:

• Carrots: Fantastic crunchy treat that may wipe their teeth while giving them vitamin A and fiber. Many Redbones love raw carrots as a chew, which is such a good treat.
• Cucumber: Very good hydrating snack with little to no calories. Especially make sure they eat less if they are less active Redbones.
• Corn: Feed moderately and only of the kernels (do not give cob; choking/obstruction risk). Corn is hard for some dogs to digest.
• Green beans: Good low-calorie filler that can keep Redbones from feeling hungry while losing weight.
• Sweet potatoes: Nutritious treat once cooked, as they supply fiber and vitamins.
• Pumpkin: An excellent digestive aid (plain, canned pumpkin—not pie filling) and can help with diarrhea and constipation.
• Broccoli: Good in tiny quantities but produces gas in larger amounts
• Bell peppers: By removing its seeds, a great vitamin C source.

Meat

As vestiges of hunting dogs, Redbone Coonhounds generally do best on diets that are high in animal protein:

• Cooked meat: Great protein source when seasoned you want to avoid seasoning, onions, or garlic Meats such as chicken soak, turkey, and beef can be beneficial meat for your Redbone.
• Raw meat: Controversial prospect, requires strict handling to be safe. If opting for a raw diet, speak to a veterinary nutritionist to make sure it is nutritionally complete.
• Fish: Great source of omega-3 fatty acids, most especially, cold-water fish such as salmon. Can also promote healthy coats and decrease inflammation.
• Skin on salmon: Good to go, if cooked through, but bones out! Rap salmon is out, as it may carry parasites.
• Ham: Feed rarely if at all because of salt content. Once in a while small bits are okay, but not for full-time!
• Chicken bones: DANGEROUS and NEVER TO BE GIVEN, particularly cooked chicken bones which may break off and sting, causing internal injuries or blockages.

Other Foods

Here are a few more food items that are suitable for Redbone Coonhounds:

• Eggs: Excellent source of protein when cooked. Eggs contain highly absorbable protein and helpful nutrients.
• Raw eggs: Avoid because of the risk of Salmonella and avidin in egg whites can inhibit biotin absorption
• Cheese: Acceptable in small amounts for the majority of Redbones, but be on the lookout for lactose intolerance. Cheddar and other low-lactose choices are generally better tolerated.
• Candy canes: NOT okay because of the sugar content, xylitol (toxic to dogs), and choking hazard.
• the Chocolate: HIGHLY TOXIC to dogs — DO NOT feed your Redbone Coonhound any amount of chocolate.

As always with any other human food, give it in small amounts and observe for any negative reactions. Always keep in mind that these treats and supplemental foods should not make up more than 10% of your canine's caloric intake per day for nutritional balance.

Age-Based Feeding Guidelines

As your Redbone Coonhound ages, its nutritional needs will also evolve, similar to all other breeds. As they live, the telah menyeuaikan mereka dengan menu mentsystem di setiap taraf, giving the appropriate diet at every stage.

Puppy Stage (0-12 months)

Redbone Coonhound puppies go through a very rapid growth phase, so they require a nutrient-dense diet designed for large-breed puppies. Such formulations generally feature:

• More protein (26-30%) for muscle growth
• Regulated calcium specs to allow robust skeletal growth without inducing developmental orthopedic problems
• DHA supplementation for brain & eye development
• Correct calorie density to avoid excess rapid growth

Redbone Coonhound puppy development generally shakes out like this:

1. Weaning phase (4-8 weeks): Gradual move from mother's milk to softened puppy food
2. Early growth (2-4 months): Rapid growth 3-4 meals a day
3. Middle growth (4-8 mo): Further grow up with 3 meals a day
4. Late growth (8-12 months): Slow move to adult feedings 2 times per day

For the whole of this time, do not use excessive supplementation other than on advice from your own vet; the balance of minerals can have a significant effect on developmental skeletal issues.

Adult Stage (1-7 years)

The Adult stage is the prime years of a Redbone Coonhound. Their nutritional requirements become more stable, sending the need to be adjusted according to the activity level:

• Working/hunting Redbones: May need performance recipes with higher protein (26-30%) and fat (15-20%) to sustain their active lifestyle
• Companion Redbones: Should do well on good quality maintenance diets with moderate (22-26%) protein and fat (12-16%) levels
• Sedentary dialers: May require certain portions to be controlled to avoid weight gain

At this stage, consistent feeding schedules continue to balance digestive health and energy maintenance. All adult Redbones do well on twice-daily feeding, but exceptionally active dogs can benefit from a third small meal on heavy exercise days.

Body condition scoring is helpful during the adult phase. You should be able to feel the ribs of your Redbone without excess fat covering them, see a definite waist when looking from above, and see an abdominal tuck when looking from the side.

Senior Stage (8+ years)

Metabolism usually begins to slow and activity levels decrease as Redbone Coonhounds approach their senior years. Their nutritional requirements shift in turn:

• Lower calorie density to help avoid weight gain
• An increase in fiber content to aid digestive health
• Joint-supporting nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin
• Moderate levels of highly digestible protein to help sustain muscle mass without straining kidneys
• Improved antioxidant profile to fight cellular aging
• Smaller, frequent meals, easier to digest
• Warmed food slightly to improve scent and taste
• Softer food choices were problems arise with teeth

Older Redbones should also be closely monitored for unusual changes in weight, appetite, or water intake, all of which could be signs of an internal issue that requires the attention of a veterinarian.

Daily Caloric Requirements

The daily caloric needs of your Redbone Coonhound are vital to keeping weight and health. These are guides, not hard and fast rules, it all depends on the individual needs, but they give you some idea of portions.

What Impacts Caloric Needs

A handful of elements will dictate how many calories your Redbone Coonhound needs:

1. Weight and size: Naturally, larger people need more calories
2. Activity level: Working/hunting dogs may require 20-40% more calories than sedentary pets
3. Age: Higher caloric needs for puppies and young adults than for seniors
4. Strengths in Metabolism: Individual metabolic rates can differ massively
5. Reproductive status: Intact dogs usually maintain higher metabolic rates as compared to neutered/spayed dogs
6. Health conditions: Some medical conditions can raise or lower calorie needs

Estimating Baseline Caloric Needs

A good general guideline you can use to estimate your Redbone Coonhound's daily caloric needs is this formula:

For average-weight adult dogs:

• 30 × body weight in kg (or 70 × body weight in pounds^0.75) × activity factor

Where the activity factor is:

• 1.2-1.4 for neutered/sedentary dogs
• 1.6-1.8 for intact/moderately active dogs
• 2.0-5.0 for working/very active dogs

For a moderately active 65-pound adult Redbone Coonhound, this may translate to around 1,500-1,800 calories each day.

For puppies, caloric requirements are usually elevated:

• 2-3x adult maintenance energy requirements for expected adult weight, divided among multiple meals

Practical Feeding Recommendations

To translate caloric needs to practical feeding amounts, you can find the caloric content of your selected dog food on the packaging (usually listed as kcal/cup or kcal/kg).

For example: If your dog food has 350 kcal/cup

• And your moderately inactive 65-pound Redbone requires 1,650 calories a day
• This means you would provide about 4.7 cups per day (1650 ÷ 350 = 4.7)

This quantity should be split over at least two meals (morning and evening) to avoid bloat and sustain energy levels.

Adjusting Portions

The amount calculated is just a guideline. The most important thing you can do is to regularly monitor your dog's weight and body condition to help tailor their diet. Every 2–4 weeks, evaluate the body condition of your Redbone and adjust portions as needed:

• If starting to gain unwanted weight: a 10% decrease in daily portions
• If you are losing weight: Increase 10% in daily servings
• For normal weight: Continue the current feeding regimen

Treats and supplemental foods contribute to daily caloric intake. A good rule of thumb is that treats should make up no more than 10% of daily calories to hit the nutritional balance.

The best way to determine how much food to feed your Redbone Coonhound, especially if they are problematic from a health standpoint or have other special needs, is to work with your veterinarian to develop an appropriate feeding plan for your particular dog. Redbone Coonhounds have particular dietary needs stemming from their robust lifestyle as a hunting breed highly recognized for their endurance and stamina. But with this muscly build, impressive endurance, and healthy coat, raccoon-hunting medium to large-sized dogs need a balanced diet. Whether working dogs or cherished family companions, the distinctive dietary needs of your Redbone Coonhound are critical to their maintenance in peak condition throughout all their life stages.

So read on for your complete feeding guide to your new lifetime bestie, the Redbone Coonhound — from puppyhood to retirement, and everything in between! You'll learn not only what to feed them, but how much, how often, and which foods to avoid. So, let us step into the nutritional space of this lovely American breed.

Conclusion

Feeding a Redbone Coonhound Properly Feeding this breed means you understand its nutritional requirements as an active, working dog breed with a strong history of hunting. These unique red hounds require healthy nutrition all the way from puppyhood to senior years, which helps ensure a muscular build, high-energy nature, and well-being. Good quality commercial dog food formulated specifically for their life stage and activity level, in conjunction with healthy treats in moderation, is the cornerstone of proper nutrition for Redbone Coonhounds. Whether your Redbone is an active hunting companion or a pampered member of your family, adjusting their diet so you help them maintain ideal body condition will help them live a long and healthy life.

Key Principles to Follow for Feeding Your Redbone Coonhound:

• Tailor portions to activity level, particularly for working dogs that may need substantially more calories on hunting days
• Make sure to watch body condition closely and adjust feeding amounts accordingly to help keep in ideal condition
• Create regular feeding schedules with appropriate feeding frequency for their age
• Make sure there is always fresh water available, especially during and after exercise
• Offer treats judiciously, using healthy treats such as low-fat meat, suitable fruits and vegetables
• Consult your veterinarian about any specific health issues or dietary needs

By adhering to these recommendations and paying careful attention to your canine companion's specific requirements, you'll be doing your bit to keep your Redbone Coonhound as fit, energetic, and healthy as this great American breed is meant to be. A well-fed Redbone Coonhound is going to be not just a beautiful individual with their beautiful, shiny red coat, but also someone who has the energy and health to enjoy a long and active life, whether that is pursuing scents through the woods or just accompanying you and your family around the house.