Best dog food for an Italian Greyhound
An Italian Greyhound is built to run, with almost no spare body fat and a fast metabolism, which makes energy-dense food genuinely useful but also easy to overfeed if you are not watching portions. Dental health is the other real consideration for the breed, since periodontal disease is a known concern in Italian Greyhounds specifically.
Feeding a Italian Greyhound
A toy breed
An adult Italian Greyhound typically weighs 3.5–5kg, so a healthy Italian Greyhound eats a small amount — often under 100g of dry food a day compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A toy breed is usually done growing at 10–12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 14–15 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
Small mouths, crowded teeth
Smaller breeds get dental disease more often than big ones, largely because the same number of teeth are packed into a shorter jaw. Kibble size is worth checking, and a dental chew counts towards the daily 10% of calories from treats.
How much should a Italian Greyhound weigh?
Adult 3.5–5kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.6–0.9 kg | 18% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 1–1.5 kg | 30% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 2.1–3 kg | 59% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 3.5–5 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a toy breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Italian Greyhound
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Italian Greyhound's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Pedigree Can in Jelly Puppy 6 Pack
Complete Pedigree puppy food in jelly with chicken, lamb and poultry recipes
£10.15
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
A lean build with real energy needs
Italian Greyhounds carry very little body fat naturally, which is part of what makes them feel the cold and look so slight, but it also means they burn through energy quickly and generally need a more calorie-dense diet relative to their size than a stockier breed of similar weight.
That does not mean unlimited food. A dog this small still has a small daily calorie requirement in absolute terms, so the balance is a food that delivers enough energy in a reasonably small volume rather than simply feeding more of a standard formula.
Dental health is a genuine breed concern
Italian Greyhounds are known to be more prone to dental disease than many breeds, including tartar build-up and gum problems, for reasons that are not fully understood but are well recognised by vets who see the breed regularly. A dry kibble with some dental benefit, alongside proper dental care at home, is worth prioritising rather than treating as optional.
Regular tooth brushing and dental chews suited to a small dog's mouth make a real difference here, on top of whatever the kibble itself offers, since diet alone is unlikely to be enough to manage a breed-wide predisposition like this.
Other things worth knowing
The breed's thin coat and low body fat also mean Italian Greyhounds feel cold more than most dogs, which is worth bearing in mind alongside diet — a well-fed dog that is still shivering on a winter walk needs a coat, not more food.
Some Italian Greyhounds have sensitive stomachs, and a food with a simple, limited ingredient list is worth trying if your dog shows any signs of digestive upset on a standard recipe.
Common questions
- Do Italian Greyhounds need more food than their size suggests?
- Relative to their weight, they often need a more energy-dense diet than a stockier breed because of how little body fat they naturally carry and how quickly they burn energy, but the actual daily amount is still small given their overall size. Follow the feeding guide for your dog's specific weight.
- Why are Italian Greyhounds prone to dental problems?
- It is a recognised tendency in the breed, seen commonly by vets, though the exact reasons are not fully understood. Regular tooth brushing, suitable dental chews and a dry food with some dental benefit are all worth prioritising rather than treating as optional extras.
- Should I feed my Italian Greyhound a grain-free diet?
- Not necessarily just because of the breed. Grain-free is a choice worth making based on your individual dog's digestion and any known sensitivities rather than a general rule for the breed, and a standard complete diet suits many Italian Greyhounds perfectly well.
- Why does my Italian Greyhound always seem cold?
- Their thin coat and very low body fat mean they lose heat faster than most dogs, which is a coat and clothing issue rather than a feeding one. A well-fitted dog coat on cold walks matters more here than adjusting their diet.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.