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Retired racing greyhounds, known for their swiftness on the tracks, enjoy a balanced combination of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals to maintain their lean physique. Despite retirement, they still require highly nutritious, well-balanced meals for their overall health and wellbeing. Here’s a comprehensive look at the best diet practices for retired racing greyhounds.
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Quality Meat and Protein Sources: Protein is vital for greyhounds due to their high muscle mass. Understand that not all proteins are equal; therefore, you should focus on quality sources like lean chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, and fish. In addition to meat, consider supplementing your greyhound’s diet with cooked eggs and cottage cheese, which are rich in essential amino acids.
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Complex Carbohydrates: Including complex carbohydrates in your greyhound’s diet provides them with necessary energy and aids in the regulation of a healthy weight. Following their racing career, it’s necessary to adjust the carbohydrate level to prevent obesity. Sweet potatoes, brown rice, and quinoa are excellent sources of complex carbohydrates and can be added to your greyhound’s meals.
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Fats and Oils: Fats provide the most concentrated source of energy in your greyhound’s diet. They nourish the skin and coat and greatly benefit your greyhound’s overall health. Animal fats, fish oil, flaxseed oil, and coconut oil are sources that can be included in a greyhound’s diet. However, keep the intake balanced to avoid weight gain.
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Fruits and Vegetables: Servings of fruits and vegetables contribute to your greyhound’s all-round nutrition. They offer natural sources of vitamins, minerals, and fibre that boost your dog’s immune system and improve digestion. Fruits like apples, bananas, and berries, and vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and peas can be fed to your greyhound.
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Vitamins and Minerals: Apart from the natural vitamins and minerals obtained from their diets, your greyhound may need additional supplementation depending on their health condition. Calcium and phosphorus are critical for strong bones and teeth. Also, fatty acid supplements can support a healthy coat and skin.
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Avoiding Foods That Are Harmful: Ensuring your greyhound’s safety includes keeping them away from certain food items that could be harmful. Foods like chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, caffeine, alcohol and Xylitol, a sweetener found in many products, are hazardous to greyhounds.
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Portion Control and Feeding Schedule: Overfeeding can lead to obesity, a common problem in retired greyhounds due to their reduced activity levels. It’s crucial to control the portions fed to your greyhound and maintain a consistent feeding schedule. Vets generally recommend feeding adult retired greyhounds twice a day.
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Hydration: Finally, remember that like all dogs, greyhounds need plenty of fresh, clean water to stay hydrated, especially after physical activity.
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Regular Vet Consultations: Regular vet check-ups are necessary to monitor your greyhound’s weight and overall health. An expert can make dietary adjustments based on the dog’s health condition, age, and weight.
Remember, transitioning your retired greyhound onto any new diet should be a slow process to reduce the chances of gastric upset. Always look out for allergies or food intolerance when introducing new food items, and always consult a vet for advice on dietary changes.
