How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Greyhound Puppies
The Greyhound is a large breed dog and a natural-born athlete. Greyhound puppies have increased caloric requirements to fuel their growing bodies.
Greyhounds have quite large frames, but they are both slim and muscular of build, moving with a natural grace that lends itself well to the breed’s speed. When fully grown, adult Greyhounds reach an average weight of 60 to 70 pounds.
Greyhound puppies should be fed a high-quality puppy food that is specifically formulated to address the breed’s needs as the pup develops. The best dog foods for Greyhound puppies are nutritionally balanced to support a healthy rate of growth.
Dietary Requirements for Greyhound Puppy Foods
Greyhound puppies are very active and expend a lot of energy in a day. To keep their bodies developing properly, they need a high-quality diet specially formulated for large breed puppies. Puppies should be fed at least three meals a day to help keep hunger at bay and their blood sugar (blood glucose) levels up.
To address the health requirements of a Greyhound puppy best, a diet whose basis comes from lean proteins is ideal. The recommended protein sources are fish, poultry, or red meats. These high-quality protein sources will help the Greyhound puppy in its critical developmental stages.
Another critical building block in the ideal food for a Greyhound puppy is healthy fat derived from animal origins, such as chicken fat, or fish oils such as salmon or mackerel. Plant-based oils can also provide some health benefits through the addition of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.
To round out the list of beneficial ingredients, a high-quality Greyhound puppy food should contain highly digestible carbohydrates, like grains or starchy vegetables. Supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and prebiotics can also be helpful, providing support for joints and encouraging healthy gut bacteria.
The correct amount of calcium and phosphorus is vitally important to ensure the Greyhound puppy’s skeletal system develops at a safe and healthy rate. Diets that are not properly balanced or that contain far too much protein can promote rapid bone growth which can lead to later structural issues.
Greyhound puppies should be fed a large-breed puppy food until their development is complete at age two years. The best dog foods for Greyhound puppies are often supplemented with prebiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin to support excellent digestion and joint health.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Greyhound Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Greyhound puppy:
-
Complete proteins listed at the beginning of the ingredients list
Greyhound puppies require a diet rich in high-quality protein to thrive. Entire proteins are preferable but meat meals are also suitable. Protein should be listed as one of the primary ingredients in the diet.
-
Enriched with prebiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements and prebiotics can be a great help to the Greyhound puppy as it grows. Since Greyhound puppies undergo a very long developmental period which often does not end until age 2, added support from supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin may provide valuable assistance for the puppy’s developing joints.
Prebiotics and probiotics work hand in hand to help promote healthy gut bacteria and optimal digestion.
-
Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All puppy foods considered for the Greyhound pup should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it is a complete and balanced diet for growth.