Rhodesian Ridgeback Feeding Guide (Everything You Should Know)

Hello, pet parents! Welcome to my ultimate guide on feeding Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a Rhodesian Ridgeback, how often to feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback, when to feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback, what foods to feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback, what foods to avoid feeding your Rhodesian Ridgeback, and other questions you may have about your Rhodesian Ridgeback’s nutrition.

You can read the article to the end or go through the table of contents below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are super athletic dogs that were bred for hunting. They are known for their intelligence, power, loyalty, and muscular texture.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks need to be fed foods that contain adequate nutrients in their right proportion to reach their optimum growth. Doing otherwise can result in obesity or malnutrition.

I have created this ultimate guide to feeding your Rhodesian Ridgeback for curious and new pet parents to solve your dog’s nutrition problem. I will go into detail on every feeding question you may have based on my personal experience working for a veterinarian.

Let’s jump into the article.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Nutritional Requirements

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are large sized dogs that require the proper nutrients in their specific amount to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog.

Your Rhodesian Ridgeback’s meal should primarily consist of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins to meet their nutritional requirements for a healthy lifestyle.

The large size of a Rhodesian Ridgeback will require adequate and quality nutrients to maintain its body weight and strong bones to support its massive frame. Anything short of this can result in many health problems and prevent your dog from reaching its peak size.

Your Rhodesian Ridgeback’s protein source must be animal protein like chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef. Their fat source can be fish oil or vegetables. Their source of fiber can come from wholesome, healthy vegetables like cabbage, carrots, sprouts, and broccoli.

Nutritional Requirement for a Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy

The diet of a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy should consist of 22-32% protein, 10-15% fat, and 6% fiber. Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies are incredibly energetic and have a high metabolism. They grow very fast and will require quality nutrients to keep up. They require protein for building healthy muscles and minerals for strong bones; carbohydrates for energy; and fats for maintaining a healthy fur.

Nutritional Requirement for an Adult Rhodesian Ridgeback

The meal plan for an adult Rhodesian Ridgeback should consist of 26% protein, 15% carbohydrate, 5.5% fat, and fiber. At this stage, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are most active and will need protein and carbohydrates to keep their weight and energy level optimal. However, you should avoid overfeeding your pet at this stage, as Dobermanns are prone to obesity and will develop health complications.

Nutritional Requirement For a Senior Rhodesian Ridgeback

Your Rhodesian Ridgeback is less active at this stage than at previous stages. Your pet’s food at this stage of life should ideally consist of 26-32% protein, 5.5% fat, and fiber. Senior Rhodesian Ridgeback s will need more minerals and vitamins in their food to keep their immune system and bones healthy.

Factors Affecting The Feeding of A Rhodesian Ridgeback

Some factors will affect the diet of your Rhodesian Ridgeback, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.

Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.

Size consideration

The average length of a Rhodesian Ridgeback for males is 63-69 cm, and for females, it is 61-66 cm from the soles of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of a male Rhodesian Ridgeback is 36-41 kg, and that of a female is 29-34 kg.

Male Rhodesian Ridgebacks are generally bigger than female Rhodesian Ridgebacks, which means that the male will require a larger intake of calories than the female to stay healthy and strong.

Age consideration

Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies will require more calories during their growing stage due to their high metabolic rate. They need to be fed a lot if you want them to grow into strong, healthy dogs.

Adult Rhodesian Ridgebacks should not be fed more often than puppy Rhodesian Ridgebacks. The adults have a slow metabolism that can lead to stomach bloating and indigestion if they’re fed excessively.

Your senior Rhodesian Ridgeback will be less active and require fewer calories than when they were younger. Doing otherwise might lead to obesity and other serious health problems.

Activity Level

Athletes are required to maintain a strict diet compared to non-athletes, so you should also keep your Rhodesian Ridgeback away from certain foods if you want to maintain its athletic abilities.

You wouldn’t want to feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback a meal high in fat and sodium, like cheap fast food, which would make him sluggish and lethargic.

These fast foods don’t contain the nutrients that would make your dog perform to the best of their abilities and make them slow to learn new tricks or obey your commands.

Health Consideration

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are prone to certain health conditions, which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues.

Some health issues that affect Ridgebacks include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, auto-immune thyroiditis, dermoid sinuses, cataracts, entropion, distichiasis, degenerative myelopathy, cervical vertebral instability, and congenital deafness.

These health problems could be avoided or mitigated by eating or avoiding certain foods from the start, rather than treating them as they arise.

It might be tempting to cut corners and go for the cheapest food. But engaging in such an act in the long run could lead to pain, seeing your Rhodesian Ridgeback sick, frequent visits to the vet, and thousands of dollars in expenses.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Feeding Quantity

Your Rhodesian Ridgeback, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to their stage of development. The amount of food a puppy will need will be different than the amount of food an adult will need to meet their nutritional requirements.

On average, feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy 0.8 to 2.77 cups of food; feed your adult Rhodesian Ridgeback 2 to 5 cups per day; and feed your senior Rhodesian Ridgeback 2.25 to 2.75 cups per day.

I will provide you with charts below to help you plan your dog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.

How Much To Feed a Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy

For your puppy and adolescent Rhodesian Ridgeback to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat.

A Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy should be given 0.8 to 2.77 cups of food per day that contains 694 to 1770 kcal of nutrients, based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The feeding requirement of your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy is given in detail in the charts below:

Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications.

How Much To Feed an Adult Rhodesian Ridgeback

The nutritional requirements of an adult Rhodesian Ridgeback differ from those of a puppy. The food of an adult Rhodesian Ridgeback should have a lower percentage of proteins and fats to prevent obesity. This is done by reducing the feeding frequency to two times per day.

An adult Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy should be given 2 to 5 cups of food per day that contain 1100 to 1601 kcal of nutrients, based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of an adult Rhodesian Ridgeback and help you with their meal plan.

How Much To Feed a Senior Rhodesian Ridgeback

Senior Rhodesian Ridgebacks are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain fewer calories, protein, and fat.

Geriatric Rhodesian Ridgebacks are often plagued with health issues. Some of these issues can be alleviated by supplementing your senior dog’s diet with vitamins and minerals to help revive his or her weakened immune system and fragile bones.

Senior and geriatric Rhodesian Ridgebacks should be given 2.25 to 2.75 cups of food per day that contains 1077 to 1501 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.

The table below gives you some details about the meal plan for senior Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

However, you must still ensure they get the essential nutrients.

You can continue giving your senior dog the same food you give your adult Rhodesian Ridgeback, only in a smaller quantity as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Feeding Frequency

Your Rhodesian Ridgeback’s meal frequency will vary the same as the feeding amounts, which are majorly dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback:

How Often Should You Feed a Great Rhodesian Ridgeback?

•         During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.

•         8 weeks to 3 months old: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.

•         4 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them three times a day with equally spaced time intervals.

How Often Should You Feed an Adult Rhodesian Ridgeback?

You should feed your adult Rhodesian Ridgeback twice a day, with 12 hours of spacing between meals. One in the morning and one in the evening is ideal.

How Often Should You Feed a Senior Rhodesian Ridgeback?

You should feed your senior Ridgeback two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Feeding Schedule

•             Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies should be free-fed or fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues

•         Adolescent Rhodesian Ridgeback should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into an adult.

•         Adult and Senior Rhodesian Ridgeback should also be fed in the morning and the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.

As a general rule, you should feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.

In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be heavily used as a reward when training your Rhodesian Ridgeback.

The Kind of Food To Feed a Rhodesian Ridgeback

The food you feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback should specifically cater to large breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.

The food to feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback includes dry dog food, wet dog food, home-cooked food, and Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.

Let me touch on these few points to help you understand what to feed your dog:

Dry Dog Food: Dry dog food, or kibble, is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry dog food contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein. Dry dog food is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.

Wet Dog Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often more protein. They are recommended by veterinarians due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.

Home-Cooked Diet:    Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food and want to go the extra length to prepare a meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal gives you control over its nutrition and can put your mind at ease knowing that you are always providing the best care for your dog.

BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a diet that includes raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.

The Kind of Food To Avoid Feeding Your Rhodesian Ridgeback

We should take caution before giving whatever food we’re eating to our Rhodesian Ridgeback. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.

There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your Rhodesian Ridgeback because these foods contain toxins that are harmful to your pet that could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.

Human food to avoid feeding your Rhodesian Ridgeback includes chocolates, coffee, gums, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.

The fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your Rhodesian Ridgeback include grapes, avocado, garlic, onions, etc.

You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.

When To Transition Your Rhodesian Ridgeback From Puppy Food To Adult Food

You should transition your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 10–12 months old.

Transitioning your adolescent Rhodesian Ridgeback from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at that stage of life.

Transitioning needs to be gradual by introducing adult feed bit by bit until you get to 100% adult feed.

However, feeding your adult Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth. 

Why Your Rhodesian Ridgeback Is Not Eating

Your Rhodesian Ridgeback will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:

Illness, dental problems, stomach sensitivity, changes in hormone levels, medication, constipation, time of day, spoiled food, anxiety, dehydration, stress

Rhodesian Ridgebacks can be picky eaters; one way to combat this is to make their food a mixture, like kibble mixed with some quantity of B.A.R.F. However, you should see the vet as soon as possible if your Rhodesian Ridgeback consistently refuses to eat and drink.

Why Your Rhodesian Ridgeback Is Always Hungry

Rhodesian Ridgebacks, like other large dog breeds, are big eaters. Other reasons may be a deficiency in some nutrients, learned behaviors, too much stress, or a lack of food training.

Excessive exercise will make your dog’s body burn faster, thus making them hungry after such exercises. Worms could be another reason your dog is always hungry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Making sure your Rhodesian Ridgeback is properly fed and receiving all the nutrients they require to grow strong and healthy is an essential aspect of taking excellent care of them.

The nutritional requirements of a puppy are different from those of an adult Rhodesian Ridgeback, and if your Rhodesian Ridgeback is like most of them, they seem to enjoy anything they are fed.

Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. You can free-feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback as puppies, but you have to draw up a strict plan as they go on. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some are toxic.

However, if you desire more information on how to take care of your Rhodesian Ridgeback, you should contact the nearest vet for information on essential nutrients, and you can also see a pet nutritionist for a regimen schedule for your pet.