Dog breeds / Giant breeds

What a Bloodhound really costs

Bloodhounds are big eaters with big-dog vet bills: OFA finds about a quarter of screened hips dysplastic, and bloat is a real emergency risk that can top $8,000 to treat. They also eat things they shouldn't, which AKC says often leads to vet visits. Insurance runs noticeably higher than for a Lab, so budget accordingly.

Size: Giant, 80–110 lb
Life expectancy: 10–12 years
Grooming: Low
Insurance risk: Above average
Puppy price: $1,000–$2,500
Food a day: About 1,880 calories

Where the money goes each year

A typical adult year for a Bloodhound with mainstream food, home grooming, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $1,140 more than the median breed.

Illness and injury (average)$1,559
Food$976
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$457
Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
Toys, beds and everyday supplies$330
Dental cleanings$213
Treats and chews$195
Grooming$53
License$20
Typical year$4,130

Most years land between $3,020 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $6,030 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 5 add about $180 a year for senior checkups.

The first year

Buying a puppy front-loads the bill: the price, gear, puppy shots and spay or neuter.

Bringing a puppy home

Breeder price$1,750
Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$900
Spay or neuter$760
Microchip$50
Puppy or basic obedience class$149
Upfront$3,610

Running costs in year one

Food$976
Treats and chews$195
Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$457
Grooming$53
License$20
Illness and injury (average)$1,559
Year-one running costs$4,000

First-year total: $7,610. Adopting instead brings it to about $4,890.

Health costs to plan for

MoneyGeek's 2026 table puts a young Bloodhound at about $54/month versus $42 for a Labrador Retriever, driven by bloat, hip and elbow dysplasia, and eyelid surgery risk.

Condition	How it affects Bloodhounds	Typical treatment	Cost
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)	In a prospective US study of 11 large and giant breeds including the Bloodhound, 5.7% of dogs developed GDV and 28.6% of those died; AKC flags bloat for the breed. Source	Emergency decompression, stomach-derotation surgery and gastropexy with hospitalization	$2,500–$8,000
Hip dysplasia	OFA rates 26.4% of 3,752 Bloodhound hip X-rays as dysplastic. Source	Surgical treatment from FHO up to total hip replacement	$1,500–$7,000
Elbow dysplasia	OFA rates 14.9% of 1,932 Bloodhound elbow X-rays abnormal; Embrace names the breed as predisposed. Source	Arthroscopic or surgical treatment, per elbow	$1,500–$4,000
Entropion and ectropion	Heavy, loose facial skin makes eyelid problems common; Embrace lists the Bloodhound for entropion. Source	Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)	$1,100–$2,000

The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $1,559 for illness and injury. A single surgery can cost several times that, which is the case for an emergency fund or insurance.

What drives the cost of a Bloodhound

At 80-110 lb, a Bloodhound eats like a giant breed; food will be one of the largest recurring costs.
Ask your vet about a preventive gastropexy during spay/neuter; emergency bloat surgery runs $2,500-$8,000 per Pumpkin.
Daily ear and wrinkle cleaning supplies are a small but permanent cost that prevents infections.
Bloodhounds swallow socks, toys and other objects; AKC notes this often leads to vet visits, so an accident-and-illness policy with foreign-body coverage is worth having.
A tall, secure fence and long tracking lines are must-haves for a scent hound that will follow a trail for miles.

Breeder or rescue

Reputable breeder: $1,000–$2,500
Rescue or shelter: $150–$350
Lifetime, from a breeder: $49,800
Lifetime, adopted: $47,100

iHeartDogs lists $650-$2,500 by region and Petful's 2026 snapshot $600-$2,000; breeders with OFA hip, elbow and cardiac results are at the upper end. American Black & Tan Coonhound Rescue, which places Bloodhounds nationally, charges a $350 adoption fee.

Adopting vs buying: the full cost comparison

Similar-size breeds by yearly cost

Great Pyrenees$4,000 a year
Akita$4,080 a year
Cane Corso$4,280 a year
Bullmastiff$4,530 a year
Rottweiler$4,680 a year
Boerboel$4,810 a year
Compare all breeds

Common questions

How much does a Bloodhound puppy cost?

A Bloodhound puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $1,000–$2,500. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $150–$350.

How much does a Bloodhound cost per year?

After the first year, a Bloodhound costs about $4,130 a year, or $344 a month, for food, vet care, preventives, grooming, supplies and average illness costs. Depending on food, grooming, insurance and where you live, a typical year ranges from about $3,020 to $6,030.

How much does a Bloodhound cost over its lifetime?

About $49,800 over a 11-year life when bought from a breeder, or $47,100 if adopted, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Prices are averages from the sources above and the cost baselines on our methodology page, in 2026 US dollars. Your vet, groomer and city will differ. Updated October 14, 2026.