Weight control in a Basset Hound is mostly a household management problem, not a food problem. The breed is heavy boned, low slung and relentlessly food motivated, so measure every meal, count everything else that goes in, and let your vet set a target body condition and review it regularly.
The scavenging is the breed, not a training failure
Bassets were bred to follow a scent for hours without losing interest. That nose does not switch off indoors, and it does not distinguish between a rabbit trail and a dropped chip behind the sofa. Owners who describe their Basset as eating anything are not exaggerating and are not doing anything wrong.
What this means practically is that the bowl is only part of the intake. A Basset that finds the cat's food, licks the plates in the dishwasher, works the bin, patrols under the highchair and takes treats from three different family members can be consuming a substantial second diet that nobody is tracking.
So before changing anything about the food, spend a week counting. Write down every single thing the dog eats, including the crust from a toddler and the chew given to keep it quiet during a phone call. Most owners are genuinely surprised by that list, and for many households fixing the list is the entire intervention.
The build is the reason it matters
A Basset carries a long body on short, heavy boned legs. That is the breed standard and it is what the dog is meant to look like. It also means that every extra pound is carried by a frame with unusual proportions, over a long span, for the dog's whole life.
You do not need a medical explanation to act on that. A dog of any build is better off at a lean body condition, and a dog built like this has less room to spare than most. If you want to understand what the conformation means for your individual dog's health, that is a question for your vet, who can examine the dog and tell you directly.
Judging condition on a Basset is harder than on most breeds, because loose skin and a heavy frame disguise a lot. Ignore the outline and use your hands. Ribs should be findable under a thin layer without pressing hard. Feel for the narrowing behind the ribcage rather than looking for it.
A practical audit of a household
The pattern in that table is that the bowl is the one thing everyone measures and the one thing that is usually not the problem.
One more habit is worth building: weigh the full daily ration out in the morning into a sealed container, and let that container be the only source of food for the day. Training rewards come out of it. The chew after the walk comes out of it. When the container is empty, the day is done. This removes arithmetic entirely and it removes the argument about whether a particular biscuit counted.
Food, and where the numbers are not
Once intake is genuinely under control, the recipe question is straightforward: feed a complete and balanced adult food consistently and let the amount do the work. Turkey Reduced Carbohydrates is My Perfect Pet's gently cooked single protein turkey recipe with vegetables including green beans, broccoli and sweet potatoes. It is offered as an everyday adult food; whether it suits your dog is a question for your vet, and any weight plan should be built by them.
My Perfect Pet does not publish calorie content, guaranteed analysis, feeding directions or weight based portion charts on its website, so this article cannot tell you how much to feed a Basset who needs to lose weight. That is precisely the figure you should be getting from a vet anyway, because a weight reduction plan needs a target, a rate and a review schedule, not just a smaller scoop.
The starting information you can get yourself is on the printed pack, in the Nutrition Facts Sheet PDF on the product page, and in the weight calculator on that page. If a figure you want is not published, ask the brand in writing.
The AAFCO consumer guide to pet food explains how to read what is on a label, which is useful when you are comparing what different foods actually tell you.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Basset Hound always hungry?
Bassets were bred as persistent scent hounds, and strong food motivation comes with that temperament. A Basset that constantly seeks food is behaving normally for the breed rather than signalling that its meals are inadequate. Manage the environment and the total intake instead of increasing portions in response to the behaviour.
How do I tell if a Basset Hound is overweight?
Use your hands rather than your eyes, because loose skin and heavy bone hide body outline on this breed. You should be able to feel individual ribs under a thin covering without pressing, and feel a narrowing behind the ribcage. Ask your vet to score body condition at each visit and tell you the target.
How do I stop a Basset Hound stealing food?
Treat it as an environment problem. Feed other pets in a separate room and lift the bowls afterwards, use a bin the dog cannot open, sweep under the table after meals, keep treat jars out of reach, and tell visitors the rule directly. Training helps, but removing opportunity works faster.
Should a Basset Hound eat a special diet to control weight?
Any weight plan for an individual dog should come from a vet who has examined it, including what food and what amount. A vet can set a target condition, a sensible rate of change and a review schedule, which is what actually makes a plan work. Do not start a reduction plan based on a website alone.
How much should I feed a Basset Hound each day?
My Perfect Pet does not publish feeding directions or calorie content on its website, so no figure can be given here. Use the weight calculator and Nutrition Facts Sheet on the product page for a starting point, check the printed pack, and have your vet set the amount based on your dog's current condition.
Related reading: Feeding a Senior Labrador Retriever: Keeping Weight Off an Older Retriever and Feeding a Shiba Inu Who Decides When to Eat