Unless your retired greyhound continues to participate in performance events like lure coursing or agility, it will lose a lot of muscle when it retires from the track to a couch. That muscle will be replaced by fat. Muscle is heavier than fat, so replacing 5lbs of muscle with 5lbs of fat will make your greyhound look less bony, even if it doesnt gain a pound over its racing weight. Some very muscular racers can look overweight after they lose all that muscle, without actually gaining a pound. Unless your greyhound was exceptionally thin at racing weight it is best to keep him within a couple of lbs of his racing weight for the rest of his life. “Pet weight” should be thin and fit, not fat and flabby. Retiring from racing and becoming a pet doesnt mean your greyhound should gain 10lbs and be fat.
Most greyhounds still enjoy racing around in their yards or running with other greyhounds at one of our greyhound playgroups. Your greyhound will try to run at the speed it did when it was at the track and very fit. A 50lb female that gains 10lbs is the equivalent of a 150lbs person gaining 30lbs. That is a LOT of extra weight to carry at a sprint and can lead to injury, heat stroke and even death
It is dangerous to race a fat greyhound. Making sure a greyhound is racing at the proper weight is something that trainers and track officials take seriously. Greyhounds are weighed before every race and they must be within a pound and a half, either way, of their set racing weight, or they will be scratched from the race by racing officials. Like human athletes, it is better for them to run thin, than slightly overweight. It is also better for your retired greyhound to be on the thin side, than overweight. Occasionally we do run into a greyhound that did race too thin, like the one below, that just couldnt keep weight on at the track. Most greyhounds are at their fittest and most athletic when racing and our goal is to keep them in that condition their entire lives.
You are putting your greyhounds health in jeopardy by letting it get fat! If it has passed the obese mark, it is in serious trouble. Not all vets are familiar with racing, fit, greyhounds, so they may not tell you to take weight off your greyhound until it is already obese. Just because your vet tells you your greyhound looks “OK” doesnt mean it really is at the optimal weight for a healthy fit greyhound. A couple of lbs under ideal weight is better than a couple of lbs over unless your dog is older. It is hard to keep weight on most senior greyhounds.
How can you tell if your greyhound is at the proper weight? Your greyhound should have just the tips of his hipbones barely visible and the outline of a couple of ribs. If your greyhound is smooth across his hind end with no bones showing at all it may be too fat. If it has no ribs visible, it is probably overweight. A dog with a more rounded ribcage like the one above can have the outline of ribs showing even when obese. If your dog doesnt have a pronounced tuck (waist) it is definitely too fat. If your greyhound has put on 10, 15 or even more pounds above its racing weight it is overweight. Use your dogs tattoes or racing name to find out your dogs racing weight here: http://www.greyhound-data.com/
How do I make sure my Greyhound is healthy?
Our pets are cherished members of the family who deserve the best care. Unfortunately, like all purebred dogs, Greyhounds are more susceptible to a number of hereditary conditions. As loving pet parents, this can be heart-wrenching to think about, but preventive care can help identify and treat health problems early on.
As a breed, Greyhounds are more susceptible to deafness, arthritis, heart murmurs, and bone cancer, otherwise known as osteosarcoma. When a dog has osteosarcoma, it may have noticeable swelling, limp on the affected limb, wince in pain, or become lame. According to the Veterinary Centers of America, osteosarcoma typically requires surgery and chemotherapy. Without treatment, the prognosis is bleak, as osteosarcoma is a deadly and aggressive form of cancer.
Unfortunately, veterinary services can easily cost thousands of dollars, which leaves many pet parents in a bind. Pet insurance works as a safety net by providing a financial buffer should your dog become sick or injured. A policy can reimburse you up to 100% of covered vet costs paid for out-of-pocket, allowing you to focus on what’s truly important: being there for your loved one.
How big should a 6-month-old Greyhound be?
On average, a male Greyhound weighs around 30 to 40 pounds at six months old. In contrast, a female Greyhound weighs slightly less at 25 to 35 pounds. Both male and female puppies will be quite tall at this point, approaching 20 inches in height.
Pro Tip: Download our new puppy checklist for tips on how to set up a vaccination schedule, puppy-proof your home, bond with your dog, and more.