Italian greyhounds are known for their slender bodies and deep bellies. They, therefore, need a quality dog food to help them with their weight. The kind of food they need to consume varies, but it needs to meet the AAFCO standards. Whether you own an adult Italian greyhound or a puppy, their diet should be well balanced. Sometimes knowing the right food to feed this breed is challenging as they are prone to allergies. Here are some foods your Italian greyhound can feed on:
1. Proteins
Proteins make a higher percentage of dog food. Italian grey is very active and playful. Therefore, they need foods that are rich in proteins. They are the main ingredient you need to check for when giving a greyhound food.
Puppies need a lot of proteins compared to adult hounds as it helps to stimulate their growth. When buying food to feed an Italian greyhound, ensure the first few ingredients are animal products e.g., chicken.
They should be the first ingredients you see on the food label. Food with no proteins lacks amino acids that a greyhound needs to feed on. Protein by-products like eggs should also be avoided in an Italian greyhound’s diet.
2. Grains
Italian greyhounds are very sensitive and have many allergies. Whole grains included in dog food helps with digestion. However, if it reacts to the dog’s health, it should be avoided. Some grains that may be included in a dog’s food are wheat, oats, and soybeans. If you have an Italian greyhound that is sensitive to grains, give it a grain-free food. This will help protect their digestive system and skin too.
3. Fats & oils
The overall health of a dog includes its weight, coat, and skin. The kind of food you give a dog will enhance or worsen its health. For healthy skin and coat, an Italian greyhound needs food formulated with omega 3 & 6 fatty acids. They maintain the immunity of the dog and promote a healthy, shiny coat. A portion of good dog food with fatty acids should contain DHA and EPA and avoid foods that contain BHA and BHH.
4. Wet/canned food
Dogs need to be kept hydrated by drinking water, just like human beings. Italian greyhounds should be fed on wet food as it keeps them hydrated as well. Puppies enjoy eating wet food as it is easy to digest. Wet food is also good for your aging greyhound as its teeth get weaker with age. They contain more meat content, which a dog needs for growth.
Wet food also contains more calories compared to dry food, and the calories are in the right amounts. Dogs with urinary tract conditions or dental problems need to be fed on wet food. Wet foods also contain higher fats content, which an active dog like an Italian greyhound needs.
However, too many fats will make them overweight, and they need to maintain their slim bodies to carry them around. The flavors enriched in wet food are irresistible for your hound. Since an Italian greyhound is very active, feed it more of wet food to keep them more energetic.
5. Dry food
Dry dog foods come with many benefits when given to greyhound. They come in the form of kibbles, which are very easy to digest because of their size. Unlike wet food, kibbles are easy to store and are budget-friendly. One good thing that dry food will help your Italian grey ground is that it improves dental health. When they chew on kibbles, they strengthen their teeth, and it massages their gums, leaving them with clean teeth.
6. Calories
The calories an Italian greyhound should be fed depending on the activity level. When giving quality dog food, ensure a more active dog gets high calories than a less active dog. Moderate active dogs require medium calories of food per day.
7. Human food
Humans may sound not like the best option. However, there’re certain foods it may consume. An Italian greyhound can feed on lean meat or fruits. However, before giving your dog human food, consult with your vet on what is right. Most human foods contain high calories and should not be given to dogs. Do not give Italian greyhound beverages e.g., caffeine and foods with sugar like chocolates.
8. Vitamins
Give foods rich in vitamins to improve the nervous system. Vitamin B will provide reflexes support in your greyhound. For healthy joints while running and chasing things outside, give foods rich in vitamin C. They contain chondroitin and glucosamine, which supports the ligaments.
9. Foods that improve vision
Even though Italian greyhounds are active dogs and run around chasing things, they tend to suffer from poor vision. They are affected by eye diseases and conditions such as cataracts. Feed him or her on foods containing blueberries or whitefish to improve their vision.
Foods you should avoid feeding your Italian greyhound.
Certain foods may be healthy to feed an Italian greyhound and should be avoided. Some of these are:
- Non-specific ingredients
When the food you bought for your Italian greyhound is not specific on an exact ingredient, its best to avoid it. For example, the label might just say meat without specifying the type of meat. You need to also avoid non-specific fat sources as too much fat will make the dog overweight.
- Grains
This breed of dog is very sensitive and therefore needs to be fed on a grain-free diet. Give an Italian greyhound that contains no wheat or corn or any other grain. It should also be gluten-free. Always check allergen information on the label.
- Preservatives
Food with natural preservatives is healthier than one with artificial preservatives. Avoid food with artificial flavors, dyes, paraben, or fillers. Do not feed a dog containing sugar, such as glucose.
- Avoid human food
They can feed on some human food, but the best food to feed him is one formulated specifically for dogs. Another thing to avoid giving an Italian greyhound is protein by-products.
Final thoughts
An Italian greyhound needs a proper diet that’s home-made or store-bought. Their high levels of energy require foods that build their muscles and keep them happy chasing things. Combine wet food and dry food and make feeding time less boring. Apart from energy, give them foods that improve their vision.