What to feed an Italian Greyhound: the short answer
Feed an Italian Greyhound a good-quality complete food suited to its age, and set the amount so the weight stays normal. It is easy to overfeed the breed, and extra weight is bad for it.
The essentials:
- Choose a food whose label says it is complete and suits the dog’s age.
- Start the amount from the package table, then adjust by the dog’s condition.
- Puppies eat more often: small puppies need 4–6 meals a day for the first three months.
- An adult dog usually needs two meals a day.
- Watch the weight: ribs should be palpable and a waist visible.
- Never give chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, xylitol and other dangerous foods.
An exact diet for your own dog is set by a vet. This article helps you choose and avoid mistakes.
How to choose food for an Italian Greyhound
Words like “premium” and “holistic” are not regulated and say almost nothing about quality. It is better to look at other things.
At the manufacturer:
- does the company employ a nutritionist with proper qualifications (a doctorate in animal nutrition or board certification as a veterinary nutritionist);
- who writes the recipes: an experienced pet food formulator, a vet or an amateur owner;
- how the quality of ingredients and the finished food is controlled;
- whether nutrition studies were done and the results published.
At the label:
- The adequacy statement. The food should be marked complete. Products for “intermittent” or “complementary” feeding must not be the base of the diet: no more than 10% of it.
- Match to life stage. AAFCO (USA) and FEDIAF (Europe) set nutrient levels for puppies and adults. A food “for all life stages” also suits puppies.
- Nutrient profile. The food should meet the AAFCO or FEDIAF profile.
This does not mean one food is best. There are many good foods, and the right one is chosen with your vet by your dog’s age, weight and health.
How much to feed
There is no exact gram amount for all Italian Greyhounds: it depends on the food, age, activity and build. How to work it out:
- Take a guide from the feeding table on the package, by the dog’s weight.
- Weigh the portion rather than eyeballing it.
- Once a month weigh the dog and assess its shape.
- Adjust the portion if the weight drifts up or down.
- Count treats in the total allowance.
If the dog is losing or gaining weight, ask your vet.
How often to feed
Typical recommendations:
| Age | Meals a day |
|---|---|
| Small puppies, first 3 months | 4–6 |
| Puppies from 4 months | about 3, then quickly down to 2 |
| Adult dog | usually 2 |
Small puppies are prone to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), so frequent feeding matters especially. If a puppy is dull, shivering or weak between meals, contact a vet.
For an adult Italian Greyhound vets advise at least two meals a day. More about puppies in our article on puppies by month.
How to tell the weight is right
Vets use a 9-point body condition scale. The ideal scores are 4–5:
- 4: ribs easily palpable under a thin layer of fat; the waist easily seen from above; the belly tucked up;
- 5: ribs palpable without excess fat; the waist seen from above; the belly tucked up from the side.
Signs of excess weight: at 6 the ribs are palpable through a slight excess of fat, and at 7 and above the ribs are palpable with difficulty, the waist is barely visible and fat appears over the lumbar area and the base of the tail.
It is better to assess weight together with a vet: a lean sighthound’s normal looks different from other dogs’.
It is easy to overfeed Italian Greyhounds. Extra weight loads the joints and heart and complicates anesthesia. More in our health article.
Treats
- Count treats as part of the diet.
- Choose small pieces so as not to overfeed.
- For the teeth, hard treats on a vet’s advice are useful (our article on teeth).
- Do not feed from the table: it is easy to overfeed and to give a dangerous food.
What not to give
These are dangerous for dogs:
- chocolate, coffee, caffeine;
- grapes and raisins: they can damage the kidneys;
- onions, garlic, chives;
- macadamia nuts;
- xylitol (a sweetener in gum, sweets and baking): it causes a drop in blood sugar and liver damage;
- alcohol and yeast dough;
- very salty food.
If the dog has eaten any of these, call a vet clinic immediately. The sources below have the full list and hotline numbers.
Water
Clean water should always be available. Wash the bowl and change the water daily. Water matters especially if you feed dry food. Restrictions on water are set only by a vet.
Food and cold
An Italian Greyhound feels the cold, and in winter the body spends more energy on warmth. But that is no reason to raise the portion without a vet’s advice: first keep the dog warm (our article on whether Italian Greyhounds get cold), and adjust feeding by weight and shape.
Frequently asked questions
- Which food is best? There is no single best. Look for a complete food suited to the age from a maker with clear quality control.
- How much should I feed? Start from the package table, then adjust by weight and shape.
- How many times a day for a puppy? Small puppies 4–6 times a day for the first three months, then less.
- How many times for an adult? Usually twice a day.
- Can I feed from the table? Better not: it is easy to overfeed and give a dangerous food.
- What if my Italian Greyhound is putting on weight? Weigh the food, cut treats and discuss it with a vet.
What to remember
- Choose a complete food by age and quality control, not by the word “premium”.
- Weigh the portion and the dog, and go by shape: ribs palpable, waist visible.
- Puppies eat more often: small ones 4–6 times a day up to three months, adults usually 2.
- Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions and xylitol are dangerous.
Sources
References for checking facts and reading further.
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