Are Greyhounds prone to weight gain from treats?

They can be, given how lean the breed naturally runs and how quickly extra calories add up on a smaller frame. Keeping treats modest in size and frequency helps, particularly for a less active pet Greyhound compared with their racing years.

Why do Greyhounds often have dental problems?

Many racing Greyhounds don't receive regular dental care during their racing career, so rescued Greyhounds often arrive with more significant dental issues than you'd expect for their age. A vet check soon after adoption is worth arranging if you're not sure of their dental history.

Are dental chews enough to fix a Greyhound's teeth?

No. A dental chew can support ongoing dental health alongside brushing, but it isn't a substitute for a proper dental assessment or any treatment your vet recommends for existing problems.

What treats suit a Greyhound with sensitive teeth?

Softer treats, or breaking harder treats into smaller pieces, generally suit a dog with sensitive teeth better than a large, hard chew. If your Greyhound has had dental work, check with your vet before introducing anything particularly tough.

Best treats for a Greyhound

Greyhounds, particularly rescued ex-racers, tend to arrive with two things worth building into treat choices: a naturally lean build with little spare body fat to carry extra calories, and often poorer dental health than you'd expect from a relatively young dog, since dental care isn't always a priority during a racing career. Treats that are calorie-conscious and genuinely good for teeth tend to suit the breed particularly well.

A lean breed with little room for extra calories

Greyhounds are built for speed rather than bulk, and even a pet Greyhound living a much less active life than a racing one tends to run lean compared with most breeds of a similar height. That means treat calories add up faster, proportionally, than they would for a stockier dog of the same size, so lower-calorie or smaller treats generally suit the breed better than large, energy-dense ones.

This matters more for an older or rescued Greyhound settling into pet life, where activity levels often drop compared with their racing years, but treat habits formed during that period sometimes don't, worth keeping an eye on, particularly in the first year with a new Greyhound.

Dental health is often a genuine concern

Many rescued Greyhounds come with dental issues that weren't addressed during their racing career, and a chew or treat that genuinely supports dental health can make a real practical difference, alongside proper brushing and any dental work your vet recommends. A dental chew isn't a substitute for a dental check, but it's a reasonable, low-effort addition.

Softer treats are worth having too, particularly for a Greyhound recovering from dental treatment or with teeth that are simply more sensitive than they should be, not every treat needs to be a hard chew.

Choosing treats that fit both needs

Looking for treats that are naturally lower in calories, or breaking larger treats into smaller pieces, is a straightforward way to manage the calorie side without cutting treats out altogether. Natural chews with a genuinely long chewing time also make a treat last longer relative to its size, which suits a breed where portion control matters.

If your Greyhound has had dental work or you're managing an ongoing dental issue, ask your vet what texture of chew or treat is appropriate before offering anything particularly hard, since not every dental chew suits a mouth that's still recovering.

Pedigree DentaStix Light daily dental chews for medium and large dogs

£2.35

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Common questions

Are Greyhounds prone to weight gain from treats?: They can be, given how lean the breed naturally runs and how quickly extra calories add up on a smaller frame. Keeping treats modest in size and frequency helps, particularly for a less active pet Greyhound compared with their racing years.
Why do Greyhounds often have dental problems?: Many racing Greyhounds don't receive regular dental care during their racing career, so rescued Greyhounds often arrive with more significant dental issues than you'd expect for their age. A vet check soon after adoption is worth arranging if you're not sure of their dental history.
Are dental chews enough to fix a Greyhound's teeth?: No. A dental chew can support ongoing dental health alongside brushing, but it isn't a substitute for a proper dental assessment or any treatment your vet recommends for existing problems.
What treats suit a Greyhound with sensitive teeth?: Softer treats, or breaking harder treats into smaller pieces, generally suit a dog with sensitive teeth better than a large, hard chew. If your Greyhound has had dental work, check with your vet before introducing anything particularly tough.

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.

Best treats for a Greyhound

A lean breed with little room for extra calories

Dental health is often a genuine concern

Choosing treats that fit both needs

What we stock for this breed

Common questions

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