Best Dog Food for Greyhounds : 15 Healthy Options + Helpful Answers to Feeding FAQs

Greyhounds are a beautiful breed, both graceful and elegant. They’re known for their speed and agility, but they’re also great family dogs. The breed does need plenty of exercise with a safe, enclosed place to run, but they also require a lot of support for their skin and joints.

This athletic breed may require more calories than other types of dogs, but overall food should be densely nutritious all around.

Feeding your Greyhound will help determine how well your Greyhound ages and if you’ve adopted a rescue, a proper diet can help mitigate or reverse the effects of a grueling life working or racing.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this article:

Understanding a Greyhound’s Diet Requirements

Greyhounds are the template for hunting and racing dogs. Their graceful bodies and arched stomachs have fascinated artists for generations, and now, they’re one of the most famous racing dogs of all time.

They were bred for hunting and no wonder, they can reach speeds of up to 40 miles an hour. As a sporting dog, they will require slightly higher protein and calorie counts to keep up muscle tone and the correct body weight. If your food is full of cheap fillers, that can translate to a lot of empty calories.

There are a few things you should consider for Greyhound food. The number one thing is to be sure that the ingredients are free of artificial flavors or colors and cheap, empty fillers. The primary components need to be quality ones so that your Greyhound receives everything it needs to stay healthy.

The first ingredient should always be a quality meat source. Whole meats are sources of quality protein that are easily digestible. The meat source should always be labeled and preferably should be without extra hormones or added antibiotics.

Healthy fats are critical for your greyhound’s skin health and joint support. Healthy fat could also help prevent injuries in working dogs. Fats blended with the right amount of protein could also help your Greyhound feel energetic all day long.

A lot of studies show that dogs are carnivores, but many foods do have added fruits and veggies. These can add critical vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. All three of these things can be very important for your Greyhound’s immune system and excellent for reliable digestion.

Puppies need help to grow healthy, but controlling their growth is critical for their delicate bone structure. When large breed dogs grow too quickly, it can put stress on joints and bones later, making things really painful in some cases. Foods should be formulated to control that growth.

Special Dietary Considerations For Greyhounds

• Bloat
• Heart Issues
• Hypothyroidism
• Anesthesia Sensitivity

There are a few conditions you should consider with any Greyhound. One good thing is that Greyhounds aren’t usually prone to dysplasia like other athletic dogs so you won’t have to worry much about that. Instead, take a look at these conditions.

Bloat

As a barrel-chested breed, Greyhounds are prone to a life-threatening condition known as bloat. The stomach distends and twists, causing pain and eventual death if not treated immediately. Researchers aren’t entirely sure what causes bloat, but there are a few best practices that can help prevent bloat.

Feeding your Greyhound smaller meals throughout the day can help reduce the chances. Also, avoiding heavy exercise directly after eating could help your Greyhound’s food settle beforehand. Proper fiber and dense nutrition can help your Greyhound’s food digest more easily.

Heart Issues

Greyhounds have large hearts and are sometimes prone to a murmur. Support their heart with protein and healthy fats. Keeping weight under control even in old age when activity levels decrease can also be a great way to keep the heart healthy and prevent fat from degrading the heart over time.

Densely nutritious foods prevent your Greyhound from receiving too many empty calories. Also, healthy fats can encourage good heart functions. Make sure that everything in your Greyhound food is a premium ingredient.

Hypothyroidism

Greyhound food can’t solve thyroid problems, but it can help alleviate some of the effects of the disease as part of a maintenance regimen. Quality food is a critical part of the plan for any thyroid issues so that your Greyhound can live as comfortably as possible.

Anesthesia Sensitivity

Greyhounds have very little body fat, so their sensitivity to anesthesia is very high. A dose for another type of dog the size of the Greyhound could kill your Greyhound. Make sure your veterinarian understands this so that your dog is in the best are for its body type.

Greyhound Feeding Chart

Greyhounds are svelte dogs and require food that can build healthy muscle and bone while providing plenty of energy. However, because they have so little body fat, it’s essential that your dog not have too much food or empty calories that can throw off that balance.

Each dog is different. The advice of your veterinarian is best here because the final portion size will depend on how large your adult greyhound is, the life stage of your Greyhound, and other factors such as pregnancy or injury. However, here are some general things to keep in mind.

• Puppies: It’s important to control your puppy’s growth, so Greyhound food with dense nutrition and no empty calories or artificial ingredients are key. Your veterinarian will probably change portion sizes a few times as your Greyhound gets older, so be prepared to adapt.
• Adults: The average adult will eat between three and four cups of Greyhound food per day divided up over several meals. If your Greyhound has injuries that prevent a lot of activity, your vet may decrease the amount of food. On the other hand, pregnancy or lactation could be a reason to increase portion sizes.
• Seniors: Your senior will have similar nutrition as it did when it was an adult, but this may be the time to reduce portion sizes slightly or switch to weight control. Also, added supplements such as glucosamine could help with joints. Overall, however, portion sizes will remain largely the same.

The Best Dog Food For Greyhounds: Our 2023 Top Picks

Our 2023 Picks: Greyhound Food Recommendations
Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Best Overall	Ziwipeak Air Dried Lamb Food Buy Online Customer Reviews	$15.74/lb	A+
Best Value	Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.75/lb	A+
Most Popular	Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken And Brown Rice Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.63/lb	A+
Super Premium	NomNomNow Tasty Turkey Fare Buy Online Customer Reviews	Varies	A+
Best for Allergies	Zignature Limited Ingredient Kangaroo Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.88/lb	A+
Sensitive Stomachs	Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potato Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.29/lb	A
Weight Maintenance	Solid Gold Fit And Fabulous Chicken, Sweet Potato, And Green Bean Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.29/lb	A
Most Affordable	Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Farm Raised Chicken, Brown Rice, and Sweet Potato Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.66/lb	A
Whole Grains	Honest Kitchen Chicken Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$5.88/lb	A

The Greyhound foods we’ve chosen offer your companion dense nutrition with all the building blocks of health and well being. Each recipe is free of artificial ingredients and empty fillers that can cause issues with digestion or the immune system. Your Greyhound food should be a premium recipe with everything needed to live a long healthy life. Let’s take a look at our top picks.

Best Overall: Ziwipeak Air Dried Lamb Food

Ziwipeak’s food is 96% meat based, providing everything your Greyhound needs to be healthy and active. There is quite a lot of evidence suggesting that dogs are indeed carnivores, receiving the bulk of their nutrition from quality meats.

Ziwipeak’s unique process of air drying removes pathogens while preserving all the nutrition of raw lamb. It’s a quality protein source providing an excellent balance for energy. Lamb and lamb tripe also offer a good amount of fat that can help protect your Greyhound from injury.

A natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin help protect the joints while critical vitamins and minerals support the immune system. It’s free of cheap fillers such as corn and soy as well as artificial ingredients like flavors or colors. It should help alleviate some of your Greyhounds more persistent skin irritations or allergies.

• Pros: close to raw nutrition, single source lamb, meat-based recipe
• Cons: expensive, your Greyhound may need time to get used to the texture

Best Value: Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Recipe

Taste of the Wild’s recipe is a fished based option with smoked salmon providing quality proteins and healthy fats. Together, they provide your Greyhound with energy all day and plenty of nutrition for a healthy muscle and bone structure.

It also uses fresh fruits and vegetables to provide critical vitamins and minerals for a healthy immune system. Good fiber sources help regulate digestion and prevent irregularity. Chelated minerals help build strong bones, and ingredients sourced from responsible suppliers contain no cheap fillers or artificial ingredients.

Holistic ingredients such as dried chicory help ease your Greyhound’s digestion and optimize gut flora. Prebiotics and probiotics support a robust immune system and could alleviate skin allergies. In fact, the entire recipe is designed to mimic the natural diet of your dog’s canine ancestors to bring better health.

• Pros: affordable, premium ingredients, holistic ingredients to support various systems
• Cons: some dogs may not like the taste, kibble could be challenging to chew

Most Popular: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken And Brown Rice Recipe

Blue Buffalo’s recipe uses whole chicken as the first ingredient. A healthy blend of carbohydrates and healthy fats give your Greyhound energy all day while proper fiber helps your Greyhound feel full.

It uses Blue Buffalo’s LifeSource bits, a blend of vitamins and minerals designed to provide critical support to the immune and digestive system. Chelated minerals build strong bones and fiber helps keep your Greyhound’s systems in top shape. The formula is free of cheap fillers and artificial ingredients.

It’s an affordable dog food that uses premium ingredients. The LifeSource Bits round out the recipe and ensure that your Greyhound has the building blocks of health. It’s a highly recognizable food that’s easy to find in a variety of stores. It’s suitable for Greyhounds who don’t have many outstanding issues with allergies or overall health.

• Pros: highly affordable, LifeSource Bits for complete nutrition, whole protein source
• Cons: some dogs don’t like LifeSource Bits, bits need to be redistributed in the bag

Best Super Premium: NomNomNow Tasty Turkey Fare

If your Greyhound is picky or has frequent trouble with allergies, a cooked diet might better serve its health. If the thought of cooking your Greyhound’s meals makes you tired, NomNomNow can help.

The company uses recipes made by a veterinarian. Each recipe uses cooked, human grade ingredients that arrive right at your door ready to serve. The foods are prepared fresh and sent out. They do require cold storage or to be served immediately.

The turkey recipe uses just six ingredients, turkey and a variety of vegetables. A healthy fat source provides energy and helps condition skin and joints while the vitamin blend supports the immune system. The recipe is made from ingredients suitable for human consumption, and it should help even picky dogs eat.

• Pros: human grade ingredients, convenient delivery means never running out of food, suitable for picky eaters
• Cons: expensive, requires cold storage for unused meals

Best For Allergies: Zignature Limited Ingredient Kangaroo Recipe

Zignature uses novel protein and a unique air drying method to provide dense nutrition without inflaming your Greyhound’s allergies. Kangaroo is a lean protein that can help your Greyhound build muscle tone and healthy skin. The recipe is meat based and uses healthy fats to provide some relief from your Greyhound’s itchy skin.

The recipe is designed to eliminate all common forms of allergies, not just cheap fillers and artificial ingredients but also poultry and beef. These may not be commonly known allergies, but if your dog just can’t quite keep allergies under control, these could be the culprit.

The recipe is simple, and it should help reset your Greyhound’s digestion and ease some of the trouble that’s been happening. It’s hypoallergenic and low glycemic, so it won’t spike your Greyhound’s blood sugar or cause energy crashes throughout the day.

• Pros: limited ingredients, a novel protein, hypoglycemic
• Cons: expensive, hard to find

Best For Sensitive Tummies: Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potato Recipe

Natural Balance is another limited ingredient formula that reduces the overall allergens present in foods. It gets rid of cheap fillers and artificial ingredients while lowering the total number of ingredients. A single protein source, fish, provides stable energy and the building blocks for muscle tone while a balance of carbohydrates and healthy fats give your Greyhound energy.

It contains no cheap fillers such as corn or soy which can cause itchy skin, and no artificial ingredients, which could irritate the stomach. The right blend of vitamins and minerals support the immune system and builds good health.

If your dog has trouble with frequent digestive issues, a limited ingredient die could help soothe irregular bowls and encourage your dog’s immune system to heal itself. Also, sweet potato is a low glycemic option that won’t spike your Greyhound’s blood sugar.

• Pros: limited ingredients, low glycemic, single protein source
• Cons: picky dogs may not like it, hard to find in stores

3 More Top Rated Greyhound Foods

Solid Gold Fit And Fabulous Chicken, Sweet Potato, And Green Bean Recipe

If your Greyhound has gained a few extra pounds, a weight control formula could be just the thing. Solid Gold’s weight control formula uses lean, whole chicken to provide quality protein. A good balance of carbohydrates and fats keeps your Greyhound feeling energetic all day. It contains fewer calories to help control your Greyhound’s weight without sacrificing any nutrition. Vitamins and minerals support the immune system, and quality fiber helps your Greyhound feel full.

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Farm Raised Chicken, Brown Rice, and Sweet Potato Recipe

Nutro’s recipe uses farm-raised chicken with no hormones or antibiotics to provide a whole protein source to help keep up muscle tone and brown rice to provide a source of consistent energy throughout the day. Brown rice also provides the fiber that helps keep your Greyhound feeling full. Sweet potato is a low glycemic source of energy while other fruits and vegetables contain critical vitamins and minerals that support immunity and build strong bones.

Honest Kitchen Chicken Recipe

Honest Kitchen’s wholesome recipes use dehydrated recipes designed to provide excellent nutrition with an interesting taste and mouthfeel. The food is easy to prepare and easier to store until you need it. The chicken gives your dog plenty of lean protein for healthy muscles and all day energy while essential fats help soothe skin and smooth the coat. Vitamins and minerals provide your Greyhound with everything it needs for excellent immunity and robust health. Picky dogs may actually prefer the texture of Honest Kitchen and those with dental issues would benefit from the softer texture.

3 More Top Rated Foods For Puppies

Our 2023 Picks: Greyhound Puppy Food Recommendations
Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Overall Best	Nulo Freestyle Salmon And Peas Puppy Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.99/lb	A+
Most Popular	Instinct by Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Puppy Formula Buy Online Customer Reviews	$3.99/lb	A+
Most Affordable	Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken and Turkey Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$0.16/oz	A+

Nulo Freestyle Salmon And Peas Puppy Recipe

Nulo’s puppy recipe uses wholesome salmon for proper protein and essential fatty acids. It will help your Greyhound puppy build strong muscles and bones without experiencing rapid growth that can cause issues later on. DHA helps the brain develop well while guaranteed phosphorus and calcium build strong bones. It’s an excellent food for puppies with sensitive tummies or who sometimes have itchy skin that could use a little extra nourishment. Plus, most puppies enjoy the strong flavor of fish.

Instinct by Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Puppy Formula

Instinct By Nature’s Variety uses freeze dried raw bits of meat to provide an extra protein boost and an interesting texture that encourages puppies to eat. Wholesome chicken gives your puppy a lean protein to build healthy muscles while guaranteed levels of essential fatty acids help support skin health and brain development. It also uses calcium and phosphorus to build a strong skeleton. Plus, no grains means it’s less likely to irritate your puppy’s tummy.

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken and Turkey Recipe

Blue Buffalo’s wet food could be a great way to transition puppies from milk to a solid food diet. It’s easy to chew for little teeth and contains plenty of lean protein to build strong, healthy muscles. Essential fats support skin and brain health while calcium build’s strong bones. The recipe tends to please even picky puppies, so your companion should eat without much fuss. No grains helps soothe sensitive tummies, and the formula contains no artificial colors or flavors.

3 More Foods For Seniors

Our 2023 Picks: Greyhound Senior Dog Food Recommendations
Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Most Affordable	American Journey Protein First Chicken And Brown Rice Senior Formula Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.25/lb	A+
Overall Best	Merrick Real Chicken And Sweet Potato Grain Free Senior Dog Food Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.40/lb	A+
Most Popular	Nutro Ultra Senior Chunks In Gravy Buy Online Customer Reviews	$0.15/oz	A+

American Journey Protein First Chicken And Brown Rice Senior Formula

American Journey’s Protein First recipe uses whole, deboned chicken to provide a lean source of energy and help keep muscles strong and healthy. A blend of antioxidants supports overall brain and immune system health while glucosamine and chondroitin support joint strength and cushioning.

Omega fatty acids also help keep brain activity levels high while added Vitamin A aids with eye health. There are no artificial colors or flavors, and the recipe is designed to maintain your Greyhound’s activity levels even in the twilight years.

Merrick Real Chicken And Sweet Potato Grain Free Senior Dog Food

Merrick uses only locally sourced ingredients from reputable suppliers to build their senior recipe dog food. Whole chicken plus low glycemic sweet potato help your senior feel energetic all day while maintaining muscle tone and healthy skin. Vitamins and antioxidants from fruits and veggies support eye health and the immune system while providing a rich source of fiber for digestive health.

Omega fatty acids soothe skin and condition the coat while making sure your senior Greyhound’s mind is in top shape. Glucosamine and chondroitin also help soothe aging joints and encourage mobility.

Nutro Ultra Senior Chunks In Gravy

If your senior has trouble with the teeth or jaw, a wet Greyhound food could be the answer. Nutro’s wet food uses whole chicken and lamb to provide dense protein to support muscle tone and provide a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin.

Vegetables provide a source of vitamins and minerals while also supporting digestive health with good fiber content. The taste is good enough to satisfy most picky seniors, and the food is suitable for serving alone or as a topper for kibble. The balance of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats is ideal for seniors who need stability and energy to remain active all day.

Our FAQ and Greyhound Feeding Guide

Now that you’ve got an idea of what Greyhound food you need, let’s answer a few questions you might still have about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle for your Greyhound and what to do when feeding issues come up.

How Much Do I Feed My Greyhound?

Feeding a Greyhound depends a lot on the specific circumstances you have. An adult Greyhound will receive the portion sizes on the food itself with only minor adjustments while a pregnant or nursing Greyhound could have a very different schedule. A highly active senior won’t eat the same way as an overweight senior.

Trust the guidance of your veterinarian. A vet knows your specific Greyhound’s needs and can help you craft the perfect feeding regimen to provide energy and maintain muscle mass while alleviating issues like empty calories or sudden weight gain.

The portion recommendations on the food itself are meant for the ideal situation and the average Greyhound. Keep an eye on weight and muscle tone, and make sure you’re measuring portions correctly in addition to accounting for any treats given during the day.

How Do I Feed My Greyhound?

Barrel-chested breeds are at high risk for bloat, a life-threatening condition in which the stomach distends and twists. While researchers aren’t sure of the specific trigger, there are things you can do to help keep your Greyhound safe.

Breaking up meals into smaller portions throughout the day is one way to help food digest more efficiently. Your Greyhound is less likely to have trouble eating a small meal and then bounding off right away. Also smaller meals throughout the day help maintain blood sugar and energy levels so your Greyhound can stay active.

Don’t free feed. While a handful of dogs can thrive on free feeding, for most, it makes it very difficult to know how much you’re feeding and more likely that your Greyhound will develop a pickiness.

Allow your Greyhound a certain amount of time to finish a meal and then take up the food if your Greyhound doesn’t show interest in finishing once the time is up. Eventually, your dog will eat during the time allowed, and you’ll have a better idea of how much you’re feeding your dog each day.

How Do I Transition To A Premium Food?

Helping your Greyhound transition from a supermarket brand to a premium Greyhound food is simple. It’s important to make diet changes slowly so that there’s less chance of a digestive reaction and your Greyhound is less likely to reject the food outright because it isn’t familiar.

Begin by putting just a little of the new food into your Greyhound’s old food. Each day, add a bit more of the new food and a little less of the old food until only the new Greyhound food is left. Your dog should have fewer digestive upsets and be more likely to eat as it did with the old food.

What If My Greyhound Is Picky?

It’s possible that no matter what you do, your Greyhound will want people food. To encourage your Greyhound to eat Greyhound food, try a few of these tricks.

• Don’t free feed. Just taking up food creates a bit of scarcity. Your Greyhound won’t want to wait for something better if it knows it doesn’t have the go-to bowl of dog food always out. Many people have noticed a considerable difference in their dog’s pickiness just by taking up the food.
• Don’t feed human food. It’s tempting, but unless you’re willing to switch to an all cooked diet, feeding human food can create unnecessary pickiness. Instead, stick with dog approved treats and the regular Greyhound food. If treats also become an issue, remove those as well until your Greyhound is eating consistently again.
• Add wet food or topper. Sometimes the odor of wet food and the texture is enough to encourage your Greyhound to eat all the Greyhound food (even the kibble). Make sure you account for serving sizes and don’t accidentally overfeed if you decide to mix foods. A meal topper with low calories could make that switch easier.
• Switch to cooked food. If you’re genuinely worried about your Greyhound’s health, changing to a cooked diet like one from NomNomNow could be the answer. Greyhounds with pickiness sometimes have a sensitivity, so a human grade cooked diet could help alleviate both the sensitivity and the pickiness. If you can’t fix it yourself, look into NomNomNow for convenience.

Should I Feed Grain Free? What About Vegetables and Fruits?

The research isn’t conclusive on grain free foods. If your dog shows sensitivity to grain free, it could be a good idea to switch to a limited ingredient diet that removes common allergens including grains. An elimination diet could also help pinpoint what’s causing the digestive upset.

As far as fruits and vegetables, they do provide fiber and vitamins to a dog. However, some research points strongly towards dogs being carnivores, so the efficacy of these types of omnivore diets aren’t so straightforward. If your dog thrives on food with these ingredients, great. If your Greyhound is having trouble, you might want to try a meat-based diet like Ziwipeak.

Greyhound Dog Food – Final Thoughts

Greyhounds are elegant dogs, and Greyhound food should maintain that graceful bone structure and muscle tone without the danger of adding extra weight. Greyhound food should have dense, quality protein with no empty fillers that could cause weight gain.

A food that provides dense nutrition will help your Greyhound remain active throughout life and receive all the building blocks of good health without risking digestive issues or packing on pounds. Premium food is a great way to ensure your Greyhound lives a happy, healthy life for as long as you two are together.