Contents
Breed Profile: Basset Hound
Where to Get a Basset Hound
Gear for Your Basset Hound
How to Feed Your Basset Hound
How to Groom Your Basset Hound
Basset Hound Healthcare
How to Socialize Your Basset Hound
How to Train Your Basset Hound
How to Fix Basset Hound Behavior Problems
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How to Feed Your Basset Hound
The basset’s sad expression makes it tempting to give him a treat when he begs, but this breed is prone to obesity, so a high-quality and nutritious diet is imperative. Feeding your dog properly will prevent premature aging, coat problems, and serious health issues.
Commercial Foods
Using commercial dog food is the easiest way to feed your basset—just open the package and pour it into the bowl.
Types of Commercial Dog Food
There are three main types of dog food: dry, semi-moist, and canned.
- Dry food: Dry food, or kibble, is less expensive than semi-moist and canned foods of equal quality. Dogs who eat kibble usually have cleaner teeth than dogs who eat wet food because the dry bits scrape tartar from the teeth during chewing.
- Semi-moist food: Semi-moist dog foods are essentially soft, kibble-like chunks. They tend to stick to the teeth, harboring bacteria that cause gum disease, and most of them contain dyes and chemical preservatives that your dog just doesn’t need.
- Canned food: Canned foods may be recommended for a dog with dental or medical problems or for a dog whose appetite is poor due to illness or old age. Canned food is usually more expensive than dry food and must be refrigerated once opened.
Buying Commercial Food
The number of commercial dog foods on the market is staggering. When choosing a food for your Basset, always read the package carefully, including the ingredients, and consider the following factors:
- Formula: There are specially formulated foods that are tailored to the needs of dogs of certain ages or activity levels. For example, you can find puppy formulas, active dog formulas, less active dog formulas, and senior formulas.
- Premium vs. generic: Premium brand dog foods are more expensive than generic brands but also usually use higher-quality ingredients that are healthier and easier to digest.
- Meats vs. meat by-products: Buy only brands that use meat, as opposed to meat by-products. The first ingredient on the ingredient list should be a specific meat, such as lamb, beef, or chicken.
- Preservatives: Avoid foods that contain artificial preservatives, which can cause health problems. These preservatives include ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Natural preservatives such as tocopherols (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) are safer.
Noncommercial Foods
Although it’s more expensive and time-consuming to prepare food for your dog at home, some owners prefer to do so. There are two main types of noncommercial diets: home cooked and raw. Before pursuing either diet, consult your vet so that the two of you can design a food plan that helps your dog get the nutrients he needs.
Home-Cooked Diets
Proponents of home-cooked diets claim that their dogs have more energy, shed less, and are leaner. Home-cooked diets include mostly human-grade foods, such as low-fat cuts of meat, deboned chicken, fish, fruits and veggies, healthy grains, yogurt, and human-grade supplements.
Raw Diets
Raw diets, also called BARF (bones and raw food), usually consist of raw chicken and turkey bones; organ meats (liver, kidney, heart, brain, tongue, and tripe); eggs; some veggies; and apple cider vinegar.
Never feed your basset cooked bones, as they can splinter and puncture the digestive tract.
Treats
Treats are an integral part of training and account for a great deal of pleasure in a basset’s life. Rather than use artificial “junk food” treats, look for natural and low-calorie treats in specialty pet stores, online retailers, or even in some big pet store chains. You also can provide carrots, green beans, or freeze-dried chicken as healthy rewards.
Supplements
It’s possible to improve your basset’s diet with supplements, but it’s just as easy to make him sick by introducing an imbalance into his diet. Always talk with your vet before giving your basset any supplements.
Feeding Schedule
Feeding your dog at scheduled mealtimes is the best way to control how much he eats, resulting in better weight control and allowing you to monitor his health. (Lack of appetite is often the first sign of illness.) Free feeding, a method in which food is left out all day, can wreak havoc on the digestive system and lead to obesity.
The best feeding schedule for your basset depends on his age and lifestyle. While your vet or breeder can best advise you as to what kind of feeding plan is appropriate for your basset’s particular life stage, the chart below provides a general outline.
Life Stage |
Meals per Day |
Best Food |
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Puppies (under 12 weeks) |
4 small meals |
Puppy formula (protein less than 25%) |
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Older puppies
(12 weeks–
6 months)
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3 |
Puppy formula |
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Adolescents
(6 months–
1 year)
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2 |
Active formula |
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Adults
(1+ years)
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2 |
Adult formula |
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Seniors
(6+ years)
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1–2 |
Senior formula |
How Much to Feed
Rather than feed your basset each time he begs for food, stick to regular meals and an occasional treat. If you’re serving commercial food, the package directions may not suit your individual dog, so talk to your vet or breeder. If you’re serving noncommercial food, consult your vet.
Food-Related Problems
You may encounter food-related problems—picky eating, health issues, obesity, and so on—in caring for your basset.
Picky Eating
If your basset refuses to eat the food you serve, try another type of food, but make the change gradually to avoid stomach upset.
Health Issues
If your basset seems to suffer from gas, intestinal problems, allergies such as itchiness or hair loss, or other health issues, discuss the problem with your vet, who may recommend a specially formulated food.
Obesity
The primary reason for obesity in dogs is overeating, and bassets will happily overeat if given the opportunity. Be careful not to let your basset get overweight—overweight dogs in general are more likely to get sick and live dramatically shorter lives than thinner dogs do. Older dogs are particularly prone to gaining weight as their metabolism slows down.
How to Tell Whether Your Basset Is Obese
To determine whether your basset is overweight:
- Feel the ribs: If you can feel your basset’s ribs and the spaces between them without feeling an intervening layer of fat, your dog is probably at a good weight.
- Look from above: If your basset appears thinner at the waist, he’s a good weight. If no thinning is visible, he may need to lose weight.
What to Do If Your Basset Is Obese
Regardless of your dog’s age, you can help him lose weight if necessary by changing his feeding and exercise habits:
- Change feeding habits: Switch your basset to a low-calorie or senior-formula food, and cut back on the amount you feed him at each meal. Also limit his treat intake.
- Change exercise habits: Increase your dog’s daily walks by just a few minutes each day until he is getting 10 additional minutes of exercise a day.
| Text & Photos Copyright © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. | Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
