Raw food for Basset Hound ear infections

A vet pointing toward raw feeding to help with chronic ear infections and inflammation is actually well-grounded — there's a real body of evidence linking highly processed diets and common protein allergens (especially chicken and beef) to the kind of ongoing inflammatory response that shows up in Basset Hound ears. That said, raw done well is genuinely excellent, and raw done badly creates nutritional gaps that cause real harm over time — the difference is balance and sourcing. To point you in the right direction: what does your Basset Hound currently weigh, have you ever fed raw before, and are you looking for a complete ready-made product or thinking about preparing meals yourself?

Good — that's actually the safest starting point, especially for a first-time raw feeder. At 28kg and slightly overweight, you'll want to feed to his target weight rather than his current one, so probably calculating portions for around 25–26kg. Now, the key question for a dog with chronic ear infections and inflammation: has your vet or you ever noticed whether the flare-ups are worse after eating anything in particular? Chicken especially?

That's really useful — and your vet is onto something important. Chicken is by far the most common dietary trigger for chronic skin and ear inflammation in dogs, and a Basset Hound who's eaten it daily for seven years has had plenty of time to develop a sensitivity. The standard approach is to move to a novel protein — something he's never had — and keep it single-source so you can actually see whether it's making a difference. My recommendation is Natural Instinct Pure Duck, 1kg frozen blocks. It's DEFRA-approved, nutritionally complete to FEDIAF standards, uses a single protein source, and duck is genuinely one of the best novel proteins for inflammatory and allergy-related conditions. No fillers, no added chicken, no grain. At his target weight of around 26kg, you'd feed roughly 2–2.5% of body weight daily, so about 520–650g split across two meals — one block covers roughly two days.

Realistically, allow 8–12 weeks for a proper dietary trial — that's the timeframe most vets use before drawing conclusions. Some dogs show improvement in coat quality and reduced scratching within 4–6 weeks, but ear infections specifically can take longer to resolve because there's often an existing bacterial or yeast component that needs treating topically at the same time. Keep feeding raw duck exclusively during the trial — no treats containing chicken, no flavoured chews, nothing that could muddy the results. If his ears are still infected right now, your vet may want to clear that with medication first while you start the dietary change alongside. The two approaches work together rather than one replacing the other.

Great choice — and you're doing this the right way by starting with a complete product and a clear reason behind the protein switch. One practical tip: defrost in the fridge overnight rather than at room temperature, and Natural Instinct's blocks divide easily into daily portions once partially defrosted. Keep a simple log of his ear condition, any scratching, and coat quality — even just a few notes a week — so you have something concrete to show your vet at the follow-up. Good luck with him.