Dog food for overweight Basset Hound

So your vet has flagged the weight and asked you to take a closer look at food and portions — that's actually a really useful prompt, because Basset Hounds are one of those breeds that will eat well past the point of full, and the weight creeps up gradually until it's causing real stress on their joints and spine. At eight years old, that matters even more. To point you in the right direction: what are you currently feeding, roughly how much per day, and does your Basset have any other health issues or sensitivities I should know about?

That's helpful. Two cups twice a day of a standard adult dry food is likely more calories than an eight-year-old Basset with a sedentary lifestyle needs — they're not high-energy dogs at the best of times, and at this age they slow down further. Pedigree Adult is a reasonable everyday food but it's not formulated for weight control, and the calorie density is higher than you want right now. Before I give you a recommendation — is he still reasonably active on walks, or has he slowed down noticeably?

That confirms it — his energy output is low, so the food really does need to do the work here. My recommendation is Hill's Science Plan Adult Light in the chicken flavour dry kibble. It's a well-researched, genuinely calorie-controlled recipe — not just watered-down filler — with L-carnitine to support fat metabolism and a fibre level that keeps dogs feeling satisfied between meals. That last bit matters a lot with Bassets, who are very food-motivated and will act hungry even when they're not. It's also widely trusted by vets in the UK for exactly this kind of situation. I'd start with the feeding guide on the pack using his current weight, then reassess with your vet in six to eight weeks.

Gradually, always. A sudden switch can cause digestive upset even with a healthy dog. Mix about 25% of the new food with 75% of the old for the first two or three days, then 50/50 for another two or three days, then 75% new for a couple more days, and then fully onto the new food. The whole transition takes about ten days. If he gets loose stools at any point, slow it down and hold at that ratio a bit longer before moving on.

A few things worth doing in parallel. First, measure his portions by weight rather than cup — cups are imprecise and it's easy to overfeed without realising. Second, cut out extras if he's getting them: treats, table scraps, or toppers all add up quickly and undermine the lighter food. If you do give treats, use a small piece of his daily kibble allowance rather than adding on top. And if walks can extend even slightly over the coming weeks, that'll help too — Bassets are not built for running but a longer amble is well within their comfort zone. That's really all you need alongside the food change.