What Is The Best Dog Food for a Greyhound?

The Ultimate Greyhound Food Buyer’s Guide

Tall, sleek, and athletic, the Greyhound is an ancient sighthound breed that dates back at least a couple of thousand years. Greyhounds have historically been used for coursing and hunting game such as rabbits. The dogs can often reach speeds of over 40 miles per hour, making them one of the fastest mammals in the world over shorter distances.

The breed is known for being gentle and intelligent and they make excellent pets as long as they can have a good run a couple of times per week. If you have a Greyhound it’s usually advised to have a fence that is higher than normal (5-6 feet tall) since the dogs can jump. Some Greyhounds have a strong prey drive and will chase other small pets. Keep your Greyhound leashed when out for a walk. They can be prone to taking off to chase small animals if they see them.

In the United States there are essentially two kinds of Greyhounds – Greyhounds registered with the American Kennel Club and Greyhounds that are registered with the National Greyhound Association (NGA). NGA Greyhounds are the dogs that are used for racing. There are some slight differences in appearance. The AKC dogs are taller and sleeker while the NGA dogs have more muscling like sprinters; but otherwise, the dogs are very much alike in temperament.

Many dogs are adopted as pets after they retire from competitive racing and the NGA is very supportive of Greyhound adoption. Most of these dogs are 2-4 years old when they are done competing. If you are interested in a puppy, you may need to consider getting an AKC Greyhound. These dogs are raised as pets. They may participate in dog shows or companion events (obedience, agility, etc.) or lure coursing, but they are not racers.

Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which will direct you to our partner sites. If you purchase the pet foods we recommend through those links, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you.

Quick Look : Top 4 Best Dog Foods for Greyhounds

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Orijen Adult Dry Dog Food	$2.76/lb
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Dry Dog Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$2.01/lb
I and Love and You Nude Food Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$2.61/lb

Greyhound Diet & Nutrition

According to the standard for the breed, the Greyhound typically weighs between 60 pounds (small female) and 88 pounds (large male). They usually stand between 27 and 30 inches tall, with females being at the smaller end of the scale.

Despite their athleticism, Greyhounds are not on the go all the time. Adults are usually quiet at home and enjoy resting and relaxing in the house. They don’t require lots of daily exercise. They have been bred for top speed sprinting to catch prey instead of endurance. Greyhound puppies, however, can be very active and even destructive if they don’t have a good outlet for their energy, but this is true of many athletic breeds. A Greyhound puppy does need lots of room to run and play while he is growing.

Growing puppies and young adults use a lot of energy. They require a diet that features good quality protein. According to the National Research Council of the National Academies, an active adult Greyhound dog weighing 70 pounds requires an average daily caloric intake of 1740 calories. Dogs that have been spayed/neutered, or that are older, may need fewer calories. Some dogs may need more calories depending on their level of activity and their individual metabolism. Growing puppies, for example, consume more calories than adult dogs and so do young adult dogs. A young adult Greyhound dog weighing 70 pounds needs an estimated 1876 calories per day.

Protein is very important for your dog’s diet. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommends a minimum of 22 percent protein for growth (puppies) and 18 percent protein for maintenance in adult dogs. Most good quality dog foods will far exceed these percentages. Fat is an important source of energy for dogs and should comprise at least 8 percent of the diet for Greyhound puppies and 5 percent of the diet for adults. Greyhounds, in particular, usually thrive on a meat-based diet. Many breeders feed a raw diet and recommend a BARF diet to their new owners. Racing Greyhounds are often fed a raw diet at the track. However, you can certainly switch your Greyhound to a premium commercial dog food.

Greyhounds tend to be healthy and live long lives. They are not subject to many genetic illnesses. For example, hip dysplasia is almost unknown among Greyhounds. Dogs typically live around 10-12 years of age. Bloat or gastric torsion tends to be a problem in the breed because of the Greyhound’s deep chest. Bloat is a life-threatening condition that can occur very rapidly when air becomes trapped in the stomach. The stomach can become stretched and even twisted, cutting off blood flow. Without swift action, a dog suffering from bloat may die. The exact causes of bloat are not known but most people recommend that you feed your dog more than once per day and try to discourage your dog from eating too fast. (Dogs that eat too fast can gulp air while they eat.) Many people also recommend that you do not allow your dog to engage in vigorous exercise for two hours after a meal.

Greyhounds do have some special health concerns but they can’t necessarily be addressed by changes in the diet. We suggest visiting this site for information about Greyhound health. Like other sighthound breeds, Greyhounds can have problems with some anesthetics, heartworm and flea and tick medications. Talk to your vet before using or buying any of these products. Greyhounds can also experience problems with their teeth which may require a professional dental cleaning or removing a bad tooth. Talk to your vet before your she uses any anesthesia on your Greyhound to make sure they are aware of the breed’s sensitivity with some kinds of anesthesia. You can also find health information about Greyhounds here.

Because of the breed’s large size as adults, it’s important to feed Greyhound puppies a large breed puppy food*. In large breeds like the Greyhound, the growth plates for some bones can continue to grow for nearly two years. Feeding a food for slow growth is much better for these bones and helps prevent joint problems. These puppy foods pay special attention to the calcium to phosphorus ratio in the food and keep the protein and calories slightly lower to encourage slow growth. Unfortunately, some popular dog foods that are grain free or very high in protein are not advisable for puppies because their calcium to phosphorus ratio is inappropriate. You can start making the switch to feeding your puppy an adult dog food once he has reached about 90 percent of his adult size.

*All life stage formula dog foods can also be appropriate but you should check the nutritional analysis to make sure the food is suitable for your puppy.

Feeding Your Greyhound

While some people like to feed their Greyhound a raw or homemade diet, you should be able to choose a good commercial dog food for your puppy or dog. The breed can usually eat most good quality dog foods. However, they do require good quality nutrition. This is really not a breed that can get by on cheaper dog foods. Greyhounds have some special blood chemistry and very little body fat so the food they eat needs to be top quality even if they aren’t coursing or engaging in a lot of athletic activities.

We suggest that you measure the amount of food you feed and only leave the food sitting out for about half an hour. Then put it away. This should give your dog time to eat. If you free feed and leave the food sitting out all the time dogs usually nibble which puts on pounds. Most adult dogs do well eating two meals per day. Puppies can usually eat three meals per day until they are old enough to start eating on an adult schedule. (Greyhounds at the track usually eat one large meal per day. It is thought that NGA Greyhounds may be somewhat less prone to bloating than AKC Greyhounds but we do not have research to prove this.)

Greyhound experts caution that you should resist the urge to try to “fatten” your Greyhound by giving him extra food. Greyhounds naturally have low body fat. They are supposed to be lean in appearance. They have leaner muscle mass and higher creatine/creatinine levels than other dogs. Creatine supplies energy to cells – especially to muscles – and helps build muscle mass in the body. Feed your Greyhound an appropriate amount of food and don’t try to make him gain more weight.

Greyhound Health Problems

We’ve already mentioned some of the health problems seen in the breed. Osteosarcoma and cancer of the spleen also occur in the breed with some frequency. There is no sure-fire way to prevent cancer but many dog lovers try to protect their dogs by feeding a dog food with more natural ingredients to try to keep their dog’s immune system as strong as possible. Many people recommend feeding a food that is free of some of the most common food irritants such as corn, soy, and wheat. These are not the most common dog food allergens – beef, dairy products, and chicken, for example, lead to more food allergies for dogs than corn, soy, and wheat. But many people like to avoid soy and grains in dog foods. There are many good grain free dog foods today if you want to feed one to your dog.

Avoiding artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives is also suggested as a way to help keep the immune system stronger.

Ingredients to Look for and Some to Avoid

Protein and fat are the main ingredients in the diet for a Greyhound, as they are for most dogs. However, not all protein and fat are the same. It’s important that the protein and fat in the dog food comes from good sources if you want your dog to be healthy. For example, both shoe leather and steak contain protein but there’s a big difference in the nutrition they provide.

Ideally you will select a dog food that features two or three meat proteins in the first several ingredients listed. Both whole meats and meat meals are good sources of protein. Whole meats refer to foods such as whole chicken, beef, fish, and lamb. However, whole meats contain normal water moisture. Animals are about 70 percent water, just as humans are. If the water from these meats were removed, they would normally be placed lower on the ingredient list since the dog food label is required to list food by weight before cooking. Some people don’t like meat meals as much as whole meats but they are a concentrated form of the meat in which the moisture has been removed. They contain several times as much protein as a whole meat. Meat meals are usually quite acceptable as one of the first ingredients in a good quality dog food. They are used by many good dog food brands.

Dogs also need good sources of fat. Some vitamins are only fat-soluble and your dog needs them in his diet. But fat, like protein, varies in quality depending on the source. You should look for named fat sources such as chicken fat. Other named fats also provide needed nutrients such as fish oil which can provide omega-3 fatty acid to help keep the skin and coat healthy. Puppies can benefit from DHA which is Docosahexaenoic acid. This is a specific form of omega-3 fatty acid that helps with brain and eye development. Older dogs seem to benefit from medium chain triglycerides which feature medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). These have been found to help older dogs feel and act younger. They are often made from a combination of coconut oil and other oils.

If you want to avoid corn, soy, and wheat in your dog food, your Greyhound may still be able to eat rice, barley, oats, or some other grain or cereal. Or you can feed a grain free dog food that uses an alternate source of carbs such as sweet potatoes. You don’t have to feed a dog food with an excessively high percentage of protein but it’s a good idea to keep the carb percentage low to moderate. And remember that Greyhound puppies need slightly lower levels of protein so they won’t grow too fast.

Recommended Dog Food For Adult Greyhound

Every dog is an individual. Even dogs in the same breed can have different food needs. Some dogs need more calories than others. Some dogs will do better with more protein or fat than other dogs. We are providing several suggested foods for your Greyhound which meet our standards but you may have to use a trial and error method to see which food your dog does best on.

When you are trying a new food, be sure to allow several days to slowly transition to the food, mixing in a little of your dog’s old food each day. Of course, if your dog shows signs that he doesn’t like the food or doesn’t tolerate it, you will have to make adjustments. If your dog eats the food but you don’t like his condition after a few weeks, you can change him back – slowly – to his previous food. It’s best not to go directly to another new food. You can upset your dog’s gastrointestinal system if you keep changing to too many new foods in a short period of time. Once your dog has settled back with his old food, you can once again try a new food. You should allow at least a couple of weeks between foods before trying another new food so you can give your dog’s system a chance to rest and recover. This also gives the new food a fair chance.

If you try a new food and your dog doesn’t seem enthusiastic about it, you might also try another food from the same product line that uses a different kind of meat or other ingredients. As long as the guaranteed analysis and nutrient percentages are similar, the food should be similar to the original food you selected.

When you are feeding a new food and your dog is eating it without problems, it’s important for you to assess his physical condition. Is he gaining or losing weight on the new food? Does his coat look shiny and healthy? Are his eyes bright? Does he seem to have good energy or is he more lethargic than usual? And, the big question for any dog lover – what does his poop look like? As most dog lovers know, you can tell a lot about a dog’s health by checking his poop. Does it look normal and firm? If he having regular bowel movements. Those are good signs. If your dog is having runny poop or diarrhea; or if he is having trouble with his bowel movements, it could be because of the new food. These are all things you should note during the first few weeks of feeding a new food. Even if your dog LOVES the food, if he’s not thriving, you may have to rethink his diet or how much you are feeding him.

Best Dog Foods for Greyhound Adults

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Orijen Adult Dry Dog Food	$2.76/lb
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Dry Dog Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$2.01/lb
I and Love and You Nude Food Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$2.61/lb

Orijen Adult Dog

Because of their greater muscle mass and low body fat, we recommend foods with higher protein for adult Greyhounds. Lower carbs are also preferred. We like premium adult foods that resemble a raw diet for these dogs. One food that is often recommended as “biologically appropriate” for dogs is Orijen. Orijen Adult features chicken, turkey, eggs, and fish. It is made up of 80 percent animal protein and 20 percent fruits, vegetables, and botanicals. Orijen contains no grain, potatoes, or GMO ingredients so it is very low in carbohydrates. For dogs who do well on a high meat diet, like Greyhounds, we think that Orijen adult is a good choice.

Wellness CORE Grain Free Original

Wellness CORE Grain Free Original formula features turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal. It’s relatively high in protein. It’s also grain free, GMO-free, gluten-free, and it contains no meat by-products or fillers. Wellness CORE also comes in several other formulas for picky eaters. Plus, we like the Wellness reputation for good foods.

I and Love and You Nude Food Red Meat Medley Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

For dogs like Greyhounds who really love a meaty diet, we like I and Love and You. Grain free, no corn, wheat, soy, or rice, the food is low glycemic and protein rich. They use lots of meats like pork, lamb meal, herring meal, and bison. No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives either. I and Love and You is not widely known everywhere yet, but its legions of fans – two- and four-legged – are growing rapidly.

Best Dog Foods for Greyhound Puppies

As large breed puppies, Greyhound puppies do have some special requirements. They often do well on good quality large breed puppy foods. These foods have slightly less protein than regular brands of puppy food. They also have less calcium and phosphorus than other puppy foods which is important for large breed puppies. It’s also important to make sure that the calcium to phosphorus ratio is accurate for large breed puppies like the Greyhound. This ratio should be very close to the following for large breed dogs: 1.2:1. That is 1.2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. (There is some slight room for variation, such as 1.5:1, but the ratio should be close to this.) You can usually find this information in the nutritional analysis for a dog food. It may or may not be included on the label but you can usually find it on the company web site.

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Solid Gold Wolf Cub Dry Puppy Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$1.80/lb
Canidae Life Stages Large Breed Dry Puppy Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$1.55/lb
Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Dry Puppy Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$1.42/lb

Solid Gold Wolf Cub with Bison, Bison and Oatmeal Puppy Formula

Solid Gold has been making holistic pet food for a long time. They started out making dog food for large breed dogs. Their Wolf Cub Bison and Oatmeal Puppy formula is a good food for Greyhound puppies. Ingredients feature bison, brown rice, oatmeal, pearled barley with no meat by-product meal, corn, wheat, soy, sugar, artificial preservatives or flavors added. Protein, fat, and calories are moderate and the calcium levels are controlled for slower bone growth in large breed puppies. We think this food is a good choice for Greyhound puppies.

Canidae – Life Stages Large Breed Puppy Duck Meal, Brown Rice & Lentils Formula Dry Dog Food

Canidae’s Life Stages Large Breed Puppy formula features duck meal, brown rice, and lentils. It’s specially designed for puppies that will grow to be over 50 pounds as adults. Duck meal is high in omega-3 fatty acid which is good for reducing joint inflammation. Lentils are a non-grain, gluten free source of carbs. The food is also lower in protein and fat so it encourages slower growth which helps prevent injury and health problems later in life.

As a puppy food, Canidae Life Stages Large Breed formula also contains high levels of DHA to help with cognitive development. And the food has no corn, wheat, soy, fillers, antibiotics, hormones, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. These are all things we look for in a good food for Greyhound puppies.

Holistic Select – Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health

This large breed puppy formula features lamb meal and oatmeal. It includes probiotics, healthy fiber, and digestive enzymes to help your Greyhound puppy digest the food better and absorb more nutrition. Other natural ingredients include chicken and fish meals. The formula supports muscle and bone development to help your Greyhound puppy enjoy good health now and as an adult. The food also features DHA to help your puppy with brain and eye development. Protein and fat are at lower levels desirable for growing large breed puppies. And the calcium to phosphorus ratio is appropriate.

Best Dog Foods for the Senior Greyhound

All dogs get older and that’s true of your Greyhound, too. You can expect dogs of this breed to live to be up to about 12 years of age which is quite a long time for a breed this large. By the time your Greyhound is about 7 years old he may begin to slow down and enter his early senior years. At this time some dogs may start to gain weight for age-related reasons. It’s a good idea to have your Greyhound checked by a veterinarian at this time. Many vets recommend an annual senior check up once your dog starts to age. By getting an early start your vet will have a good baseline for your dog’s health and she can compare any later changes to results when your dog was younger and healthier.

Unlike many breeds, Greyhounds don’t usually get too fat. Even as your Greyhound gets older, he probably won’t put on many extra pounds. If he does, you can usually help him lose any extra weight by controlling his portions or increasing his exercise. Senior Greyhounds are more likely to begin losing weight as they get older. A senior dog food for an older Greyhound should not have fewer calories or less protein and fat than his regular adult dog food. Instead, we would suggest that most aging Greyhounds need more protein and possibly more calories as they get older to help them maintain their weight.

It’s very important that senior dogs have good quality protein. Good quality protein is easier to digest and metabolize than poor quality protein. It provides the older dog with more nutrition that he can use. So, plan on giving your older Greyhound the very best food possible with excellent sources of protein.

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Orijen Senior Dry Dog Food	$2.80/lb

Orijen Senior Dog

We like Orijen Senior, especially for a large breed like the Greyhound. It has higher protein and lower carbs than many dog foods, especially many senior dog foods. It provides protein from excellent meat sources. It does provide some grain from steel-cut oats but it’s low-glycemic. We think this food should keep most older dogs feeling full so they don’t get hungry. It also adds glucosamine and chondroitin to the formula to help with your older dog’s joints. Orijen is made by Champion Pets, the same company that makes Acana.

Best Dog Foods for Greyhound with Skin Allergies

While Greyhound are not especially prone to food allergies, they do have very thin skin and it can be sensitive and tear easily. If your Greyhound is having skin problems or problems with food allergies, you will probably want to avoid foods that contain known food allergens such as beef, dairy products, chicken, lamb, fish, chicken eggs, corn, wheat, and soy. If your dog is having food allergies – which usually manifest as itching, redness, chewing, and hair loss – you will need to identify the trigger for his allergy. You can try to guess the trigger or work with your veterinarian on a food trial and elimination diet for your dog. You may need to find a novel protein for your dog – a protein that he has not eaten previously. Natural Balance has a selection of limited ingredient diets that can be helpful for dogs with food allergies. You might try giving your dog the rabbit formula, kangaroo formula, venison formula, or bison formula. He should be able to eat a meat protein that he has not eaten previously without having an allergic reaction. We think that Greyhounds, in particular, will like the rabbit formula, since that is their natural prey.

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Natural Balance L.I.D. Dry Dog Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$2.00/lb

Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets® Potato & Rabbit Dry Dog Formula

This limited ingredient diet food has limited sources of protein and carbs. It’s also grain free and complete and balanced for puppies, adults, and senior dogs. The food is easy for your Greyhound to digest and it contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Best Dog Foods for Greyhound with Sensitive Stomachs

Many breeds of dog are susceptible to food sensitivities that affect their digestion and excretion. The Greyhound is no exception.

If your dog does have a sensitive stomach it can be an indication of a food sensitivity, which is different form a food allergy. A dog with a food sensitivity will have gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting or diarrhea. Or it could be something more serious.

A dog with a sensitive stomach can often be helped by feeding the right dog food. Sticking to a limited ingredient diet food with as few ingredients as possible can reduce the chance of your dog having a bad reaction to something in the food.

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Wellness Simple Grain-Free LID Dry Dog Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$1.83/lb

Many people recommend Wellness Simple for dogs with food sensitivities. The formulas feature only five main ingredients to keep things very simple for your Greyhound. Wellness makes formulas that are both grain free and some that have grains such as oatmeal. The food is easy to digest and contains probiotics and prebiotics to help the gastrointestinal system. It also contains omega fatty acids for good skin and coat. Formulas feature duck, salmon, turkey, and lamb. Wellness Simple comes in dry and canned formulas.

We don’t know of a dog food that is made to help prevent bloating, but it’s possible that a food for sensitive stomachs – one that is easy to digest – could be beneficial.

Best Dog Foods for Overweight Greyhound

Being overweight or obese isn’t usually a common problem for most Greyhounds, but it can happen. It is usually the result of overfeeding. You can help your Greyhound lose weight by cutting back on his portions and encouraging him to get more exercise.

If your Greyhound needs to lose more than a few pounds, however, you may need to consider a weight control dog food.

We do not recommend a weight control dog food for a puppy or a very old dog. These foods generally have fewer calories and may have some other differences in nutrients that make them inappropriate for growing puppies or older dogs who need special nutrition.

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Reduce Fat Dry Dog Food Read Reviews Where To Buy	$2.01/lb

If you have a Greyhound who needs to lose weight, we recommend Wellness CORE Grain Free Reduced Fat Formula. This food is high in protein and low in fat. It’s also gluten-free and grain free. It has 25 percent less protein than the original Wellness CORE formula. The food contains deboned turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal. The food also includes antioxidants, omega fatty acids, glucosamine and probiotics. In fact, the ingredients look very similar to the original CORE formula. It has no corn, wheat, or soy.

If your dog needs to lose weight, you should proceed slowly. No crash dieting. You should aim for your dog to lose no more than 3 to 5 percent of his body weight per month or about one percent each week. So, if your dog weighs 100 pounds (which would likely be a very overweight Greyhound), that means he would lose about a pound per week or four pounds per month. The weight loss really starts to add up, so don’t try to starve your dog to get him to lose weight.

Conclusion

Whether you are getting a new Greyhound puppy or bringing home a retired racer, Greyhounds are wonderful, gentle companions. We hope we have provided you with the information you need to feed your friend the best food possible.

Below is the list of products reviewed in this article

1. Orijen Adult Dry Dog Food
2. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Dry Dog Food
3. I and Love and You Nude Food Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
4. Solid Gold Wolf Cub Dry Puppy Food
5. Canidae Life Stages Large Breed Dry Puppy Food
6. Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Dry Puppy Food
7. Orijen Senior Dry Dog Food
8. Natural Balance L.I.D. Dry Dog Food
9. Wellness Simple Grain-Free LID Dry Dog Food
10. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Reduce Fat Dry Dog Food