Feeding a balanced diet to your Greyhound

Feeding.... it's a topic that comes up a lot in retired Greyhound groups and often the discussions can become very heated!

Ultimately it is down to each individual adopter what they choose to feed their dogs but we are advocates for feeding a balanced and varied diet where possible so below are just a few feeding suggestions.

If feeding kibble it's always best to try and feed the best quality kibble you can afford. There are various options out there for various price ranges. Arden Grange is one we highly recommend, as well as Autarky, Harringtons, Wainwrights, James Wellbeloved, Skinners, Fish4Dogs and Millies Wolfheart to name just a few. There are many more options out there so research what you feel may be best for you, your dog, your budget and look at the ingredients etc. It’s worth noting that your Greyhound has probably been used to having their kibble soaked and mixed with various meats while in kennels and it’s not unusual for them to go off their food for a few days when first going home and adjusting to a new environment. If they don’t start eating after a few days then contact your adoption group for advice.

This website is very helpful when looking for the best quality food for your budget - https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/

We recommend feeding your dog at least twice a day (Breakfast and Dinner).

We personally don't like feeding kibble on it's own as we feel it becomes very boring and bland for the dogs to be eating the same thing day in, day out and we also believe that dogs should have meat added to their diets to maintain a balanced and healthy diet. We add various tasty toppers like raw meats, tinned meats, fish and vegetables daily.

Again when choosing a topper it's important to try and find something of good quality. Butchers, Natures Menu, Naturo, Lilys Kitchen and Forthglade all have a good selection of tinned meats / pouches that are good quality. Adding sardines or Pilchards in tomato sauce or oil (not brine as it's too salty) can be a good topper a couple of times a week too. Again there is more out there so look around, we've just named a few we have had success with and are easy to get in supermarkets / pet shops. You can also add vegetables to their diet.

Some adopters choose to feed a completely raw diet and see their dogs do well on it. Natures Menu do a large selection of raw frozen foods that are quite easy to store if you have the room. There are also companies that deliver raw foods to your door or your local butcher may be able to help so it's always worth having a chat with them too. The natures menu website explains raw feeding in more detail - Raw Pet Food Advice Center | Natures Menu

There are loads of feeding options out there and of course many we haven't mentioned. It is just worth remembering that some foods can be very poor quality and full of additives so we advise you do plenty of research and look closely at the ingredients before choosing a food. If you choose to change your dogs diet then switch the food gradually over a few days and give your dog time to settle onto the new diet before deciding if it's working or not.

It's not unusual for Greyhounds to go off their food / lose a little bit of weight in the first few days/weeks after adoption but they should gain their weight back and eat well as they settle in.

If your dog is a healthy weight, in good condition, has firm poos and is enjoying their food then that is a good indication that what you are feeding is right for them

You can also add supplements like seaweed, garlic honey, keepers mix and salmon oil which all have various benefits.

A mixed diet of kibble, meats, fish and vegetables is often what your hounds would of been used to during their time in racing / retirement kennels.

Greyhounds weight is also another topic that comes up a lot. Obviously there may be medical/health reasons why a dog is overweight or underweight but this link explains Greyhound weight in more detail - Correct Weight for a Greyhound — Barley Greyhound Sanctuary (barleykennels.co.uk) . If you are worried about your Greyhounds weight you can up / lower their food accordingly, make sure they are wormed etc. You can also look up their racing weight which is a good guide to follow. Of course speak to your vet if they are losing weight for seemingly no reason or you are worried.

(Most photos in this blog are ours, some are taken from Google).