Best Dog Food For Coonhounds: Fuel for the Hunt

Have a Coonhound? Curious to know what the best dog foods for Coonhounds are? We got that covered, read on.

Coonhounds are sociable dogs that shine on the hunt. Their colorful braying and keen sense of smell make them great hunting companions ready to get the job done. They’re also happy just being with their people at the end of the day.

Coonhounds can’t tolerate any excess weight, so to support life long health, they’ll need dense nutrition with plenty of protein to sustain their energy needs without empty fillers that can cause weight gain.

Let’s see what it takes to keep your Coonhound variety happy and healthy.

Why Quality Food Matters for Your Coonhound

Dense nutrition strips away all the fillers, so your Coonhound gets every building block needed for lifetime health without the risk of gaining weight.

Quality foods also contain critical substances and supplements that round out nutritional needs. Dogs that are fed diets closer to the way their omnivore ancestors would have eaten stand a better chance of having everything they need to stay happy and healthy for a lifetime.

 

Best Dog Food for Coonhounds

Coonhounds need dense nutrition to keep up with their energy needs all day long. They’re sweetly affectionate but definitely an athletic breed requiring heavy exercise and plenty of room to run.

Protein supports those muscle groups, and quality carbohydrates keep energy levels consistent.

1. Ollie Fresh Pet Food

Ollie dog food is a brand of premium, fresh, and customized dog food that aims to provide a healthy and balanced diet for dogs. The company claims to use only high-quality, human-grade ingredients and to tailor the nutrition of each batch of food to the specific needs of each individual dog.

If your dog's ready for some sheep thrills, we suggest this meal centered around lamb and butternut squash. Perfect for pups with allergies, this feast also contains nutrient-dense cranberries and kale.

About The Company – Ollie’s fresh food is made and hand-packed in the USA. They are partners with a veterinary nutritionist to formulate their nutritionally-balanced recipes in accordance with AAFCO standards. All of their food is cooked in small batches in their USDA-regulated kitchen.

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2. We Feed Raw Chicken Patty

A taste of the wild is exactly what your Coonhound will taste when it wharfs down a bowl of this chicken meal.

This is a top-tier raw meal designed to deliver optimal nutrition and exceptional taste for dogs of all life stages. Made from cage-free chickens raised without added hormones or antibiotics, this recipe ensures your pet enjoys the highest quality protein in every bite.

Expertly crafted by a PhD nutritionist, the Chicken Patty combines fresh muscle meat, nutrient-rich organ components, and finely ground bone to provide a complete and balanced diet.

Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, it supports strong muscles, healthy digestion, and vibrant energy levels.

Naturally hydrating and free from fillers, artificial additives, and preservatives, this patty is as pure as it is delicious. Conveniently portioned and irresistibly palatable, it is the perfect choice for pet parents looking to nourish their dogs with the best nature has to offer.

This food is suggested for different breed sizes, ranging from small to large and is also specially made for dogs that have entered the adult stage of their lives.

About The Company – This is a trusted pet food brand specializing in biologically appropriate, raw diets that mirror the natural eating habits of dogs and cats. Founded with a commitment to quality and nutrition, the company uses only premium ingredients like high-quality meats, organ components, and ground bone to craft balanced, complete meals. All recipes are expertly formulated by a PhD nutritionist to ensure pets receive the essential nutrients they need for optimal health.

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3. Nulo Freestyle Duck Recipe With Pears

Nulo offers a revolutionary approach to canine nutrition, crafted to deliver unparalleled quality and taste.

With 95% of its protein derived from animal sources, this premium formula provides the biologically appropriate diet your dog craves, supporting muscle development and overall vitality.

Containing three times more meat content than traditional kibble, it stands out as a protein-packed powerhouse. Designed as a reduced-carbohydrate diet, it aligns with your dog’s ancestral needs, minimizing fillers and maximizing nutrient density.

The recipe undergoes a meticulous preparation process where ingredients are gently steamed to preserve essential nutrients, then oven-dried and cold-pressed to lock in flavor and freshness.

This innovative technique ensures your furry companion receives a wholesome, minimally processed meal with every serving.

Whether for playful puppies or active adults, this offers a complete, grain-free option for dogs at all life stages, promoting robust health and tail-wagging satisfaction.

About The Company – Nulo is a pet food company that is all about delivering recipes that brings out the best in pets. All of the recipes are made to the highest standard of quality and do not take shortcuts of any kind.

The brand’s products are all high in animal-based protein, low in carbohydrates, and use low glycemic ingredients to promote stable energy and a healthy body condition. Each of the ingredients in its recipes are functional and carefully selected with intention. 

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4. Nom Nom Pet Food

Nom Nom’s gently cooked recipes provide nutrition in a form your dog is going to love. Tasty Turkey Fare uses just six ingredients to give your Coonhound fewer allergic reactions without sacrificing any protein or energy sources. Plus, it comes in an easy to serve meal right to your door.

About The Company – Nom Nom is a vet created, cooked food meal plan that arrives directly at your door and gives you everything you need to feed your Coonhound a top of the line diet. It uses plenty of high quality, organic ingredients and is convenient to serve.

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5. Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe

Instinct uses real raw bits of meat freeze-dried and mixed in with premium kibble to give your Coonhound an extra burst of protein and encouragement to eat.

Its densely nutritious and offers joint support, fatty acids for skin and eye health, plus essential vitamins and antioxidants from whole fruits and vegetables.

About The Company – Instinct tries to mimic your Coonhound’s ancestral diet through an omnivore style recipe. It’s nutritious, supports energy, and prevents excessive weight gain when appropriately portioned. Plus, it uses only premium ingredients in each of its recipes.

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6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Red Meat

This recipe uses premium ingredients with complete proteins for a large breed formula to help control weight and provide energy all day.

It uses healthy carbs plus vitamins and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables. Plus, it’s grain-free to help reduce inflammation and digestive issues.

About The Company  – Blue Buffalo uses premium ingredients to provide the best nutrition to your companion, much like the nutrition given to the company’s namesake Blue, the Airedale Terrier. It uses only complete proteins, plus combinations of vitamins and minerals for dense nutrition and all-day energy.

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Puppy Food

Coonhound puppies need to get carefully controlled calories to prevent rapid growth that can stress developing bones. They also need plenty of DHA plus other essential fatty acids for brain development and skin health.

Guaranteed levels of phosphorus and calcium help bones grow strong. Remember to consult your vet closely.

7. Nutro Puppy Tender Chicken & Sweet Potato in Gravy Recipe

This brand has been around long enough to know what makes a high-quality premium dog food. They do not skimp on the protein sources, and their gravy mix is full of flavor that all puppies will eagerly enjoy.

This premium, grain free wet dog food is full of nutrients and flavor that dogs—big and small—go crazy over. Each high-protein meal is balanced with vitamins and minerals and crafted with real chicken as the very first ingredient.

About The Company – Nutro uses a holistic approach to nutrition. They’re more widely available now than they used to be, and that means good news for your growing puppy. You can get everything you need to keep your puppy’s health and well being in the forefront, building lifelong health.

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8. Now Fresh Grain-Free Puppy Recipe

This grain-free formula helps control development while still providing all the necessary building blocks for a lifetime of health.

Guaranteed levels of calcium and phosphorus assist with developing bone structure while DHA keeps your Coonhound’s growing brain healthy. Probiotics encourage healthier digestion and may help reduce the overall stool smell.

About The Company

Now Fresh’s holistic approach is a better way to feed your puppy the best nutrition you can. The company uses premium ingredients to provide vitamins and minerals without causing the rapid growth of cheaper puppy foods.

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Senior Food

Seniors need weight control and joint support. Together, these two things help keep your senior active even into the twilight years. Talk with your vet about what you can do to ensure your senior is getting the right nutrition without adding empty calories or ignoring weight.

9. Merrick Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Senior Recipe

Chicken provides a lean protein source for seniors who may not be as active as they once were. Sweet potatoes help avoid blood sugar spikes and provide complex carbs for energy all day.

The formula also has glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health while essential fatty acids promote eye health and proper brain function.

About The Company – Merrick is a smaller company based in Texas. They buy ingredients from local sources and use their own test kitchens to create each formula, ensuring you get only the best nutrition for your aging Coonhound. They have plenty of recipes for even picky seniors, ensuring your senior always has options.

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10. Iams Proactive Health Healthy Aging with Real Chicken

Specially formulated to support the unique needs of senior dogs, helping them stay active and vibrant as they age.

Featuring real farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient, this nutrient-rich formula provides high-quality protein to maintain muscle health and strength.

Enhanced with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it promotes a strong immune system and overall vitality. The recipe includes a tailored blend of fiber and prebiotics to support healthy digestion, while omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, nourish cognitive health and joint function, keeping your senior dog sharp and mobile.

Fortified with L-carnitine, it helps maintain a healthy metabolism and weight, making it ideal for aging dogs. Free from artificial preservatives, flavors, and fillers, it offers a complete and balanced diet that meets the nutritional needs of your senior dog, helping them thrive in their golden years.

About The Company – Nutro’s commitment to quality nutrition extends to your senior. Founded in 1946 by Paul F. Iams, the company pioneered the use of animal protein as a primary ingredient in pet food, revolutionizing pet nutrition. The company uses premium kibbles with joint support supplements and high-quality proteins to help keep your Coonhound active and moving. Plus, they’re now more widely available outside of specialty stores.

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Common Health Issues a Good Dog Food Can Help With

Coonhounds have a few issues commonly associated with athletic dogs and one issue that’s pretty particular to the breed. Let’s take a look at what you should be watching out for.

Dysplasia – Athletic dogs are prone to ill-effects from dysplasia, a genetic condition in which the hip or elbow socket fails to form correctly.

With weight gain or excessive activity levels, it can pop out of place and cause a great deal of pain. Good food can help keep your Coonhound’s weight under control and support muscle groups that will keep the joints supported.

Bloat – Bloat occurs when the stomach suddenly distends and twists. Without treatment, it’s quickly fatal.

Coonhounds, like many other larger, barrel-chested breeds, are prone to bloat and would do much better on foods that can be served in smaller portion sizes without sacrificing energy throughout the day.

Quality foods pack a lot more critical nutrition into smaller portion sizes so that your Coonhound can feel full and happy on several smaller meals per day.

Eye Issues – Coonhounds are prone to cataracts and retinal atrophy. Foods that support soft tissues and eyesight are good ways to help mitigate the effects of both of these disorders although you’ll likely have to seek vet treatment in the long run.

Make sure your foods have plenty of vitamins and antioxidants to support overall eye health and prevent early deterioration.

What to Look For in a Quality Dog Food

A vital ingredient in any dog food is protein. It should always be the first ingredient on the list and should come from sources like whole deboned chicken and never just “meat” or by-product meals. If you can’t identify what type of meat is in your dog food, it’s best to change it out for one that lists meat clearly on the label.

Fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrients for your Coonhound that can support systems like digestion and nervous system. Dogs are omnivores, so making sure they have a variety of foods in their diets helps keep them in top shape the way their ancestors would have eaten.

Fatty acids help with brain development when Coonhounds are puppies and later, helps support the skin and coat health. Glucosamine and Chondroitin promote joint health, helping to cushion joints and make them stronger. Fiber plays an important part in weight control and gives your Coonhound precious prebiotics for better digestion.

If your Coonhound has severe allergies or skin irritations, it can be best to switch to a limited ingredient diet to help keep those inflammations down. LIDs have a single source of protein and limited other ingredients to just a few to help ease digestion and reduce those allergic reactions.

Ingredients to Avoid

Cheap fillers like corn and soy are terrible for your dog and provide only empty calories. They make it very difficult to keep your dog from gaining weight because you need to feed too much to get the correct amount of nutrients. Avoid foods altogether that list these anywhere in the ingredients list.

Artificial flavors encourage your Coonhound to eat faster, making it more likely for bloat to occur. Artificial colors are only included to fool you into thinking the food is healthier than it is or to unify the colors all together. Avoid both of these as well.

Unfortunately, many dogs are allergic to grains and gluten, but the common substitutes can lead to an enlarged heart. Researchers found a tentative link between potatoes and legumes and a condition called Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Until we know more, talk to your vet about avoiding these ingredients altogether or at least avoiding foods that list them in the first two or three positions just to be safe.

 

Brands To Avoid

We know you like to save money, and several big box brands are right in front of you tempting you with those dollar signs. We recommend avoiding the following brands despite their low prices because you’ll pay for them in the long run with more frequent vet visits.

• Pedigree: The familiar yellow bag hides a plethora of red flag ingredients. Artificial colors, by product meals, and cheap fillers are top on the list. Run far away.
• Kibbles N Bits: The familiar blue bag also hides a poor quality food that uses every single ingredient we mentioned to stay away from. It doesn’t matter that the bag is cheap. You’ll probably regret using it.
• Ol Roy: The food made directly for Walmart may feel like a jackpot, but it contains nothing but empty fillers, poor quality protein sources, and artificial flavors. Plus, the kibble is difficult for some dogs to chew.

Coonhound Feeding Chart

Most Coonhounds hover around 65 or so pounds, with a few larger or smaller depending on genetics. As puppies and seniors, you need to watch their weight gain, so you don’t end up with issues later and talk to your vet about individual recommendations.

Puppies: Control their growth. That’s mission number one for your puppy’s food. Calories should be restricted, but not so much your puppy doesn’t grow. Your vet is likely to change food recommendations a few times as your puppy matures.

Adults: Most adult will receive around three cups a day divided up into smaller meals. Check on the back of the food bag for specific feeding instructions and work closely with your vet to monitor weight.

Seniors: Seniors will get similar nutrition as they did when they were younger, but with alterations for weight gain or reduction in activity levels. Keep in close contact with your vet to make sure you have the best recommendations for your individual dog.

Final Thoughts

Your Coonhound can keep up energy levels for most of its life if it receives the right nutrition from the start. Use a quality food to help keep muscle tone and joints supple so that you can keep playing and snuggling even into the golden years.

It’s essential that you pay attention to your Coonhound’s weight throughout its life so that it never gets too big to slow down. It’s time to get your food on track and help your best friend live the best experience it can for as long as possible.