Bloodhounds boast having short, naturally glossy coats which are low maintenance in the grooming department. Water literally runs off their backs because their coats are so weather-resistant making them the ideal dog to take out for a walk when it is raining. With this said, regularly brushing a dog's coat helps keep it in good condition and the same can be said for their skin.
Because Bloodhounds have such long, pendulous ears, it's important to check them on a regular basis to make sure they are kept dry and free of any foreign objects. If moisture builds up inside a dog's ear canal, it can lead to a yeast infection taking hold which can be notoriously hard to clear up once it flares up.
Bloodhounds need to be given a lot of daily exercise because although they may look a bit cumbersome, they are in fact athletic characters that need a minimum of 2 hours exercise every day to be truly happy, well-rounded dogs. They also like to be given a lot of mental stimulation or boredom can set in which can lead to a dog developing a few unwanted behaviours and this includes being destructive around the house and eating or chewing anything within their reach.
If you get a Bloodhound puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule for your new pet and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding them the same type of puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upset and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and before discussing things with the vet before attempting to change their diet again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature Bloodhound twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories which is important or they might start to gain too much weight.
Because Bloodhounds have a tendency to suffer from bloat (gastric torsion), it’s important not to feed them before they go out for a walk or to do any sort of strenuous exercise. It’s also important not to feed them as soon as they come back from a walk for the same reason.
