Feeding Your Greyhound

Health & Well Being
Feeding Your Greyhound

Greyhounds have a fast metabolism and need a special high fat, high protein diet. Find out how often to feed them, what to look for in food, what to avoid, and how to keep them hydrated.

How often should I feed my greyhound?

Greyhounds are generally most content when fed twice per day in roughly equal amounts. It is recommended that you feed your greyhound in the morning and in the evening. Your greyhound may still be in fit 'racing condition' at the time of adoption and may need to gain some weight. Ideally you should be able to feel your greyhound's ribs but not see them.

What should I feed my greyhound?

Complete dry foods are often an effective and efficient way of feeding, and ensure your greyhound gets all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals required to be healthy. Look for a premium brand that contains around 26% protein and a minimum of 15% fat, and lists meat as the first ingredient.

Cheaper brands tend to have cereals as the main ingredient, while mid-range brands have meat by-products as the main ingredient.

Follow the feeding instructions on the packaging according to the weight of your dog but adjust the amount based on your greyhound's condition. Often greyhounds find dry food easier to swallow if it's been soaked in some warm water.

What should I avoid feeding my greyhound?

Greyhounds should never be fed cooked bones as these can splinter and cause serious health issues.

Canned dog foods are generally not recommended as they tend not to agree with the greyhound digestive system and often result in diarrhea and/or flatulence.

You can find more infomration on foods to avoid in this resource: gap.grv.org.au/resources/foods-to-avoid

And what about hydration?

Fresh water should be available for your greyhound at all times. Never leave your greyhound without water.

Some greyhounds play with their water dishes and might tip them over, so make sure they're a non-tip design!

Important stuff

As with all large breeds of dog, exercise, drinking excessive amounts of water around meal times should be avoided to prevent a condition commonly called 'bloat' (gastric dilation and volvulus, GDV or gastric torsion).

This is a life-threatening condition which can result in death within a few hours if untreated. Symptoms include a swollen abdomen, gagging, restlessness, rapid pulse and breathing. If you suspect bloat you MUST take your greyhound to a veterinarian immediately (day or night).

Prevention of bloat includes the following:

  • Not feeding large amounts of food in one session – spread food over two smaller meals
  • Not exercising your greyhound for at least an hour before and an hour after eating; ensuring water is readily available at all times so the greyhound does not gulp down large amounts of water at one time
  • Purchase special bowls including obstacles to slow eating if your greyhound is a rapid eater

Related Resources

Meet our dogs ready for adoption

All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.

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Tiger

6 years old

Oh Sweet Tiger, you are such a gentle soul that wants nothing more than a patient home and lifetime supply of twiggy sticks and ear rubs. Tiger has come a long way since starting his GAP journey and recently came back from foster care where he learnt a lot of new things and found some confidence in his time. Tiger has come back with a newfound confidence, and we are so thrilled how far he has come, whilst he still has times where he is unsure, he tries his very best. We think Tiger may suit living in a home with or without another dog medium or larger and children 15 and over. He will do best in a home with a backyard in a nice quiet area as loud noises and lots of traffic are still very scary for him. Tiger may suit living with full time workers. Tiger has anxiety and is on medication to help with this.
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Maui

5 years old

Maui is a confident, outgoing boy who is personable and affectionate. Maui has been a pet before but unfortunately came back to us through no fault of his own. Maui would love to be back in a lovely home again to live out the rest of his years. We think he may suit living with another medium or larger companion and children 10+ years old. Maui has dry eyes, and is on daily eye drops to help with this.
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Audrea

3 years old

Audrea is a beautiful 3-year-old greyhound with a gentle, sweet nature. She’s playful, low energy, and loves the comfort of a familiar routine. While she can be a little shy and anxious when meeting new people, with patience, kindness, and reassurance, Audrea’s lovely personality begins to shine through. Audrea is looking for a patient and understanding home that will give her the time she needs to settle in, build trust, and grow in confidence. Having another friendly greyhound in the home is essential for her, as she takes great comfort from canine companionship and thrives with a confident greyhound friend by her side. Sometimes Audrea may bark when she’s feeling unsure or seeking reassurance, but it’s simply her way of communicating and is never threatening. Once she feels safe and secure, she is a calm and affectionate companion who enjoys being part of the family. If you’re looking for a gentle soul to nurture and watch blossom, Audrea could be the perfect addition to your home. With love, patience, and a greyhound buddy, she is sure to reward you with endless loyalty and companionship. Due to her timidity, she is not suitable to a home with children or in an apartment. Audrea is blind in one eye.
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Indy ARP

3 years old

Indy is a pretty girl with a gentle, easy-going nature that makes her a pleasure to be around. Quiet, calm and polite, she is sweet, friendly and affectionate, with a lovely habit of seeking eye contact and looking to her people for guidance. Confident without being over-the-top, Indy is easy to handle, walks nicely on lead and is always eager to please.

While Indy enjoys canine company, she prefers polite and placid dogs who respect her space, particularly male dogs. She is not a fan of boisterous dogs rushing up to her and may also be perfectly happy as the only dog in the home. Indy may suit a family with children aged 10 years and older who can appreciate her gentle nature. With her kind heart, good manners and loving personality, Indy is sure to make a wonderful companion.

This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Through this program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to find their perfect forever home.

If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'll arrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete the adoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on your interest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhound they'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process, you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team will share lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they're the perfect match for your family.

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Chief ARP

years old

Chief is a handsome, solidly built boy with striking light-coloured eyes and a personality to match. Friendly, outgoing and full of confidence, he loves meeting new people and is always happy to make new friends, especially if treats are involved! Chief is a personable lad who enjoys being part of the action and brings plenty of charm wherever he goes. One of Chief's most entertaining quirks is his hilarious response to being patted down his back, his tail pops up momentarily, a talent that had staff in fits of laughter! With his affectionate nature and easy-going attitude, Chief may suit a home with or without a canine companion of a similar size and is likely to do well with children aged 10 years and older. This lovely boy is sure to bring plenty of fun, companionship and smiles to his future family.

This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Through this program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to find their perfect forever home. If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'll arrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete the adoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on your interest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhound they'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process, you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team will share lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they're the perfect match for your family.

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Boysenberry ARP

3 years old

Boysenberry is a beautiful girl with a lovely soft coat and an even lovelier personality. Sweet, friendly, affectionate and full of confidence, she adores people and is always ready to share her enthusiasm with those around her. An outgoing extrovert, Boysenberry loves attention and has a charming habit of jumping up for cuddles whenever the opportunity arises. She has some experience in a home, is toilet trained, can confidently manage stairs, and even knows how to shake hands on command before receiving her dinner.

Active and personable, Boysenberry would thrive in a home with a secure backyard where she can run, play and enjoy family life. She will likely suit a home with or without a canine companion of a similar size and is expected to do well with children aged 10 years and older. With her affectionate nature and fun-loving spirit, Boysenberry is ready to become a much-loved member of a lucky family.

This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Through this program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to find their perfect forever home.

If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'll arrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete the adoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on your interest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhound they'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process, you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team will share lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they're the perfect match for your family.

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Ruffus ARP

2 years old

Ruffus is a sweet, friendly boy with a happy waggy tail and a big personality to match. Outgoing, confident, and affectionate, he loves treats, seeks eye contact, and is always keen to please his people. With his puppyish enthusiasm, playful nature, and quirky charm, Ruffus is sure to keep you smiling. He's a good traveller and a wonderfully goofy boy who enjoys being part of the action. Ruffus may be suited to a home on his own or may be suitable to live with robust small, medium, or large dogs. He may also be suitable to live with children aged 10 years and older.

This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Through this program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to find their perfect forever home. If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'll arrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete the adoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on your interest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhound they'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process, you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team will share lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they're the perfect match for your family.

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Little Man

4 years old

Little Man is a sweet, affectionate greyhound with a charmingly quirky personality and a youthful, puppyish outlook on life. He loves spending time with his people and has a gentle, loving nature that makes him a joy to be around. While he can be playful and a little goofy at times, his affectionate side shines through in everything he does. Little Man would suit a home with children aged 10 years and over, but is not suitable for homes with elderly family members due to his enthusiasm. Having completed behavioural rehabilitation, he must not live with small dogs or cats, but could happily share his home with a medium to large canine companion or be the centre of attention as an only dog. Littleman has a mild heart murmur commonly seen in Greyhounds that currently requires no treatment. We would advise a routine check with your vet annually. He also would benefit from wearing boots when out walking due to soft paws. If you're looking for a loving, entertaining friend with plenty of character, Little Man is ready to steal your heart.
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George

3 years old

Gorgeous George! Is there anything better than a hound named George? We are smitten with this loveable lad, he is sweet, affectionate, loves looking up at you with his beautiful eyes and asking for just one more chin scratch please! He is quite an unusual Red Brindle as he has minimal stripes on his coat, just another quirky thing to love about him! We think George may suit living with another Greyhound friend and an active home that will keep up to his enthusiasm for life. George has been living as a pet for the past year and is ready to find his perfect home! George has a low-grade heart murmur, which doesn't affect him or require medicating. He also has Pannus, which is an auto immune disease of the eyes, which is controlled by daily eye drops.
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Hercules

4 years old

True to his name, Hercules is a handsome 4-year-old black greyhound with a striking appearance and a heart full of love. With his big white chest and ever-so-slight Roman nose, this charming boy has a unique look that only adds to his appeal. Hercules is a friendly, confident and affectionate greyhound who genuinely enjoys spending time with people. He quickly forms bonds with those around him and loves leaning into his handler for attention, pats and companionship. Sweet-natured and eager to please, he's happiest when he's included in family life and receiving plenty of affection. This playful boy has an enthusiastic side and can become excited when meeting people or enjoying fun activities. His excitement may sometimes see him jumping up in his greetings, but it quickly subsides into a calm companion once he settles. With guidance and consistency, Hercules will relax and enjoy being close to his people. Full of personality and charm, Hercules combines confidence with a loving disposition, making him a wonderful companion for an active family looking for a dog who loves human connection. Hercules would be best suited to a home with children aged 10 years and over. If you're looking for a handsome, affectionate greyhound who will happily lean on you for cuddles and companionship, Hercules is ready to become your loyal sidekick. Hercules has a sensitive trachea, so is required to be walked with a harness.
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