Best budget food for a lean Greyhound rescue

Greyhound rescues often come in underweight, and that lean, tucked-up look can persist for months even when you're doing everything right — so you're asking exactly the right question. Choosing dog food is genuinely complicated because the right answer depends on age, size, breed, and health, and the most expensive or most marketed options aren't always the best fit. To point you in the right direction: what breed and age is your dog, are there any health issues or sensitivities you're aware of, and what are you currently feeding them?

That's really helpful. Three months in is actually still early for a greyhound rescue — they can take six months or more to fully settle and fill out, so visible ribs now doesn't necessarily mean the food isn't working. That said, a calorie-dense kibble will definitely help move things along. Before I suggest something, a couple of quick questions: roughly how much does she weigh at the moment, and have you noticed any digestive sensitivity — loose stools, gas, anything like that on her current food?

At 25kg she is on the lighter end for a female greyhound — a healthy weight would be more like 27–30kg — so yes, she genuinely needs the extra calories. Since her digestion is solid and you just want more energy density without a big price jump, I'd go with Wagg Complete Chicken & Veg dry dog food. It's around £20–22 for a 12kg bag on Amazon UK, which works out to roughly £1.70 per kg — one of the best value-per-calorie options available. It runs at about 340–350 kcal per 100g, which is meaningfully higher than most budget supermarket kibbles sitting around 300 kcal. The ingredient list is straightforward — chicken meal as the main protein, which is actually a concentrated source — and it has a good track record for easy digestion. For a 25kg greyhound looking to gain, you'd be feeding around 300–320g per day, which is easy to manage and won't burn through the bag quickly. No fillers that would cause loose stools, and greyhounds generally do well on it. Transition her over seven to ten days by mixing it in gradually, and weigh her every two weeks so you can track progress. You should start seeing her fill out within four to six weeks.

You can, and it's worth doing if progress is slow after a month. A tablespoon of salmon oil or sunflower oil added to her bowl is the simplest way to boost calories without changing the feeding routine — it adds roughly 120 kcal per tablespoon and also helps with coat condition, which greyhound rescues often need. Wet food on top can work too but it adds cost and isn't necessary if she's eating well. I'd start with just the Wagg, give it four weeks, and only add oil if she's not gaining. That way you're not over-complicating things and you can see clearly what's working.

Good luck with her — greyhound rescues are brilliant dogs once they settle, and it sounds like she's in good hands. If she gains well and you want to reassess in a few months once she's at a healthy weight, it's worth coming back and checking whether to switch to a maintenance formula. But for now, Wagg Complete with optional oil is the move.